Small and medium agility dogs alter their kinematics when the distance between hurdles differs

Abstract

There is currently a lack of research examining the health and welfare implications for competitive agility dogs. The aim of this study was to examine if jump kinematics and apparent joint angles in medium (351-430 mm to the withers) and small (<350 mm to the withers) agility dogs altered when distances between consecutive upright hurdles differ. Dogs ran a course of nine hurdles; three set at 3.6 m apart; three at 4 m apart and three at 5 m apart. Both medium (P=0.044) and small (P=0.006) dogs landed closer to the hurdle when consecutive hurdles were set 3.6 m apart, with small dogs jumping slower at this distance (P=0.006). Results indicate that jump kinematics, but not apparent joint angles, alter when the spacing between hurdles differs. These findings may have implications for the health and welfare of agility dogs and should be used to inform future changes to rules and regulations.

Comparative Kinematic Analysis of Hurdle Clearance Technique in Dogs: A Preliminary Report

“…Consequently, to clear a single hurdle, long and quick jumps should be considered as positive. It has been shown that beginner dogs jumped slower than higher-skilled dogs, illustrating how speed may contribute to dogs advancing up a competitive level or, arguably, how speed will increase with skill [11]. In the present study, dogs in group A showed longer and quicker jumps than dogs in group B.…”

“…Several similar studies have used markers glued on the dog’s skin as anatomical references [ 10 , 14 ]. In order to create greater feasibility and a simpler recording procedure as found in similar studies [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 15 ], we did not use markers. However, the anatomical references used in the present study could be easily located in the video images, as they were in the cited studies.…”

“…Take-off was determined as the first frame with the trailing hind limb off the floor, and landing was determined as the first frame where the leading forelimb first contacted the ground ( Figure 2 ). Based on previously published articles [ 11 , 12 , 15 ], the apparent locations of withers and tuber sacrale of the ilium (prominent point of the hip bone) were marked along the jump in the video images, and the back line was established between these two references. The back inclination angle, between the horizontal plane and the back line, was calculated throughout the suspension phase of the jump.…”

“…The kinematics of hurdle clearance has been considered extensively in human athletes [ 2 , 3 ]. In quadrupeds, the kinematics of hurdle clearance has been analyzed in horses [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] and, more recently, in dogs [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. In horses, the performance characteristics of good jumpers have been analyzed [ 4 ], and some contributing factors to successfully jump over different obstacles were determined [ 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…These studies reveal that take-off and landing positions, the height of the center of gravity at the apex of the jump, and the duration of the suspension phase are among the most important biomechanical variables to investigate. Similarly, in agility dogs, some studies illustrate how jump kinematics become altered when the distance between hurdles is modified [ 11 , 12 ] or when the hurdle height increases [ 13 , 14 ]. It has been shown that, when jumping consecutive hurdles, more-skilled dogs take off and land farther away from the hurdle at a greater speed when compared to less-skilled dogs [ 12 ].…”