It is important to start to build a solid foundation of skills. Body Handing is ongoing and involves lots of practice. It can be done in short sessions throughout the day in order to set the pup up for success by keeping skill training fun and expectations consistent. Body handling is the process of teaching our puppies to accept all parts of their body being handled while remaining calm while we touch and move all parts of their body.
This is beneficial for health/Vet visits. These skills also help with body sensitivities to equipment the pup may need to wear such as boots or coat.

Remember, Body handling should be a calm, gentle process – it’s not a time for cuddles or play – that can come later! Take extra care around your pup’s teeth, ears and paws – these areas are crucial for Body Handling but many pups find the handling of these areas strange at first.

Start by Teaching the “Close” position:

1. Start by