You can’t train pain.
Credits: Jonathan Farber on Unsplash
Despite the popular "no pain, no gain" mantra in the fitness world, you CANNOT train pain.
You cannot train a dog (or any animal for that matters, but I’ll stick with dogs here) in pain. If you continue to push training a dog that is in pain, you will no doubt exacerbate their pain and discomfort, and likely end up with additional behavioral issues.
Pain is the body's way of telling us that something is wrong. It is a warning sign that should never be ignored. The idea that we, and by extension, our dogs, need to "push through the pain" to make progress is not only hugely misleading, but likely to cause irreparable harm.
The fact that society has a tendency to applaud professional athletes and/or artists who persist despite their discomfort and injuries (physical and/or mental) is sickening. Society, for some reason, considers it a sign of professionalism when an athlete or artist is able to complete their competition or performance despite debilitating injuries (e.g., bone fractures, torn tendons, or depression).
Is it because we see pain as a sign of weakness? Does acknowledging the presence of pain imply that we (and/or our dogs) are less than perfect?
”My dog fell off the dog walk the other day.” Are you sure he’s not in pain?
“No, he’s fine. He jumped right back up and we did a few more runs.”
…
“My dog landed weird to catch a frisbee.” Are you sure he’s not in pain?
”Well, he walked around holding his leg up for a little bit, but he’s fine now.”
…
“My dog was walking funny.” Are you sure he’s not in pain?
”He does this all the time. My trainer/breeder/friend says it is common for this breed.”
…
“My dog trips over stuff all the time.” Are you sure he’s not in pain?
”He’s always been careless and lacks self preservation. He’s totally fine.
…
“My dog doesn’t like me grooming his back these days.” Are you sure he’s not in pain?
”No, he just doesn’t like being brushed now that he is older.”
Why are we, pet caregivers and trainers alike, so reluctant to consider pain as a major issue of concern?
A dog that is in pain cannot adequately process the information being given. Instead, we think they are stubborn, rebellious, reactive, sensitive, unfocused, careless, lack motivation, or lack confidence. A dog that is in pain cannot properly activate the muscles needed to execute certain movement/posture/behaviors. Instead, we think they lack body awareness, needed more strengthening, more training, better equipment, alternate training strategies to help “fix” these issues.
Are you sure it is a training problem, and not a pain problem?
A dog in pain does not love us any less. They love us so much that they still want to please us. So if we don’t recognize their subtle signs of pain and continue to push them to work, many of our dogs will do so, despite being in pain.
“But my dog still wants to play/train/work!” says one caregiver.
“But he looks so happy and is so full of life!” says another.
But it doesn’t mean they are not in pain. Just because our dogs CAN play, train, work, or trial doesn’t mean they should, and it most certainly doesn’t mean they are not in pain. It breaks my heart to see well-intentioned caregivers work harder to train their dogs to “fix” certain issues, while not recognizing the signs of pain. It is disheartening to see trainers who fail to recognize signs of pain in their clients’ dogs and continues to “work through” the problem with their clients. Or worse, trainers who recognize the presence of pain and discomfort in their clients’ dogs, yet condone or even encourage their clients to continue training with them, because “they are clients who are willing to pay to come to class.”
I wish the issues you are seeing in your dog are training problems, because they are relatively easy to fix. But pain is not a training problem. Pain is pain, and you cannot train pain.
Even minor injuries need time to heal. If we don’t address the minor injuries and continue training our dogs, these minor injuries can progress into chronic issues which are even more difficult to remedy. More importantly, we risk causing irreparable harm to our dog’s physical and mental wellness.
It is depressing to talk about pain and injuries. Pain and injuries can be elusive, and even when you are fortunate enough to pinpoint the underlying cause(s), healing takes time. For some, healing can take months and years. Even then, there is no guarantee that your dog will be 100% recovered. There is also no guarantee that there will not be repeat, or additional, pain and injuries. However, I guarantee you that if you don’t address pain as soon as you recognize its presence, the amount of time requires for healing will increase exponentially, let alone the amount of physical and mental harm imposed on your dog.
Credits: Engin Akyurt on Unsplash
Pain and discomfort should be addressed as a PRIORITY.
No "just one more rep" or "just 5 more minutes."
No "just a fun nose work class" or "just a short fitness session."
No, you’re not babying your dog or giving up. You are looking out for your dog’s best interest.
A muscle that is injured cannot be properly strengthened until it is healed. If we attempt to strengthen an injured muscle, we are asking the dog to compensate and overwork other non-injured muscles. So no, your dog in pain does not need a fitness trainer (yet), they need their pain addressed first and foremost.
Pain should ALWAYS be remedied before ANY type of training. You cannot train away pain.
If you suspect your dog is in pain, seek appropriate medical help from your professional veterinarian care team, such as your beloved vet, board certified vets at their specialty, massage therapist, acupuncture therapist, and/or other credentialed professionals.
Which is more important to you? Your dog's overall well-being for the next 5-10 years, or the next title/ribbon your dog gets for you?
Here are some resources to help you recognize signs of pain in your pet:
How to tell if your pet is in pain | AAHA
How to tell if your pet is in pain | Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Would you know if your pet was in pain? | Pet Cure Oncology
