Physically Handling Your Dog

[Erny]

B & T kennels

*Pauline Hanson voice* Please explain?

..... Boarding and Training.

[MolassesLass]

Thanks.

[luvsdogs]

We get the members from beginners class on to touch their dogs all over with emphasis on ears, teeth & feet. We also get them to do a vet hold. And we only use positive methods.

[Rappie]

I feel embarrassed saying she hates having her nails clipped and her ears cleaned as I'm sure had I known more I could have desensitized her better, but some owners do make their best effort and still have a dog who hates getting those things done.

There's no need to feel embarrassed about it. You know what limitations you have and work with them. I just meet a lot of people for whom teaching their dog anything isn't important, but they will still expect myself and my staff to just 'deal' with whatever the problem is. As I get older, and grumpier, I'm much less inclined to put myself or my staff in harms way. Patience, liberal use of liver treats, experienced staff and calm handling go a long way but the safety of everyone is paramount.

If it's any consolation, I own one little dog who detests having her nails cut. It's taken a lot of work but she will accept nail clipping now, she doesn't like it, she pulls faces but she will sit quietly with restraint (lying on her side with leg extended) and *tolerates* it. We follow up with something super-exciting like a biscuit and everything is forgiven I don't expect her to like it, but I do expect her to let me do it - but it's taken a long time. My proudest moment was Little Miss Wriggle Pants sitting still while my OH held her for me to take blood from her jugular (he's quite a good nurse). She's never had that done before, but all the poking and prodding they endure amounted to something... she shot me accusing look but didn't flinch, lol.

[pipsqueak]

Generally speaking, owners have very little concept of how to safely restrain their animals for various types of examination (ie. keeping wayward teeth away from my hands). It is unfortunately common for owners to present me with their bouncy Labrador and then take a few steps back and hold the end of the lead while it cavorts around the consult room, then get frustrated with me when I ask them to hold their pet so I may look at it. I think again its one of those situations where the average DOL member is probably miles ahead of the average member of the dog owning public...

Hi Rappie. I own a bouncy labrador cross, who again we adopted as an adult. He is super friendly, but that becomes an issue when he is a wigglebutt and the vet is trying to do something to him. I am more than happy to help restrain him, as I am aware of his bouncy nature, but I don't know how! And the vets never seem to suggest anything! We have brilliant vets who just seem to deal with him, but I also feel like I should be doing more so it makes there life easier. Any suggestions are a "restraint and handling 101" for us doofus owners.... particularly as I ended up with him in a bear hug to restrain him last time the vet took his temp

[SkySoaringMagpie]

It took a while for the male to be more confident around me, specially when I had a paper or a belt for instance in my hands. And then we had him being friendly to other people. But at the vets he still is fearful and panics. He is not agressive but more terrified. This vet was good with him and suggested I get him used to the blanket as a tool to hold him for treatment. This was the method he preferred to use for smaller dogs. But I confess the dog was so upset he still released his glands everywhere in about 2 seconds.

At least the dog was done without much fuss and quickly. Another vet a few weeks ago did not want to attempt to do him and wanted to sedate him instead. This vet suggested I get others to hold him in this method? I need to work on getting him checked by lots of people at training. Thou it seems at training most people he sucks up to and likes. Just the odd person now and again he is scared of?

Is it a matter of making it uncomfortable while being held and then rewarding him for accepting the discomfort? However I try to do it, I would only use positive methods. I don't really know of another way to improve his behaviour.

I suspect part of the issue here is the vet premises and the smell of the vet if he is happy to be handled at classes. I'm not sure where your vet is, but I might try taking him with you when you run minor errands like picking up worming tablets or weighing him. If the vet nurses can give him a pat and a treat that would also help. Essentially it's about making sure he has positive, or at least neutral, experiences of the vet premises. If the only time he goes there he gets put in a small room and manhandled then he's probably not going to improve.

[Kelpie-i]

We get the members from beginners class on to touch their dogs all over with emphasis on ears, teeth & feet. We also get them to do a vet hold. And we only use positive methods.

luvsdogs, based on your understanding, what is a "positive method"? Would you mind clarifying what you mean here....not a challenge, just curious!

[JulesP]

My club teaches vet handling techniques in pre-puppy, puppy and continuing into basic 1. I usually do it at the end of class, starting with calming techniques which does involve restraining the dog. Not sure that positive or negative training really comes into it as I haven't had a pup yet that needs to be 'trained'. All are happy to lay in their owners laps.

[Odin-Genie]

Both my dogs are fine being handled by the vet. I always ensured that they were used to being touched and handled. Even when i simply pet them, I usually lightly squeze their paws, check between toe nails, clean eyes, check ears, move tail etc etc.

[sandgrubber]

Handling does not have to be a big deal, at least with Labbies, and can easily be worked into daily routine.

I have never had a problem with any of my dogs re handling. We do a 10 minute cuddle every morning. They all love it. All parts of the body are fair play, but no concentration on ears, mouth or whatever. Some of them aren't entirely calm with, say, a blood draw, and some wiggle around at first in an ultrasound (though once they get the idea that it's a belly rub, they settle perfectly, and sometimes fall asleep).

[Jigsaw]

I think if we incorporate touching, handling, restraining in every day activities with out dogs it makes it so much easier. There does seem to be a lack of knowlege though in general in my experience on how to restrain a dog at the vets. My old poodle used to carry on when I cut his nails but that was his nature as soon as he was "free" he used to go and take all his frustration out on his toy wombat and thoroughly kill it and then hump it .