Would you say something?

[fankino04]

As some of you know I work as a dog walker. I very occasionally walk a doberman for a family when they go on holiday, I met this dog a few years ago when he was 8 months old and he was energetic, fun loving dog. He was like this the 1st few holidays I walked him, then he became a bit more withdrawn but still well behaved and I assumed he had just mellowed a bit as he'd got older. When I walked him earlier this year he was reluctant to have his lead on and planted a few times on the outward part of the walk but mostly good. His owner said that time he had stopped sitting when he was told and she wondered if he'd injured himself. I don't know if he saw the vet. I've been to walk him today and again he wasn't keen to go and he kind of looks at you and anything on the walk in a suspicious sort of way, he seems quite withdrawn / shut down now. Owner has also said that if another family member walks him he will often refuse to go. I can't put my finger on what feels "wrong" he just gives off a funny vibe and in a dog that size it's worrying what he might do if he is finding things scarey or whatever. As I say I only walk him a few weeks each year so don't know him or his owners that well. Would you message the owners with your concerns?

 

[AmyMay]

Yes absolutely. And ask them to report back when he’s seen the vet.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I expect to get feedback every time my dog is walked by someone who is not me, as I give feedback when we walk a friend's dog, so I would treat this as a normal feedback session and express your concern. I think asking for a post vet update can be done in a friendly interested way, as you don't meet this dog/owner very often.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yep.

 

[Bellasophia]

I agree with Amy..health issues very likely…given the breed,.neck and hips should be investigated imo.

 

[fankino04]

Thanks, it's really easy to report anything different in a dog I walk regularly but just wasn't sure if they'd think I was sticking my nose in here as obviously they know him better than me, but then again if they do and take offence I guess that doesn't matter much.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

One of the reasons I stopped the dog walker we had was because she never gave any feed back after walks/visits (and was generally not very communicative). As an owner I would absolutely want to hear of any concerns.

 

[Widgeon]

Thanks, it's really easy to report anything different in a dog I walk regularly but just wasn't sure if they'd think I was sticking my nose in here as obviously they know him better than me, but then again if they do and take offence I guess that doesn't matter much.

It can be hard to judge though, when you see your pet every day - someone who sees them less regularly may be better placed to spot changes or a decline. I would definitely give them your thoughts. As an owner, I'd be quite disappointed if a dog walker had noticed some kind of change in my pet and *not* said anything. It's up to them to act on it, all you can do is mention what you're seeing.

 

[fankino04]

It can be hard to judge though, when you see your pet every day - someone who sees them less regularly may be better placed to spot changes or a decline. I would definitely give them your thoughts. As an owner, I'd be quite disappointed if a dog walker had noticed some kind of change in my pet and *not* said anything. It's up to them to act on it, all you can do is mention what you're seeing.

Thanks I just messaged her and said that perhaps because I don't see him often the change is more noticeable to me.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I agree with Amy..health issues very likely…given the breed,.neck and hips should be investigated imo.

Wobblers also.

 

[AmyMay]

Thanks, it's really easy to report anything different in a dog I walk regularly but just wasn't sure if they'd think I was sticking my nose in here as obviously they know him better than me, but then again if they do and take offence I guess that doesn't matter much.

Part and parcel of the job we do is to give feedback, regardless of how often we walk a dog.

 

[Ratface]

When I was working full-time and had my dogs (GSD and greyhound xwhippet) they were walked five days a week for me by the same excellent dog walkers over a period of twenty two years. We had a "communication diary" wherein I left a report on what the dog and I had done that morning and any suggestions/requests/general info, and they left a message post exercise with what they'd done, with what other dogs or none, how long for, how many poo's, how much off-lead running, how much dozing under bushes at their place if hot etc. If I had to pull an all-nighter they'd keep her with them and drop her back in the late afternoon. They were utterly reliable, conscientious and adored both dogs.
Cost a fortune, but worth every penny.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I love the school reports from my dog Walker. She sent me a picture of them all waiting in the boot politely and was surprised they wait. I’d definitely want to know if there was an issue.

