As tough as it may seem, and not having seen the pictures of the elbow, let me just say this. SAR is tough work, it is not just a walk in the park. Walking uneven surfaces, tracking, climbing and all the pysical challanges that lie ahead for an SAR dog will only aggravate this dogs condition. IF you have the choice why put the dog through it. As cold as it may sound, managing a rather large (for a law enforcement agency anyway) canine unit, a dog that is unable to work is of no benefit to those that need it. How much lameness is necceassay before a dog is removed from a search that you are detailed to perform. When do we stop the dog from working because he is in pain. SAR is dedicated work where the difference in life and death can be measured in very short segments of time. You asked for opinions and although it won't be a popular one, let the dog be a pet. Obtain a new one, have it xrayed prior to starting the training. The dogs physical ability to work is much more predictable.

DFrost

I agree with DFrost on this. I dont know if you are working with a unit or on your own, but I know that in my unit we would stop working a dog with a limitation like that. The main reason being, why waste our time training this dog when it will not be able to give back to the unit a full and long time as a operational SAR dog? I am sure you know that it is not easy work ans the dog needs to be able to push through weird terrain for long periods of time. It may really excaserbate his condition.

I am very sorry to hear of his diagnosis, I hope everything turns out okay for you.

I am with a unit, and having been on a few missions, I do have an understanding of what is involved. These are the exact concerns that I have been having. One thing that I would like to point out is that my dog is a scent discriminating tracking/trailing dog, and has not been trained for off lead area search. My vet said that because he works on lead, and his movement is restricted, the chances of doing further damage to the joint are much lower than if my dog worked off lead, and that my dog has time before the joint will be at the point where we should look at not working him anymore.

Another thing that comes to mind is, yes, it's true that by the time this dog in mission ready, he may not have many years of service left in him. But, as pointed out, there is no way to predict that. I heard of one other dog that worked until 8 years of age with ED, and was retired not because of the ED (he never developed lameness), but because of low drive.

There is a lot involved with this decision and I do appreciate the input. This is a tough decision for me.

Alright, my loyalty should be to the lost subject, not the dog. If there is the remotest chance that my dog will come up lame on a search, then he shouldn't be out there searching for a live subject. I still want to hear arguments pro and con, so keep em coming.

LSWANTSON, Sorry to hear of your partners medical problems. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Is he Certified and what level. This would be the determining factor I would use. 1-1/2 yrs is a long time with so many hours being together training.

Yes,you know that many many more hours are needed to keep him ready for deployment. The training is what I think will take a toll on his condition. The deployment is the same as game time. Hours of hard work training and then the deployment could be done in a matter of hours, or days.

This is a matter that I hope I won't have to deal with. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I'm sure I'll have too sooner or later.

My thoughts are with in this unfortunate decission you have. Good luck in your choice to what lies ahead for your K-9 partner.

A little thought USE THE PATIENCE YOU'VE GAINED IN YOUR TRAINING TO DECIDE YOUR K-9's FUTURE.

Again GOOD LUCK to YOU BOTH!!

No, he's not certified yet. We've still got a way to go before he'll be ready to test. But yes, I have invested so much time and energy into his training, and for it to be all for naught stinks big time. But, I have to think about the lost subject; that's what SAR is all about.

A thought did cross my mind though. I'm wondering if I could start him in cadaver. First, nobody's life is on the line. Second, most cadaver searches are within a reasonable distance from a unit vehicle, road, or trailhead. If he had to be taken off a search, it would not require the same resources as getting him out of the middle of the wilderness. Third, cadaver searches tend to be in contained areas, and can be done on lead. This would create much less wear and tear on his joints.

If I were to start him in cadaver, it would buy me some time to consider my long term goals and plans, and it would keep him training, which he enjoys. It would also be a learning experience for me, as I have never trained cadaver.

Thoughts??????? I'm open to any and all.

L Swanston, Don't know where you live, how about Water work as most is done in a boat?
Cadaver work would be less stressful on him physically.
Mentally much more stressfull as the reward of finding a live subject not there. Sometimes more then a toy is needed, the eurphoic atmosphere when someone lost will be missing. I've seen a few K-9's get very depressed at not finding the body and some even more so when they do.

This work is not for everyone either. It takes a special person to deal with this type sitution as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> TALK WITH OTHER TEAM MEMBERS!

As I posted USE YOUR TRAINING,PATIENCE GAINED THROUGH THAT TRAINING TO MAKE A SOUND DECISION YOU CAN LIVE WITH FOR YEARS.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Butch,
Yes, I have done some cadaver searches with the team, as support. I find the work very interesting. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking about my team's standards when I came up with my brilliant plan, so now I'm back in square one. Thanks for your encouragement. I'm pretty sure I know what my final decision will be, but this is a process involving working toward acceptance, and I'm not there quite yet! This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.

OK folks, I've decided to retire him. I think the hardest part was feeling like I was somehow giving up on him, or letting him down. But now I've come to realize that pushing him beyond his physical limitations would be irresponsible and wrong, both for him, and for future lost subjects. I still feel a deep sense of loss, not just for myself, but for Lucky too, for what he worked so hard for, and what he could have been. But, he is the sweetest dog I have ever known (he IS a Lab, after all! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ), and will have a happy, healthy life as a member of our family.
I'm going to begin screening potential candidates for my new SAR dog after the winter holidays are over, after I get my finances back in order (from the winter holidays <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> , after my yard is finished being remodeled (I'm putting in a new dog run), and after I have settled on a treatment plan for Lucky and have him on his way with that.

Thanks for the advice, everyone who posted.

Slim him down, keep him exercised and in good shape with joint friendly activities and I bet he'll never have much of a problem.

I've had a female that had ED, she's still alive now at 13 years, was a SchH dog for 4 of those years and is fine. Just a little stiff, and slow on that leg. If she had never been diagnosed we wouldn't have known the difference. Her arthritis bothers her more than the leg.

Good luck.