Puppies are loved by all unless you have a special dislike for animals. They are those affectionate, playful, adorable, and cute little things you can take with you anywhere you go.
Everything about puppies brings out love for it. The truth is that there is nothing not to love about puppies. You cannot resist them even if you try.
No wonder, most animal lovers get one without being fully prepared to take care of it.
Taking care of a puppy is not all a bed of roses. For instance, carrying the puppy without endangering it may not seem complicated.
However, most people still do it wrong. In this article, we are going to show you how you can carry your puppy without causing it harm. In case you do not know it, there is a safe way to carry your puppy without harming it.
Read on and be careful next time!
How to Carry Your Puppy Comfortably
When you own a puppy, there is no doubt that you will like to showcase it by taking it out in public places even when it will rather stay at home.
This is not bad at all but what may be your undoing is that puppies are sometimes squirmy tiny bundles that can contact surprising great numbers of health issues when you carry them anyhow. That is why; it is important to carry them the proper way.
If you know how you can safely pick up your puppy, it doesn’t only benefit the puppy but also benefits you also. In case you have the habit of carrying your puppy inappropriately, and it doesn’t complain, that doesn’t mean that your puppy is fond of it.
Some pets may endure the pain or discomfort without crying, yelling, or biting. However, there is the likelihood that your puppy is giving you a signal, but you failed to recognize it as such.
Therefore, make sure you stay alert to your puppy’s feelings any time you are carrying or picking it up. For instance, your puppy may offer resistance, look away when you come near, lick its lip, or yawn.
These are the sure signals that it is in distress and feeling anxious or probably in pain.
Concentrate on the rear and chest of your puppy all the time of pick-up and carry. It is a sure way to share the puppy’s weight evenly and keep you and your puppy free from back pain.
If you want to carry your puppy without hurting it, there is a need for you to bend down very low. Make sure you have a hold and gently lift it.
You may even prefer to use a backpack or basket to carry your puppy during your outings. One thing you mustn’t forget while holding your puppy is to maintain a level of calmness. This is because; the puppy will take its cue in behavior from you.
Steps to Follow:
• Bend as low as the puppy’s level
Don’t go head-to-head with your puppy as if you are posing a threat to it. Just approach from the puppy’s side and bend slowly. Make sure your knees are close to the ground, or you can even squat down as you get closer to the puppy.
Maintain this position for some moments and allow the puppy to sniff your extended hand for some time. In case the puppy is nervous and trying to bite or growl at you, cool your heels for a bit and try again.
• Put one of your hands underneath its Bottom
Carefully and slowly place one of your hands beneath the bottom area and tail of your puppy. By so doing, the rear of the puppy can firmly rest on your hand and forearm.
It is essential that both your hands are placed on the puppy simultaneously. You can then move efficiently and deliberately.
• Position one of your Hands Beneath the Chest of the Puppy
Glide one of your hands along the chest of the puppy so that you can provide support to its front and back body. In case your puppy is wriggling slightly, you can place your hand in the area between the puppy’s front legs.
Then with your forearm, hold it properly. After doing this, you can slide your other hand more to surround the bottom. This measure will help you to provide an alternative balancing on the exterior of your puppy’s body.
If you are one of those that like using their dominant hand and arm to hold the puppy’s front side, it can provide you with more control of the head area.
• Gently Rise up
Just maintain a snail’s pace while rising to a standing stance. At this instance, if you move too fast, you are likely to startle your puppy.
Bring the body of your puppy closer to you while rising to make sure there is no more space between the two of you. As you cradle the puppy, it will give the puppy a sense of more comfort and more stability.
Moreover, it will remove too much strain on your lower back when you put the puppy nearer to your chest and safeguarding it with your arms.
Try not to carry out multiple tasks as you are carrying the puppy to prevent getting distracted and probably dropping the puppy. Just maintain a slow pace.
• Speak to the puppy and praise it verbally in a soothing tone
Using soothing tones to praise and speak to your puppy helps it to maintain a level of calmness during this process.
Calming and positive statements from owners usually make puppies respond positively. For instance, words like; “Be calm” of “Good boy.”
• Never Pick your Puppy by its Scruff
Most people make the mistake of grabbing hold of a puppy’s neck-scruff as a way of lifting it. This method proves to be very painful for the puppy.
Moreover, it is another brand of cruelty if you do not know it and it is likely to lead to certain irreparable damages.
Even though the puppy’s mother may carry it around like that, it doesn’t mean that you ought to do so. After all, you are not a dog but a human being that has hands and arms that you can use to provide your puppy with support.
This method is outdated since it can harm the puppy. Make sure you do not “alpha roll” or “shake” the puppy through their neck-scruff as a way of ensuring their submission. This is a fast way of hurting your puppy or causing your puppy to bite you.
Furthermore, it is the fastest way to undermine your animal-human bonding between you and your puppy. Remember not to pick up your puppy by its forelegs.
This method provides no support to the spine, and it is likely to cause many health issues for your puppy. Most especially if it is one of those that suffer generic joint issues.
• Expect Limpness from your Puppy
You should be aware that your puppy is likely to limp immediately you lift it. It will completely relax against your body which is good since it is a natural process.
The puppy may feel that you are providing support and protection for it and wouldn’t want to squirm thus inhibiting your progress.
• At any Sign of Resistance, release your puppy
In case the puppy did not relax an acts agitated instead, try calming it for some moments and bend down gently towards the ground. When you get closer to the ground level, you can drop the puppy so that it can stand on its feet.
• Do not hold your puppy’s Tail or Collar
If you want to carry your puppy without causing it harm, it is imperative not to hold its tail or collar while picking it up. You may not know it but holding your puppy’s collar during pick-up can cut off its air supply. As a result, the puppy may choke.
Also, it can lead to serious damage to the fragile organs that are situated at its neck region, the trachea, larynx, and throat respectively.
Just know that the collar of your puppy shouldn’t be a way of lifting it and neither should its tail. Any damage that your puppy suffers as a result of carrying it through its tail or collar can affect its muscles and nerves.
That is; those that bring movement to the puppy’s tail even those that can control its elimination. Any tail injury can cause your puppy’s tail to hang out limply. Your puppy may not be able to move its tail or defecate or urinate by itself.
Conclusion
After going through this article, there is no doubt that you now know the proper way to carry your puppy without causing it harm.
If you have children, please make out time to instruct your children. Teach them how they can properly carry your puppy to avoid harmful consequences. If you love your puppy, do the right thing for it.
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