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Hey Y\'all Im just wondering if anyone knows about dogs with arthritis and pinning?? We are taking some initiative with the dog that has been abandoned at my work Taff and today we took him to the park and did some pinning however after about the 2nd pin he began to yelp when we sat him back up, now with a young dog i know that this would be their way of saying \"i dont want to\" however this dog has some lower back and back leg issues that seem like arthritis (he has not been seen by a vet yet however his back and back legs are sensitive and he limps after a long walk) So I guess here is my question is it better to do the continuous pinning (20 reps?) or to do soft pins (down on leash)?? He can do soft pins without yelping. We dont really have any issues with him he is great with other dogs (except for being a loud player and sometimes stealing the younger dogs toys) he walks off leash and doesnt leave us, we can take bones out of his mouth everything!! We just want to do the pins to insure he knows we are alpha!! I guess another question would be do we even need to do pins??? Thanks in advance ladies and gentlemen This is a pic of Taff ( i have posted it before hes just so handsome i had to post him again )

I would say if soft pins are doable for him and dont cause pain and his behaviour is that he is well adjusted and see you as alpha then I would use them, I would be random about it though instead of doing them continueosly (sp) that way you wont be putting repeated stress on his bad joints.
Just my take on the situation.
DragonRider/Meaghan

So hard to understand how some people can just abandon a dog like that. It is so great that you are working with him and taking him out!!
Anyway... IN MY EXPERIENCE with MY DOG that has hip dysplasia, I cannot do continuous pins. He has adapted ways of getting up, sitting, etc. and needs his front leg/upper body strength to maneuver himself. When needed, I do pin him 1 rep, and I am also able to do random soft pins. This seems to work with my dog.

if my dog (rotti) had arthritis i would not do any pinning full stop

Awesome Ladies thanks for your advice! I dont think we will stop pinning him fully but maybe only a few soft pins a week! We really like him and if we can ever find a place to move to we will be taking him home (granted that I haven\'t found him one by then) so for now (as our landlords will only allow us to have Rowdie at our place) he stays at my work and we walk him daily at the park and take him off leash hiking and swimming on saturdays and sundays!! He is also on the Best in Show powder to see if we can ease some of his discomfort!!

Thanks Kim we are trying I dont know how anyone could abandon him here either if it wasn\'t for me trying to take him he would be at the SPCA and probably PTS cause of his age!! I guess people dont feel as guilty if they dont know what happens to them??? Its horrible though cause ALL dogs that are dopped off for boarding and never picked up end up at the SPCA!!! Its sad to think how much he loved his family and that they could just leave him here not knowning im sure he has stoped wodering where they are by now (he has been here since Dec 6th 2007) so \'m sure he just thinks this is the way he lives!!

Anywho Thanks again for the insight If we ever get him home we will stop pinning all together once we know how he will act with us at home!!
Keep our fingers crossed the transition with him and Rowdie goes smooth too LOL!!!

Aw cute pic.. he really is a beautiful dog.. I would imagine, being an older man he should be no problem once you eventually bring him home with rowdie, now this is just imo but i dont think there should be a problem.. hehe.. especially since rowdie, and it sounds like with this old boy too know that you are the alpha, not one of them.. good job, keep up the good work!

We dont really have any issues with him he is great with other dogs (except for being a loud player and sometimes stealing the younger dogs toys) he walks off leash and doesnt leave us, we can take bones out of his mouth everything.
I have read your post 3 times and can't for the life of me understand why you continue to pin this dog.
You suspect he has arthritis and think his yelping is out of discomfort, not displeasure. Big difference.
I'm not trying to tick you off but I can't understand your thinking.
If you have a valid reason to continue pinning this dog, please share it.

We will not be \"pinning\" so to speak but soft pins where you put your foot on the leash, that doesnt hurt him just the regular repetitious pinning was hurting him and we stoped after the 2nd time he yelped! Im not ticked off i also asked if we should even be pinning him at all?? I was looking for people to share!! Are you asking y im pinning cause I dont need to or are u asking cause ur wondering y im pinning someone elses dog???

We are just wanting to start off on the right foot with him and do everything right, before he comes into our home!!

Sounds like Taff doesn't NEED the pinning exercise. From your posts about him (past ones too) he sounds like a GREAT dog that is really LOOKING be BE lead by someone. It doesn't sound HE wants to be Alpha and I believe that is what the pinning exercise is about - helping enforce the fact that you/we al Alpha. Am I right folks ?

Taff sounds like the perfect gentleman.
I have never really looked at a dog before and had such emotion about it, as I have had when I see Taff's pictures and I hear about him in your posts.
Just like I've never had the desire to just scoop a dog up and bring him home to stay with me - but Taff has definatly brought out these emotions in me.
I've never even thought of having 2 dogs at the same time (especially after going throught he puppy phses for the first time in my life - WHAT an experience !) but I'd scoop up Taff in an instant if I was closer to you!
I wish that you get to bring him home on a permanent basis really soon. You sure sound like your doing great things with him and you sure are doing right by him !
You'd give him a great home!

Just a question - I assume Rowdie stays home during the day? You're a groomer , right? And Taff stays at your work during the day ?
If that's the case, would your landlord be less concerned that you have a 2nd dog that would only be home on eves & weekends?
Can you tell I REALLY want him to have a permanent home with you?

Look at that face!! How could someone just drop him off and forget about him?

About his arthritis--have you tried glucosomine supplements, or some kind of fish oil caplets? Those worked wonders on our old dog, and you can get both at a regular pharmacy.