Puppy Suspension and Gentle Handling
Demonstrations
Puppy
and Kitten Prime Socialization Period
The prime socialization period in small
animals is approximately 4-12 weeks
of age for puppies and 3-7 weeks for
kittens. During this period, veterinarians
and owners have the greatest opportunity
to influence (positively or negatively)
the future personality of the individual
pet. Puppy and kitten veterinary visits
are an ideal time to start shaping a
pet’s future behavior, creating
a friendly patient for life. The goals
are to prevent confusion and fear, bond
the pet and owner to the practice, and
to encourage a friendly, cooperative
pet personality.
The
Suspension Technique
This technique triggers a parental leadership
and calming reflex similar to the youngster
being picked up and moved by its mother.
Its effectiveness is inversely proportional
to the pet’s age, hence an excellent
technique for puppies and kittens. The
ideal age range is 4 to 14 weeks, though
the technique can be used in pets of
any age who are small enough to be easily
picked up. Although useful in young
kittens, the results are enhanced with
puppies because of their natural social
instinct.
The
technique can be described as picking
up the puppy (suspending it) with one
hand under each foreleg, and letting
the back legs dangle for a few seconds
as if picking up a human toddler. Kittens
can be lifted the same way, or gently
by the scruff. If possible, in the hospital
setting, have the owner pick up the
pet and hand it to you. The pet is often
accustomed to the owner picking it up,
and the “hand over” is a
type of non-verbal transfer of trust.
Your thumbs should be place under the
pet’s chin to prevent any possibility
of biting your hands. If convenient,
give a small tasty food treat just before
beginning a suspension of 3-10 seconds.
Puppies
Some puppies will fidget with their
rear legs dangling. If this happens,
let the rear legs touch a table or your
body. It is essential to smile and talk
in a high, happy reassuring voice tone
to the puppy to communicate this is
not a threat. It is also recommended
to keep the puppy’s eye level
below your own to maintain leadership.
If
the puppy panics or does not stop wriggling,
just put the pet down to be sure there
is no fear imprint. Then recommend to
the owner that the puppy enroll in an
off leash puppy socialization class
that includes handling exercises to
build confidence.
Shaking
the puppy or verbal scolding is ineffective
and contraindicated since it generates
fear instead of trust. The goal of suspension
is to communicate strong but positive
leadership position. Some dogs grow
up without ever experiencing non-punitive
subordination, which may increase the
likelihood of aggression later
in life.
Suspension
is a type of non-threatening, “Situational
Domination” because the pup has
been put into a situation where it cannot
fight, bite or escape. What it learns
is that nothing bad happens, and the
person doing the suspension is friendly
and powerful.
During the suspension, look down at
the pup and directly into its eyes while
cooing and talking friendly. Because
of the high happy voice, the threat
is minimized, and the pup is being conditioned
that a direct stare is not always a
threat. As soon as the puppy looks away,
pull the puppy in to your chest and
give a firm hug for a few seconds. With
these two acts, you have competed two
additional mild leadership exercises;
i.e. visually, then physically dominating
the pup. In each case the pup is learning
that by acting subordinately, (looking
away, and submitting to the hug) nothing
bad happens, and there is no fear generated.
In
the ideal scene the next step is to
cradle the pup on its back in one of
your arms. Assuming this does not elicit
a fear response (because of the verbal
cooing), you should give a small tasty
treat (with owner’s permission).
If convenient, hand the pup to another
staff member to repeat the suspension
so that the pup generalizes the trust
and leadership to all staff. If a pet
accepts the first treat, then refuses
one after or during suspension, it may
be an indication of mild stress. In
this case go more gently, and recommend
to the owner to do the technique frequently
to desensitize the pet to being touched
by strangers.
In
Summary
(A typical
gentle handling exercise takes 10 - 15 seconds
to complete)
Builds trust: Have the owner pick up
the pet and hand it over. Give a small
food treat.
Handling safely: Don’t drop the
pup, and don’t let it bite you.
Avoid fear: Smile and talk high and
happy. If the pup panics, just put it
down.
Suspend: Situation
power (pup
can’t "fight or flight"
in this situation).
Eye contact: Visually
control (when
the pup looks away, go to the next step).
Hug: Physically control (pressing the
pup’s body against your own).
Cradle: Position control (the pup
is held cradled in a subordinate posture).
Reward: Give a very small bit of a tasty
food (e.g. piece of freeze dried liver).
Generalize: Have other members of the
staff also do suspension.
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