06/01/2026
Bandicoot!!
This very handsome boy had a breakthrough in his session this week. We have been working really hard to build his confidence being assessed and handled by me for many months, slowly introducing different aspects of physiotherapy assessment and treatment.
Malinois and other guarding breeds are often naturally suspicious of people and there are many of these breeds where veterinary care requires muzzling for the safety of dog and professional. This can make true assessment difficult due to the inevitable increased tension in the muscles due to the anxiety of being touched and predicting this when they’re muzzled.
Being a sports dog Bandicoot’s owner knew how important it was for him to be happy to have physical assessment and treatment. With a little support from his very relaxed housemate as a role model we were able to complete a full assessment and treatment session yesterday with a happy, non anxious dog.
Teamwork, patience and training is often part of the process for these dogs, a credit to his owners for not giving up and trusting me with this process that’s allowed us to get him to this point and hopefully will help us maintain him as a happy and healthy spots dog for the rest of his life!
If you’ve got a dog who’s nervous of handling please don’t hesitate to contact me.
