How to Pick Up a Dog: 5 Tips

Picking up your dog the correct way ensures you are not hurting your pet or causing them distress or discomfort. Picking up your dog incorrectly can lead to strained muscles and torn ligaments. It can even lead your dog to bite you.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when picking up your dog:

1. 1. Give your dog a cue. Picking your dog up unexpectedly can cause them stress and anxiety. Teach your dog a verbal command such as “up” to signal you are about to lift them so that they can prepare. To encourage your dog to cooperate, use dog treats as a reward whenever you use the cue.
2. 2. Get a second person if necessary. If you struggle to lift your dog, they may feel unsafe and attempt to wiggle away. Ask a friend or family member for help when lifting a medium or large dog, especially if your dog weighs more than forty pounds.
3. 3. Bend down to your dog’s level. As you reach for your dog, squat down by bending your knees rather than bending over at your waist. This will prevent back strain when you stand up and give you a more secure hold on your pooch.
4. 4. For small dogs and puppies, slide your dominant arm under the dog’s chest. Place your dominant hand between the dog’s front legs while the other hand supports the dog’s rear end. Hold your dog close to your chest so they feel secure as you lift.
5. 5. For large dogs, put one arm around the chest and one around the back end. Hold your dog’s chest above the front legs but below the neck to avoid choking. The arm around your dog’s back legs should support the rear end. You should also use this method when picking up pregnant dogs because it avoids pressure on the belly area.

Here’s what to avoid when picking up a dog:

• Don’t pick up your dog by the legs or underarms. This can cause injury by putting too much stress on your dog’s joints. Also, it’s easy for your dog to wiggle out of this position and fall.
• Don’t pick up your dog by the scruff of the neck. Mother dogs carry newborn puppies by their scruff to quickly remove them from unsafe situations. After the first few weeks of life, it is unsafe to carry puppies this way because they weigh too much to be lifted by the neck, and doing so can cause injury.
• Don’t pick up your dog by their collar. Lifting from your dog’s collar puts too much strain on their neck, and may cut off their air supply or cause permanent trachea damage.
• Don’t pick up your dog by the tail. As an extension of the spine, your dog’s tail is sensitive and easy to fracture. Dogs commonly appear uncomfortable when humans (or other dogs) even slightly touch their tails, so you should avoid putting any pressure on it.

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