Please take a good look at this handsome boy. This is Bailey, my rat terrier. I think he's very handsome. Now look at his back legs... see how straight the angulation is? He is what the vet calls "post legged", and it is a conformation defect, and this poor angulation is more than likely the reason Bailey injured his right rear thigh.
He talked to me a long time about this yesterday, and enlightened me to some things I did not know. I'm sharing this information with you because it might be beneficial to someone else. He talked about how good (correct) conformation starts with good angulation. If a dog has poor running gear, no matter how much ability and desire it has, its ability is hampered. Angulation refers to the way a dog's bones and joints fit together in relation to the job they are supposed to do. Good angulation allows a dog to take a full, long stride with its front legs, and to push off with greater strength and power with the hind legs. It enables a dog to move more freely, with more speed and more endurance. He told me that a dog with poor angulation will be 33% less efficient at his job, and in today's job market, most of us won't have a job if we don't give 100%. It's no different with what we expect our dogs to do. If we expect them to give 100% in a particular activity (such as agility), we need to have a dog with the conformation that will allow them to do their job.
Good angulation also provides shock absorption for the dog's bones and joints. Leg bones that are aligned in a perfectly straight column, with little or no angle (like Bailey's are), have little shock absorption and not much leverage for movement either. In ordinary, common day life... this might not matter. But if you have a dog who is doing agility like mine is, and who is VERY VERY active... it does matter. The chance for injury is higher, and if I continue with Bailey in agility, there are several precautions I'm going to have to take, AND I must accept the fact that there are some things he won't be able to do as effectively (such as going down the a-frame.... he races up the a-frame but creeps down the other side, and now I know why..). So I now know not to push him. Actually, my trainer had alluded to this on several occasions, so the vet merely confirmed what she already knew. I could care less about Bailey being post legged. I love him just the same as if he were "perfect". But you need to know this is something that is common with this breed... in fact I've noticed it in several pictures of other dogs that have been posted on the forum, but didn't know about it then. I post this information so if you DO have a dog who has only a 10% angulation (as Bailey does) ... (30% is preferred)... just be careful not to ask more of your furbaby that he/she can deliver activity-wise. At least be aware of it.
As for us? We'll continue with Bailey's agility, but will take extra precautions. We will NOT stretch cold muscles, and we WILL be sure to stretch after each session of strenuous activity. I will NOT ask Bailey to fly down the a-frame... I won't ask more of him than he is able to deliver. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I posted it because it's new knowledge for me, and might be beneficial to you too! I think it's important to share information such as this with our forum members.
My vet told me we could continue our agility journey, but to do so will require some specific extra precautions. I'm willing to do that in order not to subject Bailey to further injuries. Some of you are considering agility for your dogs... please be sure if your dog's angulation isn't what it should be... take these extra precautions too! Have your vet check out your dog's angulation before starting any strenuous activity. Also, if you have a dog which is a jumper (and most rat terriers are!)... please have it checked out next time you visit your vet.
By the way, my vet said this poor angulation is not as common in the TYPE B ratties.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
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