We worked again on Rush’s exercises, she has not pulled up sore on that leg which I consider a good sign. When I talk about the rehab I am sure many people think about the traditional take her to physical therapy and do a session with a rehab instructor in a pool  or underwater treadmill.  I have been given strange looks when I clarify that I am rehabing her at home.  No, I am not a certified therapy or rehab person but, I do know my dog.  If I took Rush to therapy (which I did as a last desperate act before surgery number 2).  First off, due to all the bad experiences in her young life, she now hates riding (it used to just be the car, but now she hates my truck too).  When we arrive at a therapy session she is nervous, shaking and far from relaxed.  When another person touches her she stiffens up.  I dont know if you have ever tried to stretch out when you are cold or relax when you are scared… but it is not the best way to work muscles.  At home we can skip the car ride and the only hands on her are mine - and she still trusts momma.  So, rehab at home is it.  Due to the sale (or attempted sale) of all my cars I will probably wind up with an empty 60 X 75 car building - in which case this summer might become home to a therapy pool for my dogs.  We will see, but for now - no pool -

Okay, so this is our rehab day:  We start out with four jumps (4″ jump height) set up in a circle.  She jumps two times left (full circle) and two times right (full circle) total.  This makes her use both back legs, each one taking turns being the outside leg.  Them we will do our 4″ jump grid.

I do this exercise on leash with a “walk” command.  The idea is that she “trots” through these up and then back using all legs evenly.  The spacing between jumps is even.  We do this about four times.

Next we will work the figure-8 cones.

She really does these amazingly fast, not favoring either leg.   We do not do too many as I do not want to make her sore.  We probably do do about four sets.  From there I move on to the board work.

I set these up like stairs that start at ground level then slowly go up, then back down.  I start out with the steps close then I spread them out further so that she has to stretch her legs to reach each level.  We will do a couple reps of this.  Now the weave poles.

These are not being done to teach weaving (I plan on teaching channel with Rush). This is the distance apart that I use and it is simply for pushing off and using all four feet evenly.  I noticed when Rush was hurting before the hip replacement that she had stopped wanting to hit her entries, I know that this type of movement will make that weaker leg work.  I will not close them tighter by much if at all, like I said, when she is ready I will move her to channels to begin her training.  Okay… backing up….

I use this tunnel as a guide so that she can back up the 15′ length of this wall.  She walks up then reverses (the dog in this photo is Baby)  :)  Demonstrating for me.

After all the equipment we work sit to down, and down to sit to stand, roll on one hip and roll on other hip.  I also do manipulation rotation work on all four legs (so the bad leg doesnt feel picked on) and I stretch her.  I will also ask her to stand up on two legs (using my arm as a balance) and I will have her “sit pretty” using my arm as a balance (an exercise she could not do pre-surgery).  We do some “perch” work on a box and “balance” work having her balance on a front leg and back leg (vertically) as well as tri-pod.   Her reward for all equipment is tug and fetch and the stretches are for food.

I am hoping to keep working with her until we are able to move into a place where I can start training her again to do agility.  I want to be able to work up slowly, keep her from getting sore as she gains strength then raise the bar or bars as the case may be.  I feel that by increase slowly (and her showing no signs of fatigue)that I will get the “signs” that she is ready for more.  The difference between her rehab work and actual agility training is the height and speed in which I ask for her to respond. Right now its all about working all legs independently and strength building.  I will also be adding the “pods” (they are like the rubber exercise balls that people use) only they are oblong for dogs.  This will help her core strength.

Cool, I think thats all.  :)   Oh, let me share one more thing,

Rush and Ember share a nap spot.

And this one… what a pretty girl!  I just love her

Oh yeah!  Oh yeah!!!!!!  My little Rush puppy is not to be outdone by her older brother!  My little girl has been jumping 16″ in her class and sequencing!  This is major because I have not trained her to do this because I always worry about her hip… but the last two weeks she has been in Lorries level 2 and we just do what they do.  Last night was some layered distance work (with the dogwalk as the layer).  Wow!  My little baby did it.  Not the first time, Lorrie had to “set me straight” about where I was standing (roll the eyes, because you know how those instructors are).. but she did it there after.

We also did some rear cross work which she did pretty good at.  We did have to break it down to work the tightness of the rear, but she did pick up on it fairly quickly.  I know!  I need to train my dogs too.  I just have this thing about training dogs that I feel are not “sound”, and when she works hard she gets sore.  I know thats part of the healing but I just feel bad if I caused it you know?  :)  Anyway, I am so pleased wth her.  And she is such a strong little athlete… when she is healed I know she is going to be great! 

Playing in the water (video coming)

Click on any photo to enlarge

Rush had an awesome class last night!  We were working pinwheels and serpentines.  It wasnt the lines themselves that made it great, it was the energy and speed that she brought in.  Wow.  I always take it easy on her with her hip and we only jump 12″ when working jumps in class, but she really came on strong with coming back into me.  Way to move little girl.

Typical Rush poses!   (click photos to enlarge)

Some video of Rush - she is really looking good

We have been working weaves so much I think Rush was getting a little tired of it.  Well, I would too… so we started working our jumps again.  We are only working wrapping and turning and rewarding with a throw.  Her turns are awesome.  The last time I tried a figure-8 on a single bar she would only wrap one side, the second side she would miss the jump - she would wrap, but it did not include the jump.  Too funny.  But like I said I think she studies when we are not working.  Today we attempted the figure-8 again and she got it with no problem :)  And it was with speed and tightness!  Good girl.  I also tried the figure-8 on two jumps and a throw, again dead on!  Not a problem for her  :)   Her leg still bothers her but it absolutely does not stop her and her muscle tone is coming back.