|
 
Need Help? Blog Us!
or call 1-800-372-3706 Ext. 80
or email
Info@PPPSavesLives.org
You can also send checks
and write to:
PPPSavesLives
15340
Pastrana Drive
La Mirada, CA 90638
Sponsors adopt a
particular shelter , rescue group, or a specific number of pets per month to
receive education Courses.
Use
GoodSearch
to put
Positive
Pet
Parenting™
Saves Lives Courses
in Shelters Nationwide
|
Canine Gentling
Introduction
Gentling exercises teach the dog
that hands are good things and
to accept positive human
leadership. It is very important
for the dog to understand and
trust humans and human hands.
Establishing a daily routine of
doing gentling helps build the
dog's trust and compliance.
How to
begin
Choose a time when the dog is
sleepy and relaxed. Begin by gently rubbing the
dog's back and sides by sliding the skin back and
forth over the body. Couple the massage with praise.
Use treats if needed to create a positive experience
for the dog. Over time, increase the areas you
massage. The goal is for the dog to allow and enjoy
you touching every square inch of his or her body
every day. Body massage not only teaches the dog
that hands are good things, it also teaches the dog
to allow people to take charge and control any part
of his or her body during routine grooming, exams,
treatments, lifting or moving the dog.
|
This positive association
with people and being
touched also helps to
prevent aggression towards
people. |
Practical reasons to massage
your dog
Teaching your
dog to accept handling and body
manipulation allows us the
flexibility to clean muddy paws.
If also allows us to inspect the
dog's body for any lumps, sores,
scabs or fleas. Daily routine
massage helps the dog comply
and accept the application of
medication to any part of the
body throughout life.
Starting the
massage early in life, and
continuing on a daily, weekly,
or monthly basis, communicates
to the dog that he or she has
nothing to fear, should not try
to prevent humans from gently
touching him or her anywhere,
and makes it easier for the dog
to accept massage as quality
time with people.
Range of motion
When the dog readily accepts the
massage, the next exercise is
called, "range of motion."
Range of motion means moving or
rotating each extremity of the dog
as far as possible within its normal
range of motion. For example, take
each leg, push it close to the body,
then pull it far away, pull it
forward as far as it will
comfortably go and then back as far
as it will comfortably go. Move the
head up and down, and back and forth
and in a circle. Over time, move the
other extremities including the
head, the tail, the ears, and even
the nose. With range of motion, the
goal is to move every part of the
body gently but somewhat against the
dog's resistance, to desensitize the
dog to this somewhat unnatural type
of human handling.
Positive leadership
In some
cases, the dog might become
tense, move away, act frightened
or aggressive, or even
mouth your hand. These are signs
that the dog is stressed by the
handling. The best response to
these signs of stress is to do
less at one time, and couple
each exercise with treats and
praise. Do exercises daily
adding more time as the dog
shows acceptance. A little
stress is not only okay but can
be considered a positive as we
want the dog to learn how to
tolerate small doses of stress
without acting fearful or
aggressive.
|
Another benefit to this type
of handling is that it
reinforces to the dog that
you are a powerful, yet kind
and trustworthy leader.
|
Positive restraint
A gentle short
hug is an extension of the
gentle, loving massage and body
manipulations. Hug your dog a
little longer each time. If the
dog becomes upset and struggles,
you lose points. Once the dog
can be hugged easily, try
cradling the dog like a baby.
When the dog accepts this
exercise, the next step is to
hold the dog on your lap on his
or her side for a few seconds.
For some dogs, these exercises
may need to be done daily and
extended very gradually.
It is best to start all gentling
exercises with puppies at 2
month of age.
Positive
restraint is one of the more
difficult gentling exercises.
Therefore, it is important to
go slowly. Use food
treats during the process to
reassure the dog that nothing is
wrong. Praise the dog for
acceptance of any restraint.
As soon as the dog begins to
relax, let the dog up.
When you give back his or her
freedom with praise and a
cookie, you show the dog that
you are NOT trying to hurt the
dog.
 Positive
Pet Parenting Saves
Lives is a 501 (c)(3)
non-profit
organization. To apply
your gift directly to
pet welfare not
administrative costs,
PPPSavesLives processes
gifts through
Vet Tel -
subsidized by the Animal
Behavior Network.
Pet lovers and Sponsors
put Positive Pet
Parenting™
education into pet
parent homes and
shelters.
View Free T-Shirt.
"Give a man a fish and
you satisfy his hunger
today; teach a man to
fish and you feed him
for lifetime."
|
