How to Properly Hold Your Dog

Welcoming a new dog into your home is always an exciting experience. And with so many things to check off your to-do list before Fido arrives, it can be a bit overwhelming too, especially if you’re a first-time pup parent. One of the skills that every dog parent must learn is how to properly hold your pooch. 

Don't worry—Wag!'s got you! The following pointers will help you carry your canine companion with confidence. But before we go into the steps on how to safely pick up and hold your pup, let’s first take a look at a few do’s and don’ts.

• Don’t lift your dog by the front limbs. Holding your pup up by their front legs puts unnatural pressure on the front toes, elbows, shoulders, and even spine. Muscles can get strained, ligaments can get torn, a shoulder or elbow can get dislocated, and bones can get damaged. The risk of injury is even higher in elderly mutts or if a pup struggles and is dropped.

• Don’t grab your dog by the scruff. Seeing mother dogs carry their babies by the nape may lead some people to believe that this is the right way to hold a dog. However, just as our moms stopped carrying us on their hips once we got older, scruffing is no longer natural or comfortable for mature dogs. 

• Do remember that dogs can be stoic. Just because a dog isn’t complaining, doesn’t mean that they’re not hurting. While some pups are less tolerant of pain and will let you know if they’re in distress, canines are generally stoic critters who hide their discomfort well. 

• Do learn the basic signs of discomfort. Knowing the signs of stress and anxiety in dogs can help prevent unpleasant situations. If your four-legged pal is avoiding eye contact, licking their lips, showing the whites of their eyes, flattening their ears, yawning, or struggling, then it’s time to put them back down on the floor.

You can use one arm or both hands to safely hold a small pupper. 

• Method #1: To hold a small pooch with one arm, place your dominant arm under their chest, between the front legs (think of your arm as kind of like a harness), and simultaneously tuck their rear end between your arm and torso. You should both be facing the same way, and your other arm is now free to grab some treats or open doors. 

• Method #2: To hold a small dog using both hands, place your non-dominant hand under their chest, using one or two fingers to keep the hold steady, and your dominant hand under their bottom and/or hind legs. Keep them snug against your body for extra support and to minimize wiggling.

Here are the ways to correctly pick up a bigger canine, all of which require both arms.  

• Method #1: Place your non-dominant hand under your dog’s chest and your dominant arm under their belly. As you’re lifting them up, bring them close to your body; their rear should end up tucked between your elbow and torso. 

• Method #2: Slide your non-dominant arm under your dog’s underarms and use your dominant hand to scoop up their hind legs/feet. Hold them near your body to keep them supported and comfortable. 

• Method #3: With your pooch standing, wrap your non-dominant arm around their chest and your dominant arm around their rump. Pull them against your chest as you lift for more stabilization.

• To pass a small canine to someone else, use Method #2 above and hold them firmly while the other person slides their hands onto the dog’s chest and bottom. Gently let go as the other person brings the dog close to their body.

• Ideally, large dogs are to be picked up by two people, with one supporting the chest and the other lifting the belly and rear. 

• If your dog is injured and needs to be lifted to safety, place them on an improvised stretcher, which can be any firm, flat object such as a wood board. A small dog can be placed in a carrier or box. 

• Teach children to always ask permission before picking up somebody else’s dog.  

With the right techniques, picking up and holding your furry pal properly is easy!