When treating traumatic injuries in working and sporting dogs, the animal's workload, purpose, and ability to return to function must all be considered. While longevity of implants and interference of these with normal function must be considered in all working and performance dogs, rapid return to work is especially important in medical alert and service dogs. This lecture will focus on the use of minimally invasive surgery, new implant choices, and close relationships with sports medicine and rehabilitation professionals to achieve these goals.