Kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiences

ABSTRACT: The injury rate in agility dogs is relatively high compared to the general population. No study to date has considered the biomechanical effects of the dog walk obstacle in agility trials, highlighting a research need. This study assessed forelimb joint kinematics and peak ground reaction...

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Main Authors: Gemma Anthony, Scott Blake, Roberta Blake
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria 2024-02-01
Series:Ciência Rural
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-84782024000600603&tlng=en
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author Gemma Anthony
Scott Blake
Roberta Blake
author_facet Gemma Anthony
Scott Blake
Roberta Blake
author_sort Gemma Anthony
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: The injury rate in agility dogs is relatively high compared to the general population. No study to date has considered the biomechanical effects of the dog walk obstacle in agility trials, highlighting a research need. This study assessed forelimb joint kinematics and peak ground reaction forces (PVF) over a dog walk agility obstacle and correlate with experience. Ten (n = 10) dogs were filmed running across a Kennel Club (KC) standard dog walk for kinematics analysis. Two pressure sensors were secured to the (1) dog walk contact area at exit and (2) ground at the end of the dog walk (landing area) for kinetics analysis. Forelimb joints angles and PVF at the contact zone at the walk exit and landing were analysed. A key finding is that the way a dog will move across the obstacle changes depending on their level of experience, with experienced dogs showing faster obstacle negotiation and increased flexion of the elbow joint compared to inexperienced competitors. Higher speeds over the dog walk also resulted in significantly increased elbow joint flexion. Another important finding is that PVF at landing are higher is dogs that are faster and also in dogs performing running technique in comparison to stopped technique. Overall, dog walk obstacle created more forelimbs joint flexion and similar PVF in comparison with previously studied agility contact obstacles which leads us to conclude that further research is required to ascertain the long term health implications for dogs used in agility trials.
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spelling doaj.art-75d55be5e68d41e1a5f20ba6833cfeb52024-02-06T07:40:17ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa MariaCiência Rural1678-45962024-02-0154610.1590/0103-8478cr20230211Kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiencesGemma Anthonyhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-7209-9467Scott Blakehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1435-9677Roberta Blakehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0037-5286ABSTRACT: The injury rate in agility dogs is relatively high compared to the general population. No study to date has considered the biomechanical effects of the dog walk obstacle in agility trials, highlighting a research need. This study assessed forelimb joint kinematics and peak ground reaction forces (PVF) over a dog walk agility obstacle and correlate with experience. Ten (n = 10) dogs were filmed running across a Kennel Club (KC) standard dog walk for kinematics analysis. Two pressure sensors were secured to the (1) dog walk contact area at exit and (2) ground at the end of the dog walk (landing area) for kinetics analysis. Forelimb joints angles and PVF at the contact zone at the walk exit and landing were analysed. A key finding is that the way a dog will move across the obstacle changes depending on their level of experience, with experienced dogs showing faster obstacle negotiation and increased flexion of the elbow joint compared to inexperienced competitors. Higher speeds over the dog walk also resulted in significantly increased elbow joint flexion. Another important finding is that PVF at landing are higher is dogs that are faster and also in dogs performing running technique in comparison to stopped technique. Overall, dog walk obstacle created more forelimbs joint flexion and similar PVF in comparison with previously studied agility contact obstacles which leads us to conclude that further research is required to ascertain the long term health implications for dogs used in agility trials.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-84782024000600603&tlng=enagilitybiomechanicscanineobstacle
spellingShingle Gemma Anthony
Scott Blake
Roberta Blake
Kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiences
Ciência Rural
agility
biomechanics
canine
obstacle
title Kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiences
title_full Kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiences
title_fullStr Kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiences
title_full_unstemmed Kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiences
title_short Kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiences
title_sort kinetics and kinematics of dog walk exercise in agility dogs of different experiences
topic agility
biomechanics
canine
obstacle
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-84782024000600603&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT gemmaanthony kineticsandkinematicsofdogwalkexerciseinagilitydogsofdifferentexperiences
AT scottblake kineticsandkinematicsofdogwalkexerciseinagilitydogsofdifferentexperiences
AT robertablake kineticsandkinematicsofdogwalkexerciseinagilitydogsofdifferentexperiences