Zeke the Wonder Dog: A Comeback Story
This story is told to encourage those dog owners whose loveable K9 athlete has encountered a completely torn ACL. It is meant to give hope and encouragement in time of despair.
From the 1st day I picked up Zeke the Wonder Dog, my yellow Labrador Retriever, I knew that he was a very special dog. As a puppy, he never cried, wined, or barked. He loved to sleep and play, then sleep some more. He seemed to have that magical ability that he could fire up to do his tasks with style, yet instantly chill out and love to be loved. I also noticed an intelligence that was surreal and an ability to learn that was simply incredible. I had a feeling about this puppy!
Being an avid duck and bird hunter, I have always wanted a dog that could do it all in the fall. After watching the Super Retriever Series on ESPN, I knew that I wanted to train a lab to be an outstanding hunter as well as competitor on the hunt test circuit. In Zeke’s early retrieving days however, he was marginal. In fact, I was actually worried that he would be mediocre at best. Yet time would tell a different story with a different ending. Soon, Zeke would turn into a marking machine who ran with style second to none, loving to hit the water at Mach 5. Always showing his enthusiasm and style for his work, he often would retrieve with a reckless abandonment for his body. As a friend of mine once mentioned, Zeke was an “emergency room visit waiting to happen.”
Being a pointing lab, his natural instinct to freeze to the scent of an upland bird instantly came bubbling to the surface. At 12 weeks of age, Zeke pointed his second bird with the style and intensity that one must see to believe. That pointed bird awoke the sleeping giant and showed my Zeke the purpose of his bird dog life. He and I were both hooked!
Getting the assistance of a professional trainer later turned good friend, Zeke and I both learned a great deal about how to bring out his natural abilities, and he possessed many. More importantly, we also learned that Zeke had the heart of a champion. Competing in hunt tests, Zeke would shine and always be at the top of the list. In HRC tests, Zeke passed his first 6 tests without a hitch. He failed his final test, yet up until the moment of disaster, Zeke was leading the way and was crushing the field. I was never so proud to watch my K9 friend at work that day.
During his first Pointing lab test, Zeke was impressive. In the upland portion of the test, the first 11 dogs found 1 bird, and all but 1 dog of this group had failed. And there were many good dogs in the first 11, 5 of which were professionally trained. One even included a state pheasant champion. It’s just that the conditions were that tough: hot, dry, thick cover, and little wind. Somehow, Zeke found and pointed 3 birds, then retrieved them in the most difficult scenario, an amazing feat for such a young dog. To make the story even better, Zeke was even steady to wing & shot that day, a qualification reserved for the most advanced tests, all at a little over 1 year of age, and with a rookie trainer.
His first hunting season was even better. Zeke retrieved every downed duck that his owner and friends shot. Yet, the most impressive retrieve I have ever seen was on a November afternoon. As a 1 ½ year old dog, Zeke chased and retrieved a crippled duck for over 700 yards. To get him on this bird, it was a 200 yard blind retrieve. This is a tall task for even the most seasoned of duck dogs. He chased and retrieved this duck for over a ½ hour, showing that he had the heart and desire to accomplish whatever he wanted to do in the bird dog world.
In the off season, Zeke and I worked every day, getting ready for the upcoming competition season. Being a standout in “little league,” Zeke would now be playing in the “big leagues” against an amazing field of well trained dogs. In training during that winter, Zeke showed that he was not only ready, but that he would excel in competing in both finished and master levels of hunt tests. Then “it” happened, and many sad days would follow.
Playing chase in the snow with his buddy “Billy,” Zeke completely tore his ACL on his left stifle (left knee). With his left leg held high, I instantly knew that it was bad, I just had that sick feeling in my stomach. The next morning, my vet confirmed my worst fears, a completely torn ACL. Reverting back to my personal experience and memories, I had seen one well trained lab with this injury 10 years prior. The dog was never the same after the injury, never returning to the marshes or uplands. In fact, this dog simply struggled to be a house dog, having difficulties just walking or limping around. At 2 years of age, “my dog of a lifetime” and I were robbed of our future together, or so I thought.
