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OBJECTIVE: To develop a web-based tool for daily use by agility handlers to log rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for dogs as an aid in quantifying daily exercise and training load and to improve training and conditioning strategies. PROCEDURES: Focus group meetings with small groups of handlers were conducted via internet-based video conferencing using a semi-structured interview format. Meeting notes were coded for reflexive thematic analysis. The RPE logging tool was revised based on handler feedback. Each handler was asked to log their dogs daily RPE data for 1 week. Data were analyzed to assess compliance and timeliness of entries. Participants completed a post-logging questionnaire to provide feedback about their experiences. RESULTS: Eighteen agility dog handlers participated in all phases of the project. Handler and dog demographics were similar to previously reported demographics of agility participants in the United States. Reflexive thematic analysis of their comments related to the initial draft RPE logging tool yielded 3 initial themes, all of which supported a fourth and major theme: the need for specific and detailed training resources before agility handlers utilized the RPE tool. Of 18 handlers, 14 (78%) submitted logging records for the full week. Median time for data entry was 87 s (IQR = 56-117 s), and 92% of logging records were entered within 1 day of the events which were being recorded. In the follow-up questionnaire the handlers did not identify any major concerns. Based on all available data from the handlers, a final version of the RPE logging tool was produced. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Agility dog handlers are very interested in developing and validating tools to quantify training load for their dogs. The final RPE logging tool was quick and easy to use. Further validation of this logging tool is required with a larger number of handlers and comparison to physiologic data from exercising dogs.

Introduction: During agility performance, dogs complete a preset obstacle course. The teeter, also known as the seesaw, is the only dynamic contact obstacle. Dogs handle dynamic obstacles differently than static obstacles due to the need for increased coordination and postural control. No studies have been performed evaluating dogs' abilities or biomechanical strategies to navigate the teeter. The goal of this study was to describe and quantify variability in teeter performance across a sample of dogs of differing body mass and breeds. Materials and methods: Twenty dogs of various body masses and breeds were recruited. Handlers were instructed to line their dog up approximately 5 m from the teeter and to handle the obstacle in a way to best reflect the dog's typical performance. Repetitions were filmed using a GoPro Hero 11 at 240 frames per second. Data were post processed and footfalls were manually tracked using XMALab. Descriptive statistics were used to describe both central tendency and variability. Results: Mean total obstacle completion time (from dog breaking the plane of the teeter until teeter contact with ground) was 1.31 s (sd = 0.38) and mean total footfalls on the teeter was 18.3 (sd = 3.4). Footfall patterns varied across all phases of teeter performance, with particularly noteworthy variation during descent while the teeter was moving. Some dogs were nearly completely stationary while the teeter dropped while others continued to take steps toward the end of the obstacle as the teeter was in motion. Smaller dogs had more total footfalls and longer teeter completion times than larger dogs, and dogs with a stopped contact behavior took longer to fully exit the teeter after it contacted the ground. Discussion: These data imply that dogs use a variety of biomechanical strategies to perform a dynamic obstacle. Results of this study provide insight into teeter performance and variables that can be utilized for evaluation in future biomechanical studies. This study also provides initial data on biomechanical strategies used by dogs on dynamic surfaces, which may offer insight into dynamic stability and postural control in dogs and how that may influence injury development during sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a web-based tool for daily use by agility handlers to log rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for dogs as an aid in quantifying daily exercise and training load and to improve training and conditioning strategies. Procedures: Focus group meetings with small groups of handlers were conducted via internet—based video conferencing using a semi-structured interview format. Meeting notes were coded for reflexive thematic analysis. The RPE logging tool was revised based on handler feedback. Each handler was asked to log their dog's daily RPE data for 1 week. Data were analyzed to assess compliance and timeliness of entries. Participants completed a post-logging questionnaire to provide feedback about their experiences. Results: Eighteen agility dog handlers participated in all phases of the project. Handler and dog demographics were similar to previously reported demographics of agility participants in the United States. Reflexive thematic analysis of their comments related to the initial draft RPE logging tool yielded 3 initial themes, all of which supported a fourth and major theme: the need for specific and detailed training resources before agility handlers utilized the RPE tool. Of 18 handlers, 14 (78%) submitted logging records for the full week. Median time for data entry was 87 s (IQR = 56–117 s), and 92% of logging records were entered within 1 day of the events which were being recorded. In the follow-up questionnaire the handlers did not identify any major concerns. Based on all available data from the handlers, a final version of the RPE logging tool was produced. