A stray used to follow me regularly on my walks. He was just skin and bones and walked in a very strange way. That's why I called him Charlie (Chaplin!) and finally adopted him.

Vets opinon: He must have recieved from someone a strong blow on his head. A sort of hollow or dent can still be seen. He has due to this problems with the balance and the coordination. To notice this you don't need to be a Vet. He also said, I'd only waste time and money if training him. I'm 100% against this opinion.

I began to train him the following way (about a year ago, of course marker training): getting used to a leash, send away and return, handtouch and making circles and curves following my hand, going around different things (which was very difficult for him at first), coming between my legs (not yet on command) stepping up on something, sitting and keeping a few seconds eye contact. Most of it he learned quite well, though slower than my other dogs of course.

With sitting he has problems, but makes progress. He cannot sit quiet for more than two or three seconds. Stepping up on a kuranda bed he does, on that LB black round touch pad too. Stepping on to a banc, which is higher, he succeeds only with his front paws. His hind legs seem to be too weak. Once I tried to lift him up a bit, but this frightened him, he squeaked, so I left this. I'm going to try it with a little foot stool. Perhaps this will help.

I have also a very big gym ball, which I use to make him stand on his hind legs a bit higher in order to strengthen them and to further his sense of balance. Here he is already surprisingly good, even though he can keep himself up there only for a short time. But I think, this will just be a question of enough training.

What else could or should I do? Or what should I leave? Has anyone an idea or perhaps even experience with such dogs?
I'd be so grateful for any answer. I love this dog as much as my other three and I'd like to give him the best I can.

Susan garrett posted some videos of the work she did to help one of her dogs recover from seizure related brain damage.

Here's one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29zkd7QKptE

And the accompanying blog post: http://susangarrettdogagility.com/2013/03/your-dog-recovering-from-severe-trauma-is-there-a-baseline/

QUOTE
"I think, this will just be a question of enough training".

I believe what you said here helps answer your own question.


Only time will tell how far you may be able to take this dog but what your doing is very commendable.

At the very least your helping the dog relearn how his muscles work and you will be creating a great bond while doing it.

IF he's capable I would see how well he can walk through a ladder laying on the ground.

Just walk across it from side to side to start then work on it end to end if the side to side goes well.

Don't push to far. If he tires or starts showing stress then then just step off to the side.

That can be a big help for any dog in learning rear end/leg awareness.

Thanks! Charlie is a wonderful dog. One year ago he was unable to climb down and up the relatively high steps (only 3) of a stair. Now he does it without problem.

In the swimming pool he doesn't find the stairs which lead out. I'm always swimming with him, so I can help him. But once I tried to make him find the way out himself. Then he swam against the wall and began to panic. So I don't this again.

He swims well, but he feels unsure. I thought it would be a good exercise for him, but I'm uncertain if I should go on with this. On the other hand how can he gain more self- confidence, if I don't teach him to cope with a certain amount of fear?

Forgot. And of course I will try the exercise with the ladder. Sound good. I think I first have to try it myself!

There are currently 2 brain damaged Malinois littermates being raised by ABMR - their names are Eos and Selene (cerebral insufficiency related to a spongiform encephalopathy, from what I've gathered) They currently have their own facebook page and they're doing a lot of physical therapy with them to help with their ability to control their bodies - it may be something you want to follow for ideas

Thanks a lot, Cathy, for the links. I went on the site of Susan Garret and saw a lot of exercises which I can use with Charlies progress going on. Great fun!

Thanks so much Kristin. This will be of great help as well for Charlie as for myself.

 Quote: Bob Scott

QUOTE
"I think, this will just be a question of enough training".

I believe what you said here helps answer your own question.


Only time will tell how far you may be able to take this dog but what your doing is very commendable.

At the very least your helping the dog relearn how his muscles work and you will be creating a great bond while doing it.

IF he's capable I would see how well he can walk through a ladder laying on the ground.

Just walk across it from side to side to start then work on it end to end if the side to side goes well.

Don't push to far. If he tires or starts showing stress then then just step off to the side.

That can be a big help for any dog in learning rear end/leg awareness.


Hi, Bob, I tried this with the ladder. From side to side Charlie does it quite well. From end to end he has still a confusion with his legs. Of course I have only begun, so it will need some time. The greatest problems he has always with the hindlegs.

I'm asking myself if I should go to the Vet again and insist that he examines him better. By naked eye he cannot find out, what the reason really is. Perhaps he should make a bloodtest or an x-ray or both or I don't know what. May be it is "just" a result of the traumatism from the blow, perhaps it is something else. I also thought about changing the Vet, but he is known as the best one here. On the other hand the meaning of the majority doesn't necessarily be right.

What would you do?

I can only advise you to go with your gut feelings.

It may be worthwhile to ask your regular vet if there are any vets that specialize in neurological issues. That may be expensive though.