 

[fankino04]

Well the owner said they had him checked at the vet in July but nothing found, they do have him booked in for a castration consult when they get back as she thinks (not sure why) he might have an enlarged prostate that is causing him pain. I did say that in my personal experience without pushing for x rays vets have been pretty poor when it comes to neck / back / hip issues and if he doesn't improve it might be worth more checks or a chiropractor visit, also recommended a good local behaviourist if all physical things are ruled out. Walked him today though and he was much brighter, not sure if he had been walked for the last 2 days but if he hadn't then maybe the rest has helped him a bit, he did still plant a bit when we were nearly half way but definitely a huge improvement on Tuesday so ???

 

[Bellasophia]

I check my dogs prostate every two years(he is ten now)…an ecogram costs 90 euro here.He is not anaesthetised..he lies like a lamb and they run the hand scanner over him.Worth it for peace of mind.

 

[Supertrooper]

With a Doberman I’d be concerned about neck issues. Definitely needs to see a vet in the first instance and I’d definitely be telling them that you feel there is something off with him

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s definitely right to say something
I would do a Metacam trial if it was my dog just as a start .

 

[PurBee]

What type of collar is he usually walked in? If a choke collar perhaps this has caused slowly developing neck/spinal trauma causing pain when sitting, hence reluctance to sit over time? Especially if in younger years, as you describe he was energetic and pulled alot.

There was a study on 100 dogs using either prong or choke collars relating to neck/spine injuries:

A Study on Prong Collars was done in Germany:

• 100 dogs were in the study. 50 used choke and 50 used prong.
• The dogs were studied for their entire lives. As dogs died, autopsies were performed.
• Of the 50 which had chokes, 48 had injuries to the neck, trachea, or back. 2 of those were determined to be genetic. The other 46 were caused by trauma.
• Of the 50 which had prongs, 2 had injuries in the neck area, 1 was determined to be genetic. 1 was caused by trauma.

The numbers seem to speak for themselves.
(Information about above study taken from an Anne Marie Silverton Seminar)

Here is the rest of the info from this particular quote and it is some interesting reading:

http://cobankopegi.com/prong.html


All the above info from doberman chat forum : https://doberman-chat.com/threads/choke-chains-and-neck-problems.10971/

 

[skinnydipper]

Prong collar. Dear God, no.

Keep off the neck completely and use a well fitting harness.

 

[PurBee]

Prong collar. Dear God, no.

Keep off the neck completely and use a well fitting harness.

Agreed, I dont use either type collar, but thought the study interesting between neck collar designs, and resultant injuries.

 

[Clodagh]

I feel about harnesses how other people feel about choke collars!
If the dog pulls, train it rather than work on different methods of reining it in.
Not aimed at OP.

 

[skinnydipper]

Training not equipment, I quite agree, Clodagh, but many people don't train. They put a noose round the dog's neck, it throttles itself and triggers the opposition reflex, or the young BC down our road, it gets it's neck yanked every third step - the dog hasn't learned to walk on a loose leash after a year of this, which should tell the owner something. I think she might be in a flat collar.

 

[fankino04]

Regarding collars, he was walked in a canny collar when I first met him, this time he has been changed to what I think is called a check collar? It's got a tiny bit of choke collar on it but can't keep tightening if you know what I mean. He has never pulled very hard any time I've been walking him regardless of equipment, would just rush a bit at the start of walks when he was younger but quickly stopped if he was made to wait each time. Hopefully owner will insist on more investigations from the vet when they get back, he really is a great dog and I don't want to think of him in pain because his temperament means he hasn't "shouted load enough" about it.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Half check. They do little to no damage IME, they perform basically the same function as a flat collar wlth slightly more purchase.

As mentioned, the doberman is prone to neck issues/Wobblers, that would be my first port of call, regardless of equipment.

 

[fankino04]

Half check. They do little to no damage IME, they perform basically the same function as a flat collar wlth slightly more purchase.

As mentioned, the doberman is prone to neck issues/Wobblers, that would be my first port of call, regardless of equipment.

Thanks, I've just googled wobblers and he does carry his head low so will suggest it to her next week when I update after Mondays walk, it's so annoying that the vets just dismissed him in July without any further investigation, obviously I wasn't there so don't know what was said but I do know with Ashkii I had to insist on xrays as I wasn't happy with what I was being told, sadly didn't help him as it was a spinal stenosis, but it made it easier to know when PTS was the right option.