Peso's Corner

Peso's life was tragically cut short in the fall of 2004, when she died at the age of 4. We are still reeling from the loss. Our little pack is just not the same without her to lighten things up. Although we only got to spend a few short years with Peso, I gained incredible knowledge and experience from this amazing dog. With her calm and solid temperament, Peso helped educate many poorly socialized dogs and was truly a gift from God that every dog trainer (and owner) dreams about. We often would brag that Peso was "the best dog we have!". She was proof that counter conditioning is a magnificent tool! She was loved by many, and will always be remembered as a happy, barking girl with a beautiful face. My only regret is that we did not get to do all the things I had wanted to do. There was so much fun yet to be had... I can't believe she is gone...

Peso was diagnosed with double hip dysplasia as a puppy and by the time she was 3 years old had both hips operated on. I did everything in my power to give Peso the pain free life that she deserved. Hopefully some of the information below will be helpful to others who have dogs with hip dysplasia. This was written well before she died and I believe I'm going to leave it just like it is, in memory of her. Thank You to all who have sent prayers to us. We have felt them.

Hey Peso, I hope you can bark louder, jump higher and run faster! I love you!

What Peso had to say about her condition

HI! My name is formally Twin Oaks Tuff Money, but I think that’s a silly name, so you can just call me PESO! for short. I’m a female Australian Shepherd, and my job in life is to be a demo dog for my mom, Audrey. I am also a Canine Good Citizen!

I go to lots of classes and private lessons and just hang out. I get to meet all kinds of dogs and boy am I popular! Even the grouchy dogs like me! Sometimes dogs snap and lunge at me and all I do is roll over and pretty soon everybody chills out so we can start playing. I’ve found a ton of dogs out there that don’t like other dogs, and I think it’s my job to make them like me! My mom says I have excellent social skills!

My life has not always been a bowl of dog biscuits though. I was born with hip dysplasia (HD). My mom says that simply means I have poorly formed hips. I had surgery, however, in April 2002 - a Femoral Head Osectomy (FHO).

My brother Pyro (Border Collie) got diagnosed with HD too! There must be something in the water around here! He had the Penn Hip done at 8 months, soon after his initial set of x-rays. This is when the orthopedic surgeons confirmed his diagnosis. Pyro is going to a new home where he will not do agility. My mom says that he may never be lame like me and she does not want to make him lame by doing agility. Click here for an update on Pyro!

He’s a really cool dog, he and I will miss each other terribly! We play as much as we can until mom makes us stop. Py likes to tug on my ears but I don’t mind; he’s just a baby!

Anyway, I think it’s important for all dogs that are going to be bred or trained for performance to get their hips x-rayed. It’s good information for your parents to have BEFORE you show up lame. So, go get your hips x-rayed and if they are not PERFECT in everyway, help the future dog population and get fixed!

Happy Training!

Peso, CGC

So this means that I got it from my parents some how. Nobody knows why I got it and my siblings did not though. Bad luck I guess huh? Even though I seemed normal at birth, something changed as I grew, and this is how I was eventually diagnosed with HD. I was about 8 months old when we found out.

“Regardless of changes in the concepts of the mode of inheritance, or how the genes exert their influence, scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that hip dysplasia is controllable by selective breeding.”

“A growing body of scientific information from multiple independent laboratories confirms that the Penn HIP method surpasses other diagnostic methods in its ability to measure hip joint laxity and accurately predict the onset of DJD. The Penn HIP method can be performed on dogs as young as sixteen weeks of age compared with two years using the standard technique. The data generated by Penn HIP allows breeders to confidently identify the members of their breeding stock with the tightest hips and the best breeding potential. Pet owners are able to obtain an estimate of their dog's risk for developing DJD and, if necessary, make lifestyle adjustments for their dog to enhance the quality of their pet's life. The Penn HIP interpretation will also permit breeders to assess the progress they are making with their breeding program.”

Preliminary evaluations can be performed after 4 to 5 months of age. OFA evaluations are about 90% accurate when compared to follow-ups of the same animal at 24 months of age. The reason to obtain preliminary status is to minimize the emotional and financial burden if the animal is found to have hip dysplasia.