10/01/2025
This! Most of the dogs we choose for sport have a strong desire to do the thing. The signs can be very subtle for these ‘master compensators’ as I call them.
“My dog has never had an injury.”
“My dog runs very fast.”
“My dog Q-ed on that tricky course.”
“My dog came 1st place among X number of dogs.”
It’s easy to think: If my dog is performing well in [insert your sport], they must not have any discomfort or pain, right?
That’s probably wrong.
More often, it just means they are excellent at compensating.
“…but they’re not knocking bars.”
“…but I don’t see issues in their runs.”
Just because your dog performs well does not mean they are pain-free.
Think about human athletes at world events. Many stand on the podium with stellar performances—yet plenty are managing strains, sprains, or fractures.
⭐ Good performance ≠ absence of pain ⭐
Dogs are no different. They can push through soreness, stiffness, or injury—whether that’s in sports like agility, flyball, and dock diving, or simply chasing squirrels and roughhousing with friends.
The difference?
Human athletes choose to compete despite discomfort.
Our canine athletes don’t get that choice.
Some dogs may refuse to participate if they’re uncomfortable, but most will keep playing the game because they love it—and because they want to please us. By the time we notice a dip in performance, they may have been compensating for a long time.
⭐️ Good performance ≠ absence of pain ⭐️
Be your canine companion's advocate - prioritize their wellness before discomfort turns into injury.
