Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - CC290: Dogs With Long Backs

Course Details

Long backs in dogs come in many shapes and sizes. There are many long backed breeds, such as Daschunds, Corgis, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and many more. Thee are also many breeds that may have a longer back than normal. Examples of these include Border Collies, German Shepherds, Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers. Dogs with longer backs require more core strength to assist in the prevention of injuries related to the length of their spine. Common injuries seen in dogs with long backs include intervertebral disc disease, iliopsoas strains, soft tissue injuries of the shoulder, cranial cruciate injuries, and soft tissue injuries of the spine.

This course will assist the owner in determining if your dog has a longer back and designing a program to assist your long backed dog live a healthy and long life. Any active long backed dog will benefit from the programs in the course. In addition, a lecture will be dedicated on noticing any symptoms or potential problems in your long backed dog.

Teaching Approach

There will be one main lecture each week with homework. In addition, supplemental lectures will be provided throughout the week. :)

Instructor: Debbie (Gross) Torraca

Deborah (Gross) Torraca (she/her), DPT, MSPT, Diplomat ABPTS, CCRP has been involved in the field of animal physical rehabilitation for over 17 years and currently owns a small animal rehabilitation practice in Connecticut called Wizard of Paws Physical Rehabilitation for...(Click here for full bio and to view Debbie's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

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Week 1:

What is a long backed dog?
How do you determine if your dog is long backed?
What are injuries that long backed dogs are predisposed to?
Beginning exercises for long backed dogs

Week 2:

Stretching techniques for the long backed dogs
Intermediate exercises for long backed dogs
Can you beat the odds of disc disease with your long backed dog
How do I know if my dog has back pain?

Week 3:

Activities NOT recommended for long backed dogs
Activities requiring consideration for long backed dogs – inclusive of sports concerns
1. Agility
2. Obedience
3. Flyball
More intermediate exercises for long backed dogs

Week 4:

Advanced exercises for long backed dogs
Massage techniques for long backed dogs
Signs of problems in long backed dogs

Week 5:

Additional considerations in long backed dogs
More advanced techniques for long backed dogs

Week 6:

Putting together a complete program for your long backed dog
Multimodal approach to preventative care of the long backed dog
1. Strengthening
2. Acupuncture
3. Physical therapy
4. Chiropractic
5. Assisi Loop
6. Laser/photobiomodulation

Prerequisites & Supplies

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There are no prerequisites required for this class. :) I would like each participant to have a K9 Kore disk in a Base or a Diskit from TotoFit. Additional equipment will include an Orbit from TotoFit, a wedge from Totofit, and possibly an Infinity. However, if you already have equipment or cannot afford anything right now, do not let that deter you. There are many things that may be used. Please email me at deb@wizardofpaws.net and I will be able to help you with your individual dog. :)

Sample Lecture

We all love dogs in all shapes and sizes, or at least most of you! Some of us have predilections for specific types of dogs. Once you have had many of the long-backed dogs, you may become addicted! As one of my Daschund clients describes – ‘they are like potato chips – you cannot just have one!’ Some of the breeds are specifically bred to have long backs for a purpose. Other breeds are bred with long backs for a purely aesthetic reason.

So, what are some common long backed dogs?

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Dachshund – all varieties

Basset Hound

Westphalian Dachsbrake

Lancashire Heeler

Drever

Sussex Spaniel

Clumber Spaniel

Beagle

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Greyhound

Shih Tzus

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Llaso Apsos

Bulldogs

French Bulldogs

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

If your dog is not on the list, it does NOT mean they do not have a long back. Many breeds not in the common long backed dog list have long backs. German Shepherds have been bred for longer backs and probably fall into the ‘aesthetic’ reason column

Testimonials & Reviews

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A sampling of what prior students have said about this course...

Thanks Deb for an outstanding class! The timing was perfect for us-my long backed Field Spaniel had surgery for a ruptured disc in February. The things covered in this course will be part of our life now to hopefully prevent future issues! I wish that I had taken it at Gold, so hope that it will be repeated! And there's so many dog friends that would benefit from this class, I will be sending them your way! (Including my brother, who has 3 Clumbers!)

I have taken/loved most, if not all, of Dr Torraca's classes. This one is hands down my favorite!! Thank you for offering and hoping some day to attend at Gold Level.

Great course. I leaned a lot! I have a Corgi with a very long back and this course has taught me what measures I need to take to prevent harm to her, and what acivities I need to modify. I am very thankful to Debbie for teaching this course. Please continue!!!

Once again I have learned so much more than I expected (you would think I would know by now!) Information specific to my dog that I can use to provide my dog it's best life possible for as long as possible. I would certainly say that is worth the 'price of admission"!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this course!!! It is SO sensible. I loved the way Debbie explained things, relating activities to the dog's structure.

Registration

Next session starts: February 1, 2022
Registration starts: January 22, 2022
Registration ends: February 15, 2022

Registration opens at 10:00am Pacific Time.

CC290 Subscriptions

	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Tuition	$ 260.00	$ 130.00	$ 65.00
Enrollment Limits	12	15	Unlimited
Access all course lectures and materials	✔	✔	✔
Access to discussion and homework forums	✔	✔	✔
Read all posted questions and answers	✔	✔	✔
Watch all posted videos	✔	✔	✔
Post general questions to Discussion forum	✔	✔	✖
Submit written assignments	✔	✖	✖
Post dog specific questions	✔	With video only	✖
Post videos	✔	Up to 2	✖
Receive instructor feedback on	Questions All videos	Questions All videos	✖

Find more details, refund policies and answers to common questions in the Help center.

CC290: Dogs With Long Backs - Things You Need To Do