Demographics of Canine Athletes - survey

I did finish the survey...added my thoughts...but in reality, it only targets maybe ten percent of canine athletes, so is really, really not going to tell them anything. And they need to redefine athletes, since conformation is no more a sport than a beauty contest is....and it really only covers the modeling portion of that, without the talent competition. Perhaps the reason the ubiquitous "they" don't know much about canine athletes is because "they" only choose to see one tiny portion of the dog world.

My take is different.

If you choose to interpret that this is only for "competing" dogs, you are missing the point. Early on, there is a spot that says "other - please specify".

I run our mix rescue dogs in retriever demos. I have one with a torn ACL (NOT MY LAB). I included her in the survey, despite the fact that she's not in an organized competition through a registry. She has had the ecstasy of a TPLO procedure and she's included in their survey.

Eug, you can fit what you do with your dogs into this survey if you want to. So can your friends.

Chris

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Originally Posted by Sharon Potter

I did finish the survey...added my thoughts...but in reality, it only targets maybe ten percent of canine athletes, so is really, really not going to tell them anything. And they need to redefine athletes, since conformation is no more a sport than a beauty contest is....and it really only covers the modeling portion of that, without the talent competition. Perhaps the reason the ubiquitous "they" don't know much about canine athletes is because "they" only choose to see one tiny portion of the dog world.

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You can't identify problems in canine athletes unless you know something about all canines. FT retrievers get injured, probably more than show dogs. But how much more? Comparing rates among dogs in different venues is information.

Data from surveys are biased, but perhaps better than nothing.

I guess it's difficult to really reach all the sporting/athletic dog groups. They have completely missed the largest sporting dog event in the USA, with more annual participants than any other...the night hunters/coonhound folks, most of whom aren't too likely to find the survey.

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Originally Posted by Sharon Potter

I guess it's difficult to really reach all the sporting/athletic dog groups. They have completely missed the largest sporting dog event in the USA, with more annual participants than any other...the night hunters/coonhound folks, most of whom aren't too likely to find the survey.

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Or spend a lot of time at the Vet. Do many coonhounds have ACL repairs? I doubt it. "That dog don't hunt....." well you get the idea.

I agree that with any survey's there are going to be things that the survey composer did not think of. That is why I also think that it is VERY important that as many people as possible add their dogs under the "other" category so that this information is also incorporated (as well as brought to Dr. Zink's attention that she may have overlooked a category of sporting dogs). This is a very preliminary survey to start to work out demographics by Dr. Zink. It is a start, and though people and categories of dogs may be missed, it still is a start.

Also just to forewarn you Dr. Jennell Appel and I are working on a survey based study on incidence of orthopedic injury in retrievers (both hunting and competition) that we will be looking for all your participation on, so I figure this is a good warm-up for you all when we come knocking on your doors. ;-)

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Originally Posted by Chris Atkinson

My take is different.

If you choose to interpret that this is only for "competing" dogs, you are missing the point. Early on, there is a spot that says "other - please specify".

I run our mix rescue dogs in retriever demos. I have one with a torn ACL (NOT MY LAB). I included her in the survey, despite the fact that she's not in an organized competition through a registry. She has had the ecstasy of a TPLO procedure and she's included in their survey.

Eug, you can fit what you do with your dogs into this survey if you want to. So can your friends.

Chris

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Yes this is what I read into it. Add your comments. And at least it is a start.

I filled it in a best I could; it makes poor reading though! These things are usually sponsored by someone with an agenda; given the focus on financials I fancy this is something other than just a health survey.

Amazing that in the injuries section there is nothing for "skin" to allow for cuts and abrasions, again it has to be entered in "others". I wonder how many hunting dogs manage a season with a cut or two?

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Dr. Jennell Appel and I are working on a survey based study on incidence of orthopedic injury in retrievers (both hunting and competition) that we will be looking for all your participation on, so I figure this is a good warm-up for you all when we come knocking on your doors. http://www.retrievertraining.net/for.../icon_wink.gif

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That sounds more like it. I am intrigued by the anecdotal evidence that ACL injuries are much more common in the US than the UK; it would be an interesting to see something more precise.

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Originally Posted by Sharon Potter

I guess it's difficult to really reach all the sporting/athletic dog groups. They have completely missed the largest sporting dog event in the USA, with more annual participants than any other...the night hunters/coonhound folks, most of whom aren't too likely to find the survey.

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Yeah, or how bout all the foxhounds - except they would be easy to reach through the MFHA.

Tally Ho!!

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Originally Posted by Colonel Blimp

I filled it in a best I could; it makes poor reading though! These things are usually sponsored by someone with an agenda; given the focus on financials I fancy this is something other than just a health survey.

Amazing that in the injuries section there is nothing for "skin" to allow for cuts and abrasions, again it has to be entered in "others". I wonder how many hunting dogs manage a season with a cut or two?

That sounds more like it. I am intrigued by the anecdotal evidence that ACL injuries are much more common in the US than the UK; it would be an interesting to see something more precise.

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I did make a note of puncture wounds.....in "other". Puncture wounds on feet was my primary focus, as it asked for other reasons a dog might be sidelined.."medical". Puncture wounds, serious scratches or those that become infected certainly could be an issue. Also, I included MCT because that involved surgery that sidelined our older guy for a while.

So...that would involve conditioning back to working dog, carefully. And that would involve (in my mind) not having a dog end up at the orthopedic specialist because you ask too much before the dog is back in condition. Conditioning often involves seeing specialists..massage, accupuncture, physical therapy, pool therapy etc..to get back your athlete in full if possible. At least the highest quality of life possible.

Have (had for years now) two books by M.C. Zink, DVM, PhD..."Peak Performance" and "Jumping from A to Z" ..so feel that her involvement in this survey is somewhat that of a educated person in the field :)

Funds just sitting there certainly does not help any canine..no matter what they do as a job in life, and many do more than one job.... Since this is a Retriever Forum...FT dogs hunt, HT dogs hunt, ...retrievers that are family companions /hunting dogs, retrievers that are multi-titled from the Field to the obedience ring to agility to tracking etc...need to be conditioned, trained carefully so to try not to have injuries..rested to let the "athlete" recover just as human athletes do. This survey may well lead to another for further information and certainly would be a resource for other breeds in their jobs in life or even just companion dogs that do become injured.

It does take resources and funds and if AKC has funds available why not get something started for our dog's sake.

ACL injuries...yikes...tons of them and then there is the thought/evidence they can be inherited. If the survey does not allow for info to be relayed, maybe a letter or email to the appropriate person(s) at AKC to be forwarded to the researchers? It might be helpful and if not, they can "file" it.

Judy