Opting for the TPLO surgery, a newer procedure that had
startling results, I found Dr. Degner, a wonderful surgeon with a terrific
track record (http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/index.htm). Dr. Degner is
recognized as one of the premier surgeons for the TPLO procedure and he works
for Michigan Veterinary Services (MVS - http://www.michvet.com),
known as the premier veterinary hospital in the state of
One thing for sure, Dr. Degner and MVS gave Zeke and I the best service imaginable, similar to that of my experiences with Ritz Carlton. They handled a number of follow up phone calls with an amazing response time, patience, and a caring attitude second to none. I wish I would receive this level of treatment when I need hospitalization.
Within the first week, I enrolled Zeke to start his rehab
work at
At the end of 8 weeks, Dr. Degner X-rayed his leg and gave him the final OK, his leg had healed perfectly. Shortly thereafter, I sent Zeke back to MSU to workout for 10 days with Danielle and Genia, finishing his rehab work and allowing Zeke to earn his certificate of completion. The best part of working with MSU was learning how to correctly rehab Zeke on a daily basis. Also, they gave me the assurance (that I desperately needed) to let me know that Zeke was progressing well and that he would make his comeback. Worried about injuring his “good knee,” a common occurrence with procedure (30%-50% of the time this happens), Danielle gave me sound advice that has been a great comfort to this day. Her sound advice: “From a rehab perspective, do everything you can to gradually rehab this dog, and then don’t worry about it, its out of your hands at that point.”
After formal rehab “graduation,” our rehabilitation work was
just beginning. My job was to get Zeke gradually ready for competition and the
upcoming hunting season, and to fully rehab my best buddy. Luckily, it was May
and I live within 5 minutes of 10 different lakes in
By 3 months post surgery, Zeke was swimming about 2000 yards per day (retrieving exercises!) and walking about a mile a day. We continued this regimen day in, day out. While it took a great deal of time, Zeke lived for the workout and his mental spirit was improving everyday. Throughout this time period, Zeke was gradually increasing the amount of walking, trotting, and slowly, and I mean slowly running on lead.
At the end of 4 months post surgery, Zeke was running off lead, but under control with NO fast sprinting. As soon as Zeke would run too fast for my nerves, I would hit the sit whistle or give the whoa command. Luckily, his obedience is impeccable and he obeys his commands without question. Also, he quickly learned that if he wanted to run, it would have to be controlled. At this time, Zeke was running water triple marks of 150 yards and water blind retrieves of 125 yards – and he loved getting back to work!.
At 4 ½ to 5 months post surgery, I started running Zeke in the uplands (still no sprinting!), trying to get his running and trotting back to true form. We started biking slowly, yet Zeke showed his normal drive and determination. Soon, Zeke and I were biking 2-4 miles per day. At this point, he looked a 100% - no limping, no lameness, no hesitation! It was now time to let him scour the uplands in search of birds. Working him on lead at first, Zeke was flawless, finding and pointing his birds like he never missed a day of training. Most importantly, Zeke was loving to work again and his gate looked fine (impeccable).
At this same time (5 months post surgery), we started running Zeke on Blind retrieves (a bird is hidden, thus Zeke does not see it fall or land), because Zeke runs at about 75% of his full out speed on these retrieves. We still have not done any “marked retrieves” at this time (he sees the bumper fall and land) because Zeke runs incredibly fast and full out on these retrieves, truly an emergency room visit waiting to happen. He quickly began charging out 150 yards at a pop to get his blinds. We also started with our handling drills on land as well. Playing baseball, Zeke was getting “hand signal” retrieves for “overs” “Angle backs” and straight “backs.”
At 5 ½ post surgery, we started running Zeke on land for marked retrieves. On the first marked retrieve, I was nervous but kept hearing Danielle’s advice in my mind. Zeke and I had worked hard and he was ready to do what he has been bred and trained to do so well. Except, he was a little rusty and would need some practice to sharpen his skills.
While I still worry about re-injury, I truly think at this point that Zeke is fully rehabbed, and that now I am just getting him into incredible shape as an insurance policy. As far as I can see, Zeke truly is 100% and looks great. The injury has actually been good for us: it has allowed to get closer, it has given me time to think about new training philosophies and methods, and I think Zeke appreciates his time in the field even more.
(MSU) for coaching Zeke and I through a difficult, yet rewarding time! I am proud to say that Zeke the Wonder Dog is back, in my mind, 100%!
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