She is a 3 legged dog but she does not let that slow her down one whit.

One of the first things that people say when they meet Shania is, “What a happy dog!”. And indeed she is. In fact, she even kept her spirits up while we were trying to straighten her leg, and she had to go through multiple surgeries. The surgeon, nurses, doctors, receptionists, and even other patients in the hospital loved her to bits.

Recently, Shania just turned three. She is my second dog and I have learned a lot from her. I am very glad that I get to share my life with such an awesome dog. This article summarizes some recent lessons that I didn’t get to in my earlier 3 legged dog care article.

Living with a 3 Legged Dog

1. No Getting on Furniture

No Getting on Furniture

3 legged dogs, especially young 3 legged dogs are very energetic. If not properly supervised, they will get themselves into trouble.

One common trouble spot for a 3 legged dog is jumping up on furniture. Husky Shania has no problems getting up on furniture. Getting down, however, is a totally different matter.

Often, Shania will jump or climb up onto raised surfaces and have problems getting down. We really do not want our dog to jump down on her own, especially if she is missing one of her front legs. This could cause her to injure one of her other legs which would be really bad news.

Therefore, it is best to institute a strict no getting on furniture rule.

When Shania gets up on furniture, I no-mark her (Ack Ack) and carry her down right away. Then, I prevent her from going up again. It is best to catch her and no-mark her before she actually jumps up. In this way, I can give her an alternate command and reward her for doing a Down on the floor.

From this, she learns that …

Jump on furniture = Get carried down right away, but
Rest nicely next to the couch = Nice rewards and affection.

Rest nicely next on the floor = nice rewards and affection

2. Every Dog Needs a Good Scratch

Keep our 3 legged dog clean and well-brushed.

3 legged dogs may have difficulty getting to certain parts of their body.

Shania has a difficult time getting to her ears and to the back regions of her body. Whenever I notice her scratching, I try to give her a helping hand and scratch the target area and surrounding regions.

Sometimes she scratches because there is some grass seed or other organic material stuck in her fur. These organic materials can be very sharp and may cause puncture wounds in her body. While helping her scratch, I can also locate and remove these nasty weeds.

In fact, it is a good idea to keep our 3 legged dog well brushed and free of organic materials that may poke at her skin and cause her to itch.

Another thing I have noticed about Shania is that she tends to scratch her ears very rigorously, because she does not have as good balance as other dogs. In the beginning, this has led to bleeding and some infection in one of her ears.

Now, I step in and do ear scratching for her when she needs it. I also regularly clean her ears to help prevent ear scratching and infection.

Everyone enjoys a good scratch!

3. No Kibble Balls

3 legged dogs have more trouble with certain toys. In particular, it is difficult for Shania to work on kibble balls because she has to follow the balls and move at a slow pace. This forces her to hop/stop and hop/stop which is difficult, slow, and places more strain on her single front leg.

Because of their missing limb, three legged dogs have a different gait than regular dogs. For example, Shania is more comfortable moving at a faster pace. When she is running fast, there is no hopping and one does not even notice that she is missing a leg. It is only when she is walking slowly that her limp is most pronounced.

Huskies chewing on their rubber Kong toy.

Shania does best with interactive toys that she can work on from a fixed position. She enjoys chewing on rubber Kongs, rubber tires, and bully sticks. She also likes working on the Premier Twist and Turn toy. She has figured out that the easiest way to get food out, is not to roll it, but simply to bite on the rubber top and temporarily deform it. This creates a bigger hole at the side of the toy for the kibble to flow out.

Shania also likes opening cardboard boxes. She steps on one end of the box to stop it from moving and tears at the bottom where the food is.

Shania has figured out that the easiest way to get food out is to bite on the rubber top and temporarily deform it.

4. Keep Things Dry

3 legged dogs do not have as good balance as other dogs. It is very important to keep things as non-slippery as possible.

Sometimes, Shania plays with my other dog (Shiba Inu Sephy) inside the house. There is a lot of running, turning, and bumping, so I make sure to put carpets all over my tiled or wooden floors.

During the rainy season, Shania’s paws become wet and more slippery. Even if she steps partially on the tiled floor, she can slip and fall. Wet paws can also make her slip on the carpet.

Now, I always dry her paws on a towel when she first comes into the house. This makes it much safer for her to run around at high speeds, without slipping and losing her balance.

Use carpets and keep paws dry especially during play.

5. Safety and Fun

Safety and Fun

Sometimes, it can be difficult to walk the line between safety and fun for a 3 legged dog. I try, as much as I can, to divert Shania’s energy towards supervised activity that is fun and safe.

