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Is the "sit pretty" trick bad for their knees? I noticed when my Chloe does this trick her knees bend. I stopped doing this trick because I'm scared to make her hold that position. Is this trick ok? It's adorable but if it's not safe I won't continue this trick. |
I'm not sure what you mean relative to knees bending. The back legs are bent in the sit position. My concern with Max was that he fell over on his back, so I don't do this trick with him. Many dogs do it safely and naturally. |
My late Jilly had a lst degree LP in each knee so I never had her to any tricks of any kind to increase her usage of those bad joints in any way that wasn't just an everyday part of her daily living activities. She was taught to come, wait, stop and stand in place and not to dart out the door (which she wasn't the least bit interested in anyway) but other than that, I had her do no extra things other than our walks outside and normal play. She lived to be 13 and never had a limping session or any trouble walking, jumping or any problems with the knee catching or popping. She never bit at or seemed to have any special trouble in her knees but with that diagnosis, I was very careful of how she lived her life to avoid stressing those little knees. I don't know if that helped her knees or not but I just couldn't ask her to do things that called for her to do extra bends of her knees in doing tricks knowing she had a mild case of bilateral patellar subluxation. |
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Aw! Poor Max! Lol! For dogs with balance issues, this trick can first be taught with a wall behind the dog, or with the dog between your feet using your lower legs to balance against. I always have my hands ready to assist, some will put a paw on my hand for balance in the beginning. After a few times (or more, regular practice) their muscles will develop and they'll be able to sit up on their own. The main problems in younger dogs under 1 year (I think) of age occur with high impact tricks... in agility training over jumps and such. Also in teaching a handstand too early. |
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Max had powerful legs and great body presence from the start, but just wasn't a natural for the sit pretty trick. He could stand upright on his hind legs in place easily. He could also go from a seated position to jumping into our laps on the couch seemingly without flexing a muscle. Instead of sit pretty, he does the Karate Kid when he wrestles Teddy :D: Attachment 400516 |
Thank you, guys! I think I probably won't do this trick anymore because I don't want to cause any unnecessary strain on her knees/back legs.. and LOL Kristin I like that Karate Kid pose :D |
Sitting pretty is actually a trick recommended to build up muscle. :) I do it with Jackson all the time. I think it's part of the reason (along with the swimming) he has such strong back leg muscles. |
I think Sit pretty might be Beg at least in my lexicon. that is the dog sits and then lifts their front paws off the floor The back muscles and hip joints take the most load in this position and not the knees. Jumping is another kettle of fish, as is weaving, like doing weave poles in agility. As someone said you actually teach this trick on a solid non slip surface and first with their back cushioned either against a wall or your legs. Building the upper thigh muscles and lower thigh muscles is a very good thing to do with a dog with LP. Once again I will mention swimming, as just a great overall exercise for dogs. Then lots and lots of walking. Hill climbing, walking through sand and or different surfaces. Believe it or not, but having your dog just stand still in a Stack position does strengthen all their postural muscles. And is a good exercise to do. |
Callie does this trick and at the time we started doing it she had already had LP fixed in one knee and had LP non fixed in her other knee and she never showed pain or anything. I can't check and see because she is still on crate rest but not sure it would effect the knees much. This is actually Callie's favorite trick if I get a training treat out she automatically does it lol. |
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