Learning how to handle dogs in pain
ONE of the gentlest Labradors I ever owned was a little yellow girl named Tally.
I never used anything but praise and encouragement to train her. She was a sweetheart.
We were out training one day and she disappeared into a coppice to find her rubber duck.
She was a great hunter so I left her to it in the belief she would reappear and run back to me.
Suddenly, I heard the most awful screaming and ran off to investigate and there was Tally hanging from an old barbed wire fence that had snared her.
I sprinted to her side and tried to untangle her from the barbed wire. She was absolutely frantic and in the middle of my endeavours she bit me hard on my hand.
A nearby farmer heard the noise and ran to my side. He told me to take my jacket off and cover Tally’s head with my jacket. That done, I held her steady while he lifted her off the wire.
I was extremely grateful for his presence and I have continued to use that technique anytime I have found a dog in pain.
Dog walking paths are going to be increasingly difficult to find as more and more houses are built so we all need to learn how to handle a dog in pain and the first rule is to cover their face thus avoiding a severe bite.
It doesn’t matter what breed, size or nature a dog has when it is in distress it will bite so cover your dog’s head before you try to alleviate the problem.
If there is another dog involved you need to keep it out of the way so you may want to slip a lead on it and tie it to whatever you can find.
Having two dogs going crazy at the same time will not help at all.
If there is anyone nearby, ask them to take the second dog away where it can’t add to the problem.
With a bit of luck you and your dog will end up unscathed.
If you want to join one of my weekly classes just text me direct on 07590 560012.
‘He told me to take my jacket off and cover Tally’s head with my jacket’