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Activities for dogs: Agility
Benefits of dog ownership
Canine cranial cruciate ligament disease
2012 Birth Cohort Study
Activities for dogs: Agility
There are many different activities and competitions to take part in with your dog. Agility is a fun and fast-paced sport that has grown in popularity since it first appearance at Crufts in 1978. Dogs are guided around a course of obstacles by their handler and are competing against the clock so the competition tests the dog’s agility and fitness, and the handler’s training. There are now 300 licenced Agility shows held each year, including events at Crufts and the International Horse Show.
Dogs of any breed can take part, though they must be registered with the Kennel Club Breed Register or Activity Register to compete. Given the variation in size of dogs, Agility classes are divided into three groups: Large Dogs (measuring over 430mm at the withers), Medium Dogs (measuring 430mm or under, and over 350 mm at the withers), and Small Dogs (measuring 350mm or under at the withers). Agility classes are also separated into Elementary, Starters, Novice, Intermediate, Senior, Advanced and Open groups depending on the level of experience.
Agility shows can vary (for example, some may focus on jumping) but usually comprise of different obstacles set out in a circle. These obstacles can include: a hurdle, a rising spread jump, a brush fence, a hoop jump (e.g. a suspended tyre), a table (dogs must lie down on the table for a specific time), a long jump (dogs must jump a combination of low jumps), a water jump, a wishing well or lych gate (these are obstacles with a roof over them that dogs must jump), a rigid/collapsible tunnel, a pipe tunnel (dogs must run through these), weaving poles (dogs must weave in and out of a line of poles, not missing any out), a pause box (a square of ground where dogs must stop for a specific time), an ‘A’ ramp (dogs must go up the ramp and down the other side maintaining surface contact in key places), a see-saw (dogs must keep their balance whilst walking along it and it must be touching the ground before dogs alight), and a dog walk (a plank with ramps at either end that dogs must walk over). Dogs must complete the course of obstacles in the shortest time with minimal faults (e.g. knocking jumps down, missing out weaving poles, not remaining on the table for the required time, not making contact on parts of an obstacle, taking the wrong course).
To begin training for Agility, no previous experience is necessary but it is recommended that dogs are over 1 year of age before they begin training on obstacles so as not to over exercise and cause injury, and dogs have to be over 18 months of age to compete. Agility is an exciting and challenging sport that involves a lot of training, requires dogs to be fit, and emphasises the bond between dog and handler so it can be very rewarding and enjoyable for competitors and spectators alike. For more information on Agility, please click here.
Many thanks to The Kennel Club Picture Library © for the image in this article
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Benefits of dog ownership
Dog ownership has many physical and psychological advantages, the benefits of which are becoming better defined each year. Dogs are often considered part of the family. They give us joy and companionship and help us to stay active. Taking dogs out for a walk gives us exercise and an opportunity to interact with other dog owners as having a shared interest offers a topic of conversation. People who own dogs are known to undertake more physical activity than those who do not (1).
Owning a dog also provides a source of affection and reduces stress; stroking a dog can reduce your blood pressure as well as the dogs’! Dogs have shown to aid people who are recovering from an accident or illness by boosting morale as well as giving comfort and support. Those who have suffered bereavement have reported that the company of a dog helps to overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness and provides a sense of purpose, self-worth and fulfilment (2).
Pet-owning children with learning difficulties or changes in their personal life such as divorce are believed to cope better in areas of emotional capabilities and self-esteem compared to children without a pet (3). Children with special needs such as autism may also benefit from having a dog since the dog has a calming influence, helps the child feel secure, channels the child’s attention and increases their responsiveness (4).
Organisations such as Pets As Therapy bring animals into contact with people who do not have their own pets with them (for more information, see our previous article by clicking here) so that they may benefit from interaction with pets in situations where they may not be able to own or look after one themselves.
Despite the assumption that having animals will cause or worsen allergies, studies have shown that households with pets can be beneficial for younger children as the incidence of hay fever, asthma and animal-related allergies are reduced in children that have been part of a household with a cat or dog in their first years of life (5). Children that have pets in the household have a greater ability to fend off any illnesses since their immune systems are more stable (5). Studies have shown that pet-owning children are absent from school less often than those who do not own a pet (6). Similarly, pet owners develop fewer ailments (e.g. headaches, colds) (2) and have lower measures of blood pressure and cholesterol, and require less frequent visits to the doctor (7) than people who do not own pets.
There are also many educational benefits to owning dog. Children, teenagers, and adults alike, learn about animal care, responsibility, behaviour, respect, patience and compassion. There is also the opportunity to take part in research projects like Dogslife where you can see how your dog progresses and help us to find out what keeps dogs healthy!
For more information on the health benefits of dog ownership please click here.