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Agility dog handlers are very interested in developing and validating tools to quantify training load for their dogs. The final RPE logging tool was quick and easy to use. Further validation of this logging tool is required with a larger number of handlers and comparison to physiologic data from exercising dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Injuries in agility dogs are common. Border Collies are the most common dog breed participating in agility and their reported injury rate is notably higher than that of other breeds. Understanding the risk factors for injury allows for improved education and awareness and the development of injury prevention strategies, as well as improved management plans post-injury. Our aim was to identify which demographic, training, and competition variables were associated with the injury risk specifically in Border Collies. An increased risk of injury in Border Collies was associated with the following factors: the height of jumps relative to the shoulder height, the number of competitions at the national level, the age at the beginning of elbow height jumping, and the number of weekends spent competing during the year. Other factors associated with the injury risk included the age at the beginning of backside jumps, the acquisition of the dog from a breeder, and the age of the handler. These data provide valuable information about the possible risk factors for injury in Border Collies and highlight the need for prospective studies on injuries in agility dogs and the relationships between injuries and the breed, conformation, and genetics. Border Collies are the most common breed in agility and their reported injury rate is much higher than that of other breeds. We aimed to identify demographic, training, and competition variables associated with the injury risk for this breed. We hypothesized that higher jump heights and competition at national/international levels would increase the injury risk. Data were collected from an internet-based survey. A logistic regression model was built using backward selection. There were 934 Border Collies in the sample, with 488 reporting an injury. The jump height relative to the shoulder height was associated with injury, with dogs jumping noticeably above or below shoulder height more likely to report a history of injury. Other identified risk factors included the number of weekends spent competing/year, the number of competitions at the national level, the age when starting elbow height jumps and backside jumps, the acquisition of the dog from a breeder, and the age of the handler. Factors associated with prolonged injury (>3-month duration) were the age when starting elbow height jumps and having a veterinary assistant as a handler. Border Collies jumping above shoulder height had an increased risk of injury. However, those jumping below shoulder height were also at a higher risk, which could have been due to reverse causality. Similarly, the observed associations regarding differences based on the number of trial weekends/year may have been impacted by reverse causality as well. The increased risk of injury with elbow height jump training at <10 months of age may indicate that the repetitive impact of jump training prior to skeletal maturity negatively influences musculoskeletal development. These data provide valuable information for further prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the type of veterinary care sought by handlers of injured agility dogs, the types of treatments the dogs received, and the timeframe for return to training and competition., Procedures: Owners of agility dogs completed an internet-based survey. They were instructed to report injuries that had kept the dog from training or competing for over a week, identify which area(s) of the body had been injured and answer questions about the most severe injury to each body part. Additional questions included if handlers had sought veterinary care, who primarily determined treatment, type of treatment(s), and length of time before the dog could return to full training and competition., Results: This sample included data on 1,714 total injuries from 1,256 unique dogs. Handlers sought veterinary care for over 80% of injuries across all anatomical locations. Handlers were most likely to seek specialty veterinary care for reported injuries to the stifle (71%), iliopsoas (63%) and tibia (61%), and least likely for reported injuries to the carpus (34%), metatarsus (33%) and metacarpus (22%). Treatment of reported injuries to the antebrachium and stifle were most likely to be directed by a veterinarian (>70%), while reported injuries of the thigh (51%) and hip (53%) were least likely. Rest was the most common treatment for all injuries. Return to sport within 3 months was common (>67%) for most perceived injury locations, though dogs with reported stifle injuries took longer to return to competition and had a higher rate of retirement., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Owners of agility dogs have a high rate of seeking veterinary care for injuries. Overall return to sport rates were high, with the stifle being the notable exception. Future studies regarding specific treatment of injuries in agility dogs, and how injuries and their treatment affect return to agility after injury are required to provide optimal care protocols for these canine athletes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Alva, Pechette Markley, Shoben and Kieves.)

Introduction: Canine agility competitions are performed on a variety of surfaces. In the equine and human literature, surface type has been associated with speed, performance, and injury risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of general surface type and time of day on calculated speed (yards per second over a measured course distance) and course performance during the UKI Agility International (UKI) U.S. Open. We hypothesized that surface type would affect calculated speed, with sand being the slowest., Materials and Methods: Data on course performance from the 2021 and 2022 events were obtained directly from UKI. The officiating judge measured course length, automatic timers recorded dogs' course times, and speeds were calculated from these values. Three surfaces (dirt, grass, and sand) were compared across three categories of courses (jumpers, standard, and speedstakes). Differences in calculated speeds and qualifying rates were estimated using generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for multiple runs by the same handler., Results: Among jumpers courses, those run on sand in 2021 were markedly slower than those run on dirt. Grass and dirt were more similar in terms of average calculated speed, though some courses run on grass were significantly faster than courses run on dirt and vice versa. Time of day effects observed were inconsistent, with more variability observed for dirt and sand than for grass., Discussion: There was a notable variation in calculate speed based on surface with sand being slowest, likely due to the increased energy cost required to run on sand due to its high compliance. Calculated speeds on grass and dirt appeared generally similar, but there was substantial variability of calculated speed among various courses, making comparison of surface effects challenging. Variables within the surface itself (such as compaction level and moisture content) likely play a role in the effects of surface on speed and performance. This study provides insight into the complexity of surface effects on performance in agility dogs and highlights the need for canine-specific surface studies on the effect of surface variables and how these relate to risk of development of musculoskeletal injuries., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Pechette Markley, Kieves, Rivas and Shoben.)