The Great Pretender

Our rescue dog Bree, an eight-yearold Staffordshire bull terrier-Shar-Pei cross, recently visited the vet for her annual check-up. She was given a clean bill of health but we were surprised when the veterinarian mentioned that her kneecap was healing well after being dislocated. We felt terribly negligent for not being aware of her condition, particularly because we had noticed that she limped at times. We had put the limp down to ageing as it did not seem to bother her and there was no pattern to when it would set in.

A few weeks passed and our beloved Bree started to limp again. We made a big fuss of her, spoiling her as we would any injured or sick family member. Thankfully, another check-up at the vet revealed that she was fine.

The limp, which continues to randomly take hold, is thought to be ‘pins and needles’. Our clever dog, however, has associated her limp with the extra affection and attention (and treats) we showered her with. Now, whenever she feels as though she needs affection or treats, she begins to limp. We fall for it every time. Then, as soon as we’ve given her what she wants, she takes herself off with an even and normal stride.