dynamic dog
At-home gait, posture, & movement assessment
for dog owners
“My dog isn’t in pain. They can play fetch for hours!”
“Your dog wouldn’t be able to run like that if she was in pain.”
”My dog loves his walks! He’s crazy when I pick up his harness and he races out the door, pulling me the whole way!”
“We don’t believe our dog is in pain. It’s just his nature and breed that’s causing the reactivity.”
Those are real statements, but sadly, none of them are true. Your dog can do lots of things while dealing with pain. Movement, and even anticipation of movement, can release feel-good hormones into your dog’s body that mask pain, so they actually feel better while doing those activities.
A Dynamic Dog Assessment is a comprehensive, hands-off evaluation performed by trained practitioners that identifies subtle signs of pain and physical discomfort that often cause or contribute behavioral issues. The assessment involves a detailed analysis of a dog's posture, gait, movement, and daily activities to reveal how a dog's physical and emotional health are interconnected. This holistic approach goes beyond standard behavioral consultations, considering everything in the dog’s life.
Why a Dynamic Dog Assessment is crucial.
Identifies subtle pain: Dogs don’t show pain in obvious ways until it’s at a high level, so obvious signs like limping are often the last to appear. Subtle changes in behavior, movement, or posture, which are often missed by an untrained eye, can signal significant discomfort.
It takes place where the dog is the most comfortable - at home: It’s difficult to accurately assess a dog in a clinic setting. Dogs hide pain really well and many dogs are uncomfortable and even terrified in the clinic, so we don’t see what’s really going on with them.
Empowers owners with knowledge: The process educates owners on how to recognize the subtle, non-obvious signs of pain in their own dogs and empowers them to be a better advocate for their dog's well-being.
Challenges misinterpretations of behavior: A dog's behavior is frequently the only sign something is wrong. Some people might dismiss behavior as a dog being "stubborn," "quirky," or "reactive," when in reality, the dog is communicating they are in pain.
Reveals the whole picture: The assessment takes into consideration all aspects of a dog's daily life, from how they move, sleep, and play to their eating habits and so much more.
Provides evidence for veterinarians: Dynamic Dog Practitioners are trained to translate their observations into a detailed report for veterinarians, complete with photo and video evidence. This collaboration helps ensure underlying health issues are not overlooked.
Let’s chat! Click the button below to book your Free 15-minute Discovery Call.
The Dynamic Dog Assessment Process
Step 1: Initial Consultation
This takes place on Zoom. Lasting 1.5 - 2 hours, I take a look at what life is like for you and your dog. Be warned - I want to know EVERYTHING, which often leads us down previously unexplored territory.
Step 2: Data Gathering
Additional information gathered in visual form - photos and videos of your dog doing various activities of daily life so we can assess any physical issues.
Step 3: Evidence Analysis
Once all data is gathered, I spend a few days going over all the data & information given to me in the consultation along with all of the photos and videos, so I can build the full picture of what is going on for your dog.
Step 4: Report for Your Veterinarian
I then construct a comprehensive report with corresponding evidence for your dog’s veterinarian with my findings to ensure that any underlying health issues are diagnosed and supported so that they lessen the impact on your dog’s behavior.
Behavior Management Plan
Full behavioral management support during the initial two-week Dynamic Dog Assessment. Once we have the results of the assessment, I can continue to support you short term or long term with behavior & training help while your dog receives medical support from your veterinarian and beyond. Post-assessment support is charged at my regular training rates.
Cost: Full Dynamic Dog Functional Assessment is just $399. This includes the initial consultation, behavior support over the course of the assessment as needed, the documentation analysis, creation of the final report, and a meeting to go over my findings and review the final report.
This is a 2-3 week process that takes time and commitment from the dog owner. Please keep this in mind when scheduling the initial consultation.
The entire assessment can be done virtually or we can do a hybrid of in-person and virtual if you are located in my coverage area.
Please note: I do not diagnose any medical issues. I gather information and evidence to support any of my findings, and then objectively present everything to you and your vet as an aid to help figure out what is going on with your dog.
Let’s chat! Click the button below to book your Free 15-minute Discovery Call.
Why is pain the name of the game?
It's not always a limp or a whine! Pain related behavior is extremely complex. Dogs don't often show that they are experiencing discomfort in ways we would usually expect and their pain level may be a 6/10 before we see very obvious signs that they are struggling. It is often subtle and goes unnoticed for weeks, months and even years!
In a recent study carried out at Lincoln University by Daniel Mills, it was found that up to 80% of dogs that presented with behavioral issues had some form of undiagnosed pain that was a direct cause or adding to a problematic behavior. You can read the study here.
A Dynamic Dog Practitioner has been taught the skills to identify potential signs of discomfort and relay them to the vet so that you and your dog find relief sooner, while simultaneously helping you manage your dog’s behavior.
