moving, lifting, and handling dogs in clinic.

Preparing to handle

• Be prepared with a handling plan.

• Read the medical record before entering to see the dog’s signalment, preferred treats, dietary issues, and noted behavioral issues.

• Have the specific dog’s leash and plenty of treats ready.

• Check all possible escape routes.

• Be mentally ready with a plan.

Approaching a dog

• Let the owner know what your technique is.

• Always approach by stepping up to or standing sideways, avoiding direct eye contact.

• Toss high-value treats as you approach to change the dog’s emotional state.

• Use a calming voice.

• Once close enough, crouch down while still facing sideways, since lower levels are less intimidating.

• Never place a hand out, reach for the dog, or reach over the top of the head; let the dog come to you.

• Ask the owner to slowly pass you the leash or toss a treat so the dog faces more away from you before you take the leash.

• Keep control of the dog by shortening the leash and walking at an appropriate pace.

Walking the dog

• Do not let the dog drag you around, pull anxiously, or pace back and forth.

• When walking, keep the dog calm and focused.

• Move at a fast pace on a shorter leash to keep control through the building.

• If the dog pulls, stop, stand still, wait until the dog calms down, reward that calm behavior, and then walk again.

• This may take several stops.

If the dog won’t walk

• Try a treat trail by placing treats in front of the dog and down the hallway.

• Ask the owner to walk the dog into the exam room.

• Safely pick up the dog if needed.

Lifting rules

• General rule of thumb:

• 1 to 15 kg: one-person lift.

• 16 kg to 55 kg: two-person lift.

• 60 kg and over: three-person lift.

Picking up small dogs

• Crouch down to the dog’s level and to the side.

• Shorten the leash for control.

• Keep one hand on the collar.

• Place the opposite arm around the body/chest area.

Picking up medium dogs

• For a single-person lift, squat beside the dog, shorten the leash, and control the head by gently grasping the collar with one or two fingers.

• Wrap one arm under the neck and the other under the thorax.

• For a two-person lift, the second person places one arm under the abdomen and one around the hips or under the knee joint.

• Lift gently while keeping the dog level.

• Use your legs, not your back.

Picking up large dogs

• Large dogs should always be lifted by two people.

• Use the same squat-and-shorten-leash approach to control the dog.

• Both handlers should be on the same side of the dog.

• One person is at the cranial part, the other at the caudal part.

• The cranial person wraps one arm around the neck and one under the chest.

• The caudal person wraps one arm under the abdomen and one under the rump/rear.

• Make contact with the dog at the same time, count to 3, and lift simultaneously.

Treatment area and kennels

• Treatment areas and kennels are high traffic, noisy, and stressful.

• Keep control of the dog at all times.

• In the lab or clinic, do not let the dog wander or visit with another dog.

Entering kennel runs

• Enter calmly into the kennel room with little noise or stimulation.

• Have treats and a leash ready before going near the kennel.

• Make sure all escape routes, including open doors and windows, are closed.

• Use the “4 on the floor” approach.

• Stand with your shoulder by the hinge of the kennel door, facing sideways.

• Once the dog comes to the front or stops jumping, reward with a treat.

• If the dog does not come to the front, throw treats in to bring the dog forward.

• When the dog is sitting nicely with 4 paws on the floor, proceed.

• Open the kennel door, talk in a happy tone, keep a positive emotional state, and block the doorway so there is no escape.

Leaving and returning to kennel

• Do not touch the dog excessively.

• Do not close the kennel door behind you if the dog is high FAS.

• Make a large loop with the leash and come from the side, approaching sideways.

• Never face the dog head-on to apply the leash over the head.

• Keep touching to a minimum.

• Before leaving the kennel, ask the dog to sit, reward, and then walk out slowly.

• You lead out of the kennel first, not the dog.

• To put the dog back, walk the dog back into the kennel and stay ahead so the dog follows.

• Slide the leash off the head, reward with a treat, walk out as you did on the way in, and block the doorway.

• Never turn your back to a dog at any time in a kennel.

Counterconditioning in kennels

• Counterconditioning can be used for FAS dogs or cats staying at the clinic.

• As staff pass the front of the kennel, they can toss treats inside to change negative associations to positive ones.

• Over time, the animal habituates and becomes more comfortable in the environment.

Counterconditioning steps

• Place a treat bucket at the front of the kennel and instruct staff to toss treats so they land at the animal’s feet.

• For friendly animals that greet readily, reward calm friendly behavior.

• Wait for a dog to stop jumping or barking, then toss a treat and praise the dog.

• Be positive, predictable, considerate, and consistent.

• Staff and volunteers should learn to reward good behavior with treats and ignore undesirable behavior.

• For shy or reactive animals, start by walking by and tossing a treat without stopping.

• Progress only when the pet eats the treat calmly and stays at the front.

• Then walk by, toss a treat, stop briefly while standing sideways, and move away.

• Next, walk by, toss a treat, stop longer, speak gently, and move away.

• Finally, stop beside the animal, talk, then toss several treats after a couple seconds.

Shaping behavior

• Timing is very important.

• Reward should occur within 1 second of the behavior.

• The reward should be associated with the last significant behavior.

• Use a well-defined criteria handling plan.

• Motivation can come from toys or food.

• Communication can be verbal or visual.

• Match the cues.

Collars and leashes

• Use of collars and leashes is introduced as a handling topic.

• Measure the dog’s neck to choose the correct collar size.

• Collars should never be too tight because they can damage the trachea.

• Collars should not be too loose or the dog may escape.

• Gentle Leader or EZ Walk harnesses were designed by certified behaviorists and veterinarians.

• They are non-punishing head collars designed to humanely assist in training and managing behavior.

• They are effective for dogs that pull on a lead.

Review handling plan

• Review the canine handling plan.

• Think about what supplies are needed before approaching the dog.

• Read the full medical record and behavior notes.

• Prepare to read the dog’s behavior.

• Decide how to approach the dog based on the behavior.

• Plan how to get the dog out of the kennel successfully.

• Plan how to control the dog in a new area.

• Use classical conditioning and desensitization in the lab.

• Plan timing.

• Plan how to walk the dog and return it to the kennel.

• Update medical records afterward.