Some of Shania’s favorite activities include –

1. Hiking in the hills where she can pounce and dig for critters. I only walk her on-leash because if she sees a deer, she will be gone in the blink of an eye.
2. Playing with her partner in crime, Shiba Inu Sephy.
3. Meeting people around the neighborhood.
4. Working on food toys.
5. Resting on the sidewalk and watching cars and people.
6. Playing the flirt pole game.
7. Hunting for squirrels and other critters in the backyard. We left a section of the backyard without grass so that she can dig whenever she wants to.

I love my 3 legged dog!

Three legged dogs find it easier to walk at a faster pace, and may have difficulty making quick or sharp turns.

They also have less balance, and are more prone to falling down.

Walking with a 3 Legged Dog

1. A Harness Can Provide Support

Using a harness can give our three legged dog more support, when we are out on a walk. I found this to be especially helpful, in the beginning.

We can also use the harness to quickly and safely turn, restrain, or move our dog. This is useful to stop a tripod dog from running ahead, and to get her safely away from dangerous objects, for example broken glass.

I was using the Ruffwear Web Master Harness on Shania, and it worked out well. It is strong, provides good back support, and has fleece material over the leg straps, so that they do not overly chafe her at the joints.

However, this harness may limit air flow during hot days, and cause the dog to heat up more easily.

Another weakness of using a harness is that it gives the dog a lot of pulling power. Shania has very strong prey-drive, so it was very difficult to control her pulling, whenever she spotted a squirrel, cat, or deer. For leash training exercises, I find that it is more effective to use a thick, no-slip collar.

Siberian Shania wearing her RuffWear harness before a walk at the park.

2. How to Stop Pulling

Siberian Shania is good at hand targeting.

Being a Siberian Husky, Shania does a fair amount of pulling during walks. To stop her from pulling, I have tried using the Gentle Leader head halti.

The halti works well in controlling the direction of her head, and redirecting her away from undesirable objects and situations. However, Shania really dislikes wearing it, and she will occasionally plop down on the ground in passive protest. It is difficult to get her up again, by just using the head collar.

The same applies when she decides to hang back, dig in, and not move forward. For dealing with these situations, I usually have Shania’s collar or harness on, in addition to the halti.

Also note that the head collar is not a long-term solution. It does not train our dog not to pull, but just prevents the pulling. Once we remove the halti, our dog will likely start to pull again.

To train Shania not to pull, I use a combination of hand-targeting and treating, when she is voluntarily walking by my side. If she starts to pull, I first give her a verbal warning to slow down. If she does not listen, then I stop her, make her do a Sit and Wait, re-target her on my hand, and then move on. When I am using a collar instead of a harness, I sometimes use my hand to hold back her chest. This gives her more support, during a forced stop.

Some trainers suggest doing a 180-turn-around, to stop pulling. This does not work as well with three legged dogs, because forcing them to turn quickly may cause them to fall, and place undue stress on their feet. When I need to turn or change direction, I make sure to do it slowly, and at a pace that Shania is comfortable with. It is also possible to use leash-jerks to discourage pulling, but I no longer use aversive techniques for a variety of reasons.

Nowadays, I almost always use a flat collar while walking Shania. She is better at walking now, and although she still pulls when she sees a squirrel or other prey, she will usually stop when I tell her to. I use the Premier Nylon Martingale Collar, which works very well for preventing collar escapes. It is also nice and thick, which helps to distribute the force around the neck, when a dog pulls.

Shania seems most comfortable with just a flat-collar.

Ready for a nap after a morning walk in the hills.

3. Short Walks and Rest

Three legged dogs tire more easily, so take them for short but more frequent walks. During longer walks, make sure to stop often (in a shady spot if possible), provide plenty of water, and keep our dog cool.

Three legged dogs will take some time to build up their walking stamina, so start with brief walks, and increase the distance slowly.

Stairs, uneven ground, and raised surfaces, may be difficult to navigate, so be patient, and provide help as necessary.

4. Protect Our 3 Legged Dog

Three legged dogs may feel vulnerable in the presence of new dogs.

Siberian Shania deals with new dogs mostly through appeasement.

Three legged dogs may feel more vulnerable in the presence of new dogs. When threatened, there are four possible dog responses – fight, flight, freeze, or appease. Conditions are often fluid, and a dog may decide to change from one strategy to another.

My Husky Shania deals with unknown dogs, mostly through appeasement. She will roll onto her side or back, and offer them her tummy. Sometimes, when there are highly active dogs nearby, she will choose to run away.

It is important to step in, and protect our three legged dog from unwanted attention.