References:
1. Reeves MJ, Rafferty AP, Miller CE, Lyon-Callo SK. The Impact of Dog Walking on Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Results From a Population-Based Survey of Michigan Adults. Journal of Physical Activity and Health 2011, 8: 3
2. Wells DL. Domestic dogs and human health: An overview. British Journal of Health Psychology 2007, 12, 145–156
3. http://www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk/About-Us/Pets-and-People-Puppies-and-kids.html
4. http://paws.dogsforthedisabled.org/
5. http://www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk/About-Us/People-and-Pets-sneezing.html
6. Kids with pets take fewer sick days, June McNicholas, University of Warwick
http://www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk/images/file/Children%20%20Pets%20J%20McNicholas%20060302.pdf
7. A pet all day keeps the doctor away, Bruce Headey, Melbourne, Australia http://www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk/About-Us/People-and-Pets-Heady.html
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Canine cranial cruciate ligament disease
Lameness in dogs most commonly develops as a result of problems in the stifle joint (knee). Although there are a plethora of diseases and injuries that can affect the stifle, the most common is a problem with the cranial cruciate ligament (Figure 1: The ligament is the white structure below the metal implant). The condition is so common that it was estimated that in 2003, the cost of treating this disease in dogs in the USA was over $1billion!
The cranial cruciate ligament is a very important ligament and has several functions, but ultimately is responsible for normal function of the stifle joint by maintaining the stability of the joint. Injury to this ligament is common in people, occurring as a consequence of acute overloading and rupture of a healthy ligament, most commonly a sporting related injury (for example in skiers, rugby players and footballers). Although this method of injury can occur in dogs, and acute onset of lameness due to ligament rupture is often reported, it is very uncommon for a purely traumatic injury of a normal cranial cruciate ligament to occur. In nearly all dogs the cranial cruciate ligament ruptures as a consequence of progressive weakening of the ligament through a pathological process that is referred to as “cruciate disease”.
Cruciate disease covers a spectrum of pathology affecting this ligament which leads to progressive joint instability and the development of osteoarthritis. Although cranial cruciate ligament problems are commonplace, our understanding of its multi-factorial origin remains limited. It would appear that the cranial cruciate ligament is affected by both biological and biomechanical factors which are intertwined creating an imbalance between the forces placed on the ligament and its ability to sustain these loads. This leads to progressive ligament rupture and joint instability culminating in a final common pathway of osteoarthritis and clinical signs of progressive lameness, pain and dysfunction.
This progressive degeneration of the ligament has been attributed to a variety of factors such as genetics, hormones, conformation, and inflammation in the joint. There is not a single cause in all patients. Regardless, in all cases the ligament becomes partially or completely ruptured, causing pain and lameness. Vets make the diagnosis on the basis of clinical signs, an orthopaedic examination, and X-rays to rule out other conditions.
The condition is usually treated surgically in large breeds of dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers, as it results in a better outcome than medical (non-surgical) management. The plethora of surgical techniques is testament to the fact that no current procedure indicated for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease will restore normal stifle joint function or negate the onset / progression of osteoarthritis in the affected stifle. The aims of surgical treatment are to stabilise the joint, although osteoarthritis will progress in all cases regardless of which surgical technique is chosen. However, most dogs still recover good function after surgery. Sadly, the opposite stifle joint can also be affected in 20-60% of dogs.
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2012 Birth Cohort Study
This year will see the launch of the largest ever study of children’s growth, development, health, well-being, and social circumstances in the UK. The study aims to recruit over 100,000 participants and will follow children from the period from pregnancy right through their early years. The study is actually the fifth in a series of world renowned longitudinal UK studies following the lives of children from birth to adulthood. The first was launched in 1946, and the last was run at the turn of the millennium. The size and scale of the 2012 study in terms of the numbers of participants and the quantity of information recorded in comparison to the Dogslife study is staggering (not least of which is the initial funding of nearly £30million).
The study hopes to answer many sociological and medical questions. For example, the study hopes to identify factors which help children to overcome social disadvantage, the effects of diet and physical activity on growth, body composition and weight gain in later childhood, the roles of parenting style on social aptitude, and the effects of exposure to environmental pollutants on later life. Ultimately it is hoped that this study will provide opportunities to understand how economic, social, and biological factors combine to explain human behaviour in key important areas such as health, poverty, child development, and healthy ageing.
In essence the Dogslife study has a similar goal in the study of health and healthy aging of a population of Labrador Retrievers. However, where we pale in comparison on numbers and funding, Dogslife does have an advantage for looking at genetic risk factors for disease. Because the pedigree for Labrador Retrievers in the UK is known (and each dog can be charted on it), and the relative variation in the genes carried by each individual will be much less, identifying genetic risk factors should be more straightforward. For more information please click here.
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Don't forget to come back to Dogslife to update your dog's record www.dogslife.ac.uk
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