leslie cassian

I'm trying to decide what to do about Ronan, my malinois. He is 4 now. I train (well, I try to train) schutzhund.

Took last winter and spring off and joined a new club recently.

He seems to be having problems with pain during bitework training. So far, we haven't done any real bitework, just some backtie/drive building, tug play.

I trained previoulsy with another club and had on and off issues with tugging causing pain. The worst incident - he was tugging for a reward, yelped, spit the tug, kept crying and held his front leg up - as if I had stomped on his toes. (I hadn't)

Stopped any tug/bitework and then tried again a few weeks later.

Never as extreme a reaction again.

He's never been jammed or anything like that - he's barely done any bitework.

So, back when this started I did see a vet, who was next to useless... and beyond telling me his leg wasn't fractured, didn't have much else to say other than rest him. I don't see that vet anymore.

I also did some chiropractic, which may have helped, but I just couldn't afford to go week after week for adjustments.

Clearly he has an issue in his head/neck/shoulder area. Anyone have any experience with this or suggestions to help him?

He's never going to be an outstanding SchH dog, but I had hoped to get at least a 1 on him and then the wee striped demon pup would be old enough to start training.

Or do I just retire him now?