Sometimes, I bring Shania to a dog playgroup. When there are overly hyper dogs about, I step in and body block them away from Shania. In this way, she does not have to deal with stressful situations alone. If necessary, I do the same when she meets new dogs during walks. By keeping things positive, she will hopefully gain more confidence, and feel more comfortable when interacting with her dog friends.

Be vigilant and keep bad social experiences from occurring, as that may cause our three legged dog to become fearful. This may ultimately lead to dog aggression, depression, or other dog behavioral problems.

In fact I would step in and protect any of my dogs from rude dogs and rude people, although I have to admit that I am more protective over Shania.

Protect our 3 legged dog from unwanted attention.

If we have multiple dogs, be aware of how the whole pack acts in the presence of unfamiliar visitors. The rest of the pack may feel the need to protect their more vulnerable sibling, and become aggressive to other dogs.

My Shiba Inu is very protective of Shania. I always supervise very closely when introducing them to new dogs. Usually, I keep Shiba on a lead, and let Shania interact with the new dog first. Once they are getting along fine, I let Shiba loose, and continue with close supervision. If Shiba displays any aggressive behavior, play stops, and he goes on a mini time-out. What the whole pack should understand, is that we are in charge of their safety, and we do the protecting when it is needed.

My other dog, a Shiba Inu, is very protective of Shania.

5. Socialize Our 3 Legged Dog

Socialize our 3 legged dog at a pace that she is comfortable with.

Note that three legged dogs may feel more vulnerable, and may be more fearful of new things.

It is important to socialize our dog to as many new experiences (garbage truck, umbrella, all types of people) as we can, so that she gains confidence, and is less likely to show fear aggression.

Let our three legged dog approach new experiences at her own pace, and make sure to reward and praise her well for taking small steps.

Let our three legged dog approach new experiences at her own pace.

As a result, three legged dogs are not very common, and they generally stand out.

Because they are uncommon, three legged dogs generally stand out.

Many people will feel sorry for a tripod dog, and want to console or hug her. Be ready to repeat your amputation story many many times.

Others will assume you are a bad dog owner, or think it is cruel to have a dog with three legs. People have difficulty dealing with disability, and sometimes, interacting with such people can be stressful and depressing.

In fact, interactions with people may be one of the more challenging aspects of living with a three legged dog.

People and 3 Legged Dogs

There are generally four groups of people that I meet –

1. The Judge.

Judges automatically assume that the amputation is a horrible thing to do.

Judges automatically assume that the amputation is a horrible thing to do, and is somehow the fault of the current owner. These people will often give me dirty looks as I walk by, and whisper “irresponsible owner … from a car accident”.

I used to be bothered by this, but now I just ignore them.

Judges are only interested in seeing their own view of the world.

They assume the worst of others, so that they will feel better about themselves.

Shania is a very brave and awesome girl. She went through several surgeries to try and straighten her leg when she was young.

2. The Over-Sympathizers.

Dogs deal with disability a lot better than people do. We should take a page from their book.

Over-sympathizers feel extreme pity for three legged dogs.

They generally think that amputation is not the right thing to do, because they feel three legged dogs have a sad, sad, life.

• “Oh you poor thing.”,
• “Can she function properly?”,
• “Should you walk your three legged dog?“,
• “Is she happy?”,

… are all common responses.

I personally do not mind over-sympathizers because they are willing to strike up a conversation, as well as give Shania some scratching and tummy rubs.

Shania likes tummy scratches.

3. The Supporter

These are commonly people who have friends with three legged dogs, or who have had first hand experience with dog disability.

They know that tripod dogs have just as much fun as the next dog, and they usually offer support and useful advice on how to care for a tripod.

3 legged dogs have just as much fun as the next dog.

4. The Interested

Finally there are people who do not know much about three legged dogs, but are curious about them, and interested in hearing more about my experiences with Shania.

When I was considering amputation for Shania, I was also very confused, and did not know what quality of life she will have. However, my wonderful Siberian Husky has shown me that tripod dogs can get along very well, and lead a happy, active, rich life.

Some special care has to be taken in some areas, especially in foot care, and management of the environment (e.g. slippery surfaces). Overall, however, Shania is much easier to care for than my Shiba Inu, because she has such a happy and relaxed temperament.

No matter whom you meet, always remember that you made the right choice.

A three legged dog is just like any other dog – fun, loving, and full of surprises.

Shania - She is more awesome than words can say!

I am privileged to share my life with a three legged Siberian Husky, called Shania. She had a congenital deformity called radial head luxation, i.e., the bones on her left front leg were misaligned, and she was unable to put weight on it. This condition is rare, especially for a Siberian Husky, and the cause for it is unclear.

We speculate that it may have been from birth trauma, since she was a c-section puppy. We had hoped to correct the problem with orthopedic surgery, but unfortunately, there was too much cartilage damage in the joint, and the surgeon recommended amputation.

It was a shock when she came home with three legs, and a BIG bandage around her torso. However, Shania recovered quickly from the surgery and is now a happy, bouncy, and somewhat spoiled member of the family.

3 Legged Dog – Siberian Husky Shania after her leg amputation.

Here are some things to look out for when living with a three legged dog –

1. Keep a tripod dog slim.

3 legged dog Shania is slim, cute, and full of licky goodness!

The most common health issue with three legged dogs is that they may develop arthritis earlier than other dogs. Because they are missing a leg, more stress is placed on their remaining joints, and there is more wear and tear. Therefore, it is very important to keep them slim, so that they do not have to deal with additional joint stresses from excess weight.

Feed a three legged dog a healthy and balanced diet, but do not overfeed her.

Keep a tripod dog slim.

2. Keep our dog’s foot-pads clean and healthy.

Proper foot care is very important for a three legged dog.

They may develop cracked foot-pads because of the additional weight placed upon each paw. I now apply DermaPaw cream to Shania’s footpads to help keep them protected.

Previously I was using Tuf-Foot by Bonaseptic, but I find that the DermaPaw cream brings better results, is easier to apply, and stays on for much longer than Tuf-Foot. However, Shania will often try to lick the cream up, so I apply it right before she takes a nap (e.g. when we come home from our walk), and I supervise until she settles down.

I also keep Shania’s nails short, and trim the fur at the bottom of her feet. This allows her to walk comfortably, and without slipping.

I keep my three legged dog’s nails short, and trim the fur at the bottom of her feet.

3. Watch out for Elbow Hygroma.

3 legged dog resting on her water cool-bed, in her crate.

An Elbow Hygroma is a fluid-filled swelling around the dog’s elbow. It occurs, when the elbow bone causes trauma to the soft tissue around it. This usually happens in younger dogs who are constantly lying down, or falling down on a hard surface. It may also happen when a dog leans, or consistently places too much weight on one elbow.

As a dog matures, a callus will form to protect the elbow and prevent this condition. Dog beds may help, but some dogs prefer to sleep on cooler, hard surfaces.

Young three legged dogs are especially susceptible to elbow hygroma, because their elbow calluses have yet to form, and their activity level is high. Shania developed this condition when she was less than a year old. However, the swelling was small, and our vet advised us to let it heal on its own. In more serious cases, where there is an enormous amount of swelling and/or infection, surgery may be needed.

We now have a cool bed for Shania in her crate. It helps to keep her cool during the summer, and provides her with a nice soft surface to lie on. Remember to regularly clean and air out the water bed, so that mold does not accumulate on its wet undersides.

For outside the house, we use the Coolaroo outdoor dog bed. It is durable, provides a soft surface, and is elevated from the floor. The elevation allows free air-flow during hot days, and prevents water from accumulating during rainy days.

Watch out for Elbow Hygroma.

4. Manage slippery surfaces

Manage slippery surfaces.

Cuddling together after a hard day of playing.

Make sure that there are not too many slippery surfaces in the house.

Three legged dogs have less balance, and can easily slip on hard surfaces like wood, tile, linoleum, or marble. This is especially true when they are running or playing.

If there are many hard, slippery floors in the house, it may be time to go rug shopping! Rugs also provide a nice, soft surface for a dog to rest on.

I get natural hand-knotted rugs, that can stand more wear and tear from the dogs. Consider getting a light, earth-tone colored rug, that can hide dirt and dog hair more easily.

In addition, I check the backyard, and make sure there are no deep holes. Shania can trip on uneven surfaces and hurt herself. I also clear away large piles of sticks and leaves. Larger sticks may sometimes catch on a dog’s nails and cause damage.

It helps to get raised water bowls, so that our tripod dog can drink without having to bend down too much.

We have runner rugs connecting the different areas of the house so that Shania can comfortably run around without slipping.

5. Let a 3 legged dog be a dog

When we share our life with a tripod dog, we naturally want to protect her from as many things as possible. It is important, though, to let a dog be a dog.

If a three legged dog is kept from doing all the things that dogs love to do, she will have lived an unfulfilled life.

“A life lived in fear is a life half lived” ~ [Spanish proverb]

Shania is a very energetic Siberian Husky and I love her more than words can say.