When Picking Up a Dog, Here are 3 Things a Person Must NEVER Do

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Share the following with your children or grandchildren. Kids love dogs but do not often know how to approach and pick them up. Or, for that matter, people who do not own their own pooches may be clueless too!

3 Don'ts When Picking Up Your Dog
1. Don't involve your dog's legs.
Your dog's front and back limbs aren't intended as suspension devices, nor can they be expected to support the full weight of his body if, heaven forbid, he's lifted by them.

Children who don't know better tend to lift by the front legs, whereas adults are more apt to put their hands under the armpits and lift as they would a child. Picking up a dog in this manner strains the muscles in the front legs and spine, which can result in torn ligaments and even a dislocated shoulder or elbow.

2. Don't “scruff” your dog.
“Scruffing” is an unnatural, uncomfortable and even painful way for larger puppies and certainly adult dogs to be lifted or carried.

3. Don't hold his collar or tail when picking your dog up.
It should go without saying that pulling on a dog's collar, especially while lifting him, can cut off his air supply and cause him to choke.

Just as your dog's collar should never serve as a “handle” to lift him, neither should his tail. Damage caused by pulling your dog's tail can affect the nerves and muscles that move the tail as well as those that control elimination.

Significant injury can cause the tail to hang limply, no longer move or even affect your dog's ability to urinate or defecate on his own.

There is more to learn on Healthy Pets, including the ways to lift a larger dog!

The crux of the matter is to please be careful! Think about your dog’s shape, height, and weight. Also, reflect on the best way to lift him. If he seems in pain there may be a good reason!

Believe it or not, come pooches simply do not want to be lifted and carried!



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