What’s better than getting to play with a puppy during class? Its hard to believe that many puppy-related things could be, but our puppy challenge gives us the chance to help Wickett walk more easily. I would say that the opportunity to help her is even more exciting than just getting to play with a puppy during class.
Wickett
Wickett’s front legs don’t have bones in them, which means she can’t use them to walk. Right now, she mostly uses her back legs to hop, either bouncing her chest on the ground or holding it up in the air. The challenge for our class is to provide her with a cart to support her upper body so that she won’t need to drag her chest or stomach in order to get around.
The first step was to meet Wickett, take her measurements, and record her movement so that we would have references for her natural motion and correct sizes for making the harness and cart. I also took the opportunity to talk to her owner, listening to her needs and concerns for Wickett’s cart. One of the biggest things that I learned from talking to her owner is that Wickett’s cart needs to be as light as possible so that she can pick it up to turn without trouble if she wants to. Of course, since Wickett loves her owner, this also meant I got to spend more time with Wickett. I got to play with her and to watch her play with her toys.
She doesn’t let her front legs stop her from playing, having fun, or getting around. She is such a happy puppy, and I am so excited that we get to help her to get around without risking injury to her back or chest from constant bending and bouncing. Hopefully we will be able to provide her with exactly what she needs.
-Jackie Jessop
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