Handle With Care - Picking Up Your Pets Properly
Just like humans, pets are in need of love and affection, and if you're the owner of a small cat or dog, you may have the occasional need to pick them up and hold them.
Although not all pets are cuddly simply because they're small -- in fact, a 90 pound Labrador Retriever is more likely to jump in your lap and demand to be held than a highly-strung, independent 5 pound Pomeranian -- small pets need to dealt with in a different way than their larger counterparts.
When you have a cat or a dog that's built rather delicately and weighs under 10 pounds, there's only so much rough and tumble your pet's body can take.
If you do decide to pick them up, as you inevitably will, there are a few things you can do to avoid injury, while simultaneously allowing your pet to feel loved and comforted.
The Best Way To Pick Up A Cat Most cats are, by nature, squirmy and independent creatures that are resistant to being picked up and carried.
If they're ready for love and affection, they'll approach you, and hop into your lap.
But, when you need to pick up your cat in order to show discipline, remove them from an area, or get them in their carrier, you need to know how to avoid an all-out battle from ensuing.
You should approach your cat in an indirect fashion to avoid confrontation, attempting to lift them from either the right or left side.
By placing one hand gently under the armpit area, and using the other to support the rest of the cat's weight, if you do have a squirmy and uncooperative feline friend, you can still transport without doing any harm.
How To Pick Up A Dog Although we've all seen the stereotypes of Hollywood celebrities and socialites carrying around small dogs in their arms, purses, and laptop bags, the truth of the matter is, small dogs are not necessarily docile.
Not every breed is the type that wants to be held and carried, and even in public situations, many are happier on a leash where they're able to run and explore.
Even at home, some small dogs have naturally withdrawn, introverted temperaments, rather than being little balls of affection that constantly want to play, and be hugged and loved by their owners.
If you're interested in getting a small dog because you want a quiet and affectionate companion that's happy to be carried everywhere, do your research before adopting.
If you do happen to have the type of dog that likes to be picked up, and frequently, it's important to learn how to do it in the correct fashion.
It's a good idea to pick up the dog when they are standing on all fours, whenever possible, and by placing one arm around the dog's shoulders, allowing you to cradle their head as you would a small child.
You can then use your other arm to slide around the dog's stomach, or if that is uncomfortable for either of you, around their back legs and hind quarters.
The smaller your dog is, the easier this will be to accomplish.
Depending on your own size and strength, dogs over 45 pounds may need more than one person to pick up, although the only time this should be necessary is in case of injury.
Any dog over 30 pounds is unlikely to want to be lifted, so it's not too much of a problem for pet owners.
Remember that your small dog is delicate, and handle with care each and every time they need to be picked up.
Avoid placing your arm so that it presses against the dog's throat or you can do serious harm.
A Word Of Caution Although you'll see many behaviorists and training experts pick up a puppy by the scruff of the neck in order to discipline him in a way that replicates the way that mother dogs typically keep their pups in line, it's not a maneuver we endorse.
If you're training a new puppy, your veterinarian or training specialist will work with you to help you without causing harm or pain to your dog.
Because the anatomy of cats is a little more delicate, you should never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck unless the cat was trained to respond to this as a kitten.
Again, proper training from your vet is necessary before trying this, so it's best left to the professionals.
If you do pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck, you're risking causing paralysis and other devastating injuries especially if it is an adult cat.
For both of your sakes, do not pick-up a cat by the scruff of the neck.
Although not all pets are cuddly simply because they're small -- in fact, a 90 pound Labrador Retriever is more likely to jump in your lap and demand to be held than a highly-strung, independent 5 pound Pomeranian -- small pets need to dealt with in a different way than their larger counterparts.
When you have a cat or a dog that's built rather delicately and weighs under 10 pounds, there's only so much rough and tumble your pet's body can take.
If you do decide to pick them up, as you inevitably will, there are a few things you can do to avoid injury, while simultaneously allowing your pet to feel loved and comforted.
The Best Way To Pick Up A Cat Most cats are, by nature, squirmy and independent creatures that are resistant to being picked up and carried.
If they're ready for love and affection, they'll approach you, and hop into your lap.
But, when you need to pick up your cat in order to show discipline, remove them from an area, or get them in their carrier, you need to know how to avoid an all-out battle from ensuing.
You should approach your cat in an indirect fashion to avoid confrontation, attempting to lift them from either the right or left side.
By placing one hand gently under the armpit area, and using the other to support the rest of the cat's weight, if you do have a squirmy and uncooperative feline friend, you can still transport without doing any harm.
How To Pick Up A Dog Although we've all seen the stereotypes of Hollywood celebrities and socialites carrying around small dogs in their arms, purses, and laptop bags, the truth of the matter is, small dogs are not necessarily docile.
Not every breed is the type that wants to be held and carried, and even in public situations, many are happier on a leash where they're able to run and explore.
Even at home, some small dogs have naturally withdrawn, introverted temperaments, rather than being little balls of affection that constantly want to play, and be hugged and loved by their owners.
If you're interested in getting a small dog because you want a quiet and affectionate companion that's happy to be carried everywhere, do your research before adopting.
If you do happen to have the type of dog that likes to be picked up, and frequently, it's important to learn how to do it in the correct fashion.
It's a good idea to pick up the dog when they are standing on all fours, whenever possible, and by placing one arm around the dog's shoulders, allowing you to cradle their head as you would a small child.
You can then use your other arm to slide around the dog's stomach, or if that is uncomfortable for either of you, around their back legs and hind quarters.
The smaller your dog is, the easier this will be to accomplish.
Depending on your own size and strength, dogs over 45 pounds may need more than one person to pick up, although the only time this should be necessary is in case of injury.
Any dog over 30 pounds is unlikely to want to be lifted, so it's not too much of a problem for pet owners.
Remember that your small dog is delicate, and handle with care each and every time they need to be picked up.
Avoid placing your arm so that it presses against the dog's throat or you can do serious harm.
A Word Of Caution Although you'll see many behaviorists and training experts pick up a puppy by the scruff of the neck in order to discipline him in a way that replicates the way that mother dogs typically keep their pups in line, it's not a maneuver we endorse.
If you're training a new puppy, your veterinarian or training specialist will work with you to help you without causing harm or pain to your dog.
Because the anatomy of cats is a little more delicate, you should never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck unless the cat was trained to respond to this as a kitten.
Again, proper training from your vet is necessary before trying this, so it's best left to the professionals.
If you do pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck, you're risking causing paralysis and other devastating injuries especially if it is an adult cat.
For both of your sakes, do not pick-up a cat by the scruff of the neck.
Source...