safe animal handling part 3

Safe Animal Handling

SPCA of TexasAnimal Behavior Programs

2015Part 3

What you will learn in this section

• SODA• How to Observe

Carefully• Practice

Observing Dogs• How to Handle

Dogs• How to Introduce

Yourself

SODA

StopObserveDecideAct

SODA

StopStop everything that you are doing or thinking about that is not related to the animal. Animals live in the moment and we need to be there with them.

SODA

ObserveObserve the animal from outside of their kennel for 10-15 seconds. • Does the animal approach or retreat?• Describe to yourself what the animal is doing in objective

observations.– E.g. Sitting in the back corner of the kennel, head down, tail

tucked, back end shaking – OR Comes to the front of the kennel, body soft/wiggly, mouth

open, ears back, tail wagging below spine level. • Check the environment and medical history to find out if

there is anything that can explain the animal’s behavior.

SODA

DecideDecide what is the best course of action based on the observations you just made.

Do not ever handle any animal that you do not feel comfortable handling. If you do not feel like you can handle an animal, tell your supervisor.

SODA

ActBase your actions with the animal on your observations and decisions you have just made but be sure to remain flexible. If the animal’s behavior changes you need to be ready to change your behavior, too.

Observe Carefully

One sign of an animal care professional is careful observation of the animal’s behavior and the environment before, during and after handling them.

Use SODA before and during all interactions with shelter animals.

Let’s talk about how to observe animals and describe their behavior using objective observations…

Subjective vs. Objective

Subjective Description: Max looks scared, but he’s sweet. I like him.

This tells us what you feel, but it doesn’t explain what he’s doing that makes you think he’s scared, or even what “sweet” means.

Importantly, it doesn’t tell us whether it is safe to handle Max at this time.

How to Observe Carefully

Subjective Description: Max looks scared, but he’s sweet. I like him.

Objective Description: Max is leaning against the wall in the back corner of his kennel. His legs are bent, and his back is arched. He is shaking. There is a thick rope of drool hanging from his mouth.


The objective description tells us exactly what Max is doing so we can respond helpfully to his behavior.

Max is leaning against the wall in the back corner of his kennel.

Ask yourself: Why isn’t Max coming forward?

Possible reasons: Fearful, sick, foot is stuck in his bedding.



His legs are bent.

Often fearful dogs hold their bodies close to the ground with bend legs, so he might be fearful.



His back is arched.

A dog’s back may arch when his legs are bent. It may also arch if he has a belly ache.



He is shaking.

Fearful dogs may shake. So may sick dogs, especially if they are in pain.



There is a thick rope of drool hanging from his mouth.

Anxious dogs may drool. So may sick dogs.


The key is to figure out what could be going on with the dog before handling him.

With the dog just described he is likely to be either sick or fearful based on the behaviors observed.

How to Observe CarefullyThe key is to figure out what could be going on with the dog before handling him.

See if illness is the likely cause of the dog’s behavior by checking for things like a limp, blood in the kennel or discharge from eyes or nose. If you see anything like this, tell your supervisor and write a vet check.

See if fear is the likely cause of the dog’s behavior by checking for signs of illness first, then if obvious signs aren’t seen, figure out how the dog responds to you by moving in gentle ways around his kennel or crouching down. If he withdraws he is likely to be afraid.

When observing canine body language it is important take all of the parts and add them together including the context in which it is happening.

Example : Pupils dilated could be a result of a dim room, but if the room is well lit it is most likely fear.

The following chart provides some examples of body language and how to possibly translate it.

Body Part Behavior What it meansGazing, blinking relaxed, calmAverting eyes/looking away Fearful, trying to avoid conflictPupils dilated poor lighting, fear or stressEyes wide, whites of eyes are visible Fear, stress or anxietyDarting eyes Fearful, looking for an escapeFixed stare challengingRelaxed back calm, relaxedForward alert, attentivePinned Back fearful, defensive, playful in some casesPanting hot, tired, anxious, excitedLips long - relaxed relaxed, calm

YawnTired (if just woken up or going to sleep), anxious, stress (when not tired)

Lip Licking or tongue flicking fear, stress, nervous, anxiousLips long - tense unsure, stress, anxiousShort Lips/Puckered growlSnarl (lip curled, showing teeth) aggressionGrowl aggressive or playNeutral, at spine level, natural carriage relaxed, calmWagging in a relaxed, "swishing" manner friendlydown low, close to back legs fearfultucked under belly fearful

High, up high over spine, very still or "flagging" alert, agitated, mostly unfriendlysoft, relaxed calmwiggly friendlyHackles up arousedCowering fearfulExposing belly asking for some space, unconfidentTense, stiff fearful or aggressive

Eyes

Ears

Mouth

Tail

Body

Safe Use Caution Extreme Caution Unsafe

Are fearful dogs safer to handle than aggressive dogs?

Are fearful dogs safer to handle than aggressive dogs?

NOT NECESSARILY!

Dogs that are fearful may bite to get you to leave them alone just like aggressive dogs.

Think Like A Behaviorist

In the following slides you will be observing photos of shelter dogs. Take 10-15 seconds to describe to yourself what the dog is doing. Remember to use objective rather than subjective observations.

Is This Dog Safe to Handle?

Ears back and relaxed

(not pinned back)



(not pinned back)

Mouth is relaxed and holding toy



(not pinned back)


Eyes round and soft (a little white showing indicating

some anxiety)



(not pinned back)


Curved body, facing towards person


some anxiety)



(not pinned back)



YES!


some anxiety)



(not pinned back)



YES!

This dog can readily be handled but always keep an eye on the dog as well as the environment because

behavior can change at a moments’ notice. Anything from an

unexpected person or animal coming around a corner to a thunderstorm can drastically

change this animal’s behavior.


some anxiety)


Exposing belly (not always a friendly gesture)



Elbows bent, legs are not stiff




Eyes are soft, barely and

white showing





white showing

YES!Is This Dog Safe to Handle?




white showing

YES!This dog can readily be handled but may be a little timid or submissive. Go slow and invite her to come to you before

initiating interaction. Remember to always keep an eye on the dog as well as the environment for any changes that might affect her behavior.


Ears forward and erect



Eyes round, no white showing




Mouth open, lips long, tongue out,

with drool puddled at end of tongue.






Body facing you(Think about what she did before the photo was taken… is she starting to

square off toward you or is her body

curved? Is she loose and wiggly or

stiff? )






Maybe!




stiff? )






Maybe!

This dog may be friendly, but spend more time with her to be sure. Check the environment, her movements and how she responds to you before opening the kennel..




stiff? )


Mouth open, lips long, tongue out

but stiff


Eyes wide, pupils dilated,

whites showing


but stiff



whites showing


but stiff

Ears pinned back



whites showing


but stiff

Ears pinned back

Maybe.Is This Dog Safe to Handle?


whites showing


but stiff

Ears pinned back

This dog appears to have some stress or anxiety in his eyes, ears and mouth. This animal would

benefit from some stress relieving activities such as a

walk, off leash play, tug, fetch, a Kong, rawhide or a quieter place

in the shelter.


Ears back


Cowered Ears back


Cowered Ears back

Some white showing


Cowered

Leaning away

Ears back

Some white showing


Cowered

Leaning away

Ears back

Mouth closed tight

Some white showing


Cowered

Leaning away

Ears back

Mouth closed tight

Some white showing

Proceed CarefullyIs This Dog Safe to Handle?

Cowered

Leaning away

Ears back

Mouth closed tight

Some white showing

This dog is cowering and trying to keep her distance. Her body is off balance (not currently prepared for Fight or Flight) but may go

into balance as fear escalates.

Go slow with this dog, invite her to come to you but do not force her to interact. Watch for this dog to have some sort of forward

movement (sniffing, moving head forward, leaning toward you). If you do not see any forward movement, write a BVAL.


Mouth shut tight


Stress wrinkles in between eyes

Mouth shut tight



Body very stiff, rigid

Mouth shut tight



Tail tucked tightly


Mouth shut tight



Tail tucked tightly


Mouth shut tight

This dog appears very fearful and concerned (stress wrinkles on her face). Fearful dogs may shiver/shake, shed excessively or attempt to hide or escape.

Some of these behaviors have been referred to as stress signals (shaking, panting heavily, lip licking, looking away, yawning when not tired, etc.). If you are dealing with a fearful dog monitor their stress signals. If, at any time, the stress signals

stop but the animal remains fearful and begins to become very still and/or stare, they may be preparing to defend themselves by behaving aggressively.


White of eyes showing, keeping an eye on the

camera.


Lips long and tense


camera.


Tending to unrelated things

(scratching)

Lips long and tense


camera.



(scratching)

Lips long and tense


camera.



(scratching)

Lips long and tense

Tending to unrelated things (like this dog scratching when he probably doesn’t have an itch), may indicate that a dog is

avoiding interacting.

Go slow and invite this dog to interact with you, get his buy-in, before forcing an interaction. You might engage him in

play with one of his toys or toss him some treats to take his mind off of being so nervous.


camera.


When dealing with a fearful dog it is helpful to show them some non-threatening behaviors of your own.

- Present your side- Kneel down, make yourself smaller. Avoid bending toward the dog when you

kneel; turn sideways first then kneel.- Avert your eyes, avoid staring at their face- Speak softly and gently- Offer treats (Some animals may not eat when they are afraid)- Invite interaction with an object such as a rope toy or cat wand- Pet under the chin or on the chest rather than going over the head

If a fearful dog feels threatened, or that they do not have any other options, they may behave aggressively. Always provide fearful animals with options, including an option to get away or create distance in between themselves and whatever they are afraid of.

You are not required to work with animals that you are not comfortable handling. If you cannot handle a particular animal, contact your supervisor and write a BVAL.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://leadingthepack.org/comforting-your-dog/&ei=aG2QVLHzMZSgyAT5t4C4Dw&bvm=bv.81828268,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNE0N5JvW51JPEuCTQ30TJTX6ZuERg&ust=1418837690941648

Hackles raised (piloerect)



Eyes wide, white

showing



Eyes wide, white

showing

Lips short and

puckered



Eyes wide, white

showing

Lips short and

puckeredBody stiff, rigid



Eyes wide, white

showing

Lips short and


Staring just past

you



Eyes wide, white

showing

Lips short and


NO!Staring

just past you



Eyes wide, white

showing

Lips short and


Some of the behavior that is observed here was also observed in the previous slides of fearful dogs. Combined with piloerection (raised hackles) and puckering of the lips

these behaviors lead us to believe that this dog is likely to behave aggressively.

This dog feels that he has no other options than to behave aggressively since he is unable

to escape because he is in a cage.

NO!Staring

just past you


Tail low, below spine level, not

moving



moving



Side stare, whites showingTail low,

below spine level, not

moving



Side stare, whites showingTail low,

below spine level, not

moving


Lips short and puckered, probably barking.


Side stare, whites showing

Stiff, square body. Standing his ground.


moving







moving



NO!Is This Dog Safe to Handle?




moving


He is likely to behave aggressively if you were to move any closer to him.


NO!Is This Dog Safe to Handle?

Teeth exposed, lips puckered



Body curved, side presented



Eyes squinting




Eyes squinting


??? Is This Dog Safe to Handle?

Body off Balance

Eyes soft


Yes.

Submissive Grin!


Body off Balance

Eyes soft


Yes.

Submissive Grin!Submissive grins are often mistaken for aggression. By observing the

context of the behavior as well as the rest of the body language (animal is usually approaching person with a very soft, wiggly body) we can

determine that this is a friendly animal.


The Aggressive DogThere is usually a chain of warning behaviors as a dog makes the decision to bite. Sometimes the chain moves very fast, so always pay attention:• Freezes • Lowers head• Stares, without blinking, directly or just past you. Often looks at the part

of your body that he is likely to bite• Raises Hackles

– Not a sign of aggression on its own, indicates arousal• Growls, snarls.

– Many dogs have been punished for growling and therefore may not always provide this warning. Never punish a dog for growling! It is important information that tells us the dog is overwhelmed.)

• Lunges• Bites

Aggression

Aggressive dogs are usually fearful but may not appear that way. They want to accomplish the same thing as a fearful dog which is to create distance between themselves and what they are afraid of. Also, dogs may also become aggressive when guarding food, toys, valuable chew items, beds, etc., which is called “resource guarding”.

Dealing with an aggressive dogWhen dealing with an aggressive dog you will use your body language to indicate that you do not want escalate a confrontation.

• Avoid direct eye contact. Look down and away, glance out of the corner of your eye, look at part’s of the dogs body but don’t stare at his face

• Turn your body slowly to the side• Do not turn your back or run away• Do not panic• Be watchful for momentary freezing. If the dog freezes he is more likely

to bite. • Try to put a physical barrier in between you and the dog (trash can,

jacket, gate, etc.)• Notify your supervisor immediately• Write a BVAL

Introduce Yourself

Animals in the shelter have little control over their environment and lack of control can lead to fear, rowdy behavior or even aggression. Each time you interact with an animal you have the choice of making his experience better or worse. Allow the animal to have the option on whether or not they want to approach you.

Working with Shelter DogsApproach the dog using friendly body language similar to how dogs behave so that he will understand.

• Gaze – don’t stare directly at the dog’s face. Look at him with your “soft eyes”, blinking regularly

• Control your hands. Swinging your hands, a clipboard or even a leash can frighten the dog.

Curve – approach in a curve with a curved body.

Side – Keep your side to the dog.

Slouch – curve your spine and lower your head

Getting a dog out of a kennel

1. SODA – Stop and observe the dog for 10-15 seconds.2. Enter the kennel and introduce yourself.3. Leash the dog.4. Get control of the dog by having a firm grip on the

leash and the excess leash gathered in your hand. The leash should be short when routinely walking dog past other dogs (more information about the “4 foot rule” next).

5. Look both ways before exiting the kennel.6. Be observant of your dog and the environment and

be prepared to respond to the needs of the dog.

4 Foot RuleIn our shelter, dogs on leash are not allowed within 4 feet of another dog. Make sure to always be aware of your environment and make any adjustments to keep your dog at a safe distance from other dogs. This includes gathering up excess leash and bringing the dog closer to you when passing other dogs both on leash and in their kennels.

TOO CLOSE!

Leash Handling

Do not wrap the leash around your hand! This can easily cause an injury if the dog pulls hard on leash or suddenly bolts.

Incorrect Correct!

Carrying Dogs

Small Dogs• Hold like a football with

one hand to support chest and back end.

• Put other hand over on the neck of the dog.

• If you need to remove a hand to open a door, etc. put your hand back on the dog as soon as possible.

You must use two hands when carrying dogs.

Carrying Dogs

Medium or Large Dogs• Sometimes these

dogs must be carried due to fear, unfamiliarity with a leash, illness or injury.


Carrying Dogs

Medium or Large Dogs• One arm in front of chest.• One arm behind back legs

under rump or under abdomen.

• If you need another hand to open a door, etc. get help. You should not take your hand off a Medium/Large Dog.


Escaped Dogs• Make sure all doors to the area are closed.• Alert everyone around by saying loudly “Loose Dog”• If the dog is friendly and simply exploring approach the dog and

leash them up.• If the dog is playful and thinks being loose is a game, try enticing

the dog to play chase by calling the dog and running the opposite direction. When the dog comes towards you, leash them up.

• If the dog is fearful and running away do not try to catch it as it is running by! Work with a partner to cut her off at the pass and slowly approach her and leash her up.

• If the dog is not wearing a leash, use the slip lead from your pocket.

Dog AttacksIf an off-lead dog attacks you

- Shout loudly “Help Needed”- Angle your body so that you are not facing the

dog directly, lower your head.- Protect the part of your body the dog is looking

at by blocking with your crossed arms. - If the dog continues to charge, hit his nose hard

with your fist. (Obviously this is an exception!)- Back to the nearest exit.- Do not turn your back to the dog or run.

Dog AttacksIf the dog you have on leash attacks you

- Use the leash to hold the dog as far away from your body as possible.

- Get the dog into the nearest empty kennel as soon as possible and close the door.

- If you cannot get the dog kenneled quickly, call for help.

- The other person should sound a blow horn or whistle to distract the dog.

Dog AttacksIf you see a dog attacking someone

- Sound a blow horn or whistle to distract the dog.

- Do not touch the dog- Contact your supervisor- If you were trained at the SPCA of Texas in

the use of a catch pole, slip it over the dog’s head and move him to an empty kennel

- If you are not trained in the use of a catch pole, gather any guests and exit the area

Dog AttacksIf two dogs area fighting

• Do not step between them or physically try to break up the fight. This is an easy way to be injured.

• After dogs have been separated, put them into empty kennels and contact your supervisor.

• Write a BVAL• Place a “Use Caution” tag on the dog’s

kennel.

Dog AttacksIf two dogs area fighting

You have completed Part 3

Continue to Part 4

http://www.slideshare.net/fullscreen/KReeseSPCA/safe-animal-handling-part-4/1

safe animal handling part 3

Documents

animals behavior

animal approach

isnt max

animal care professional

hes sweet

fearful dogs

shelter animals

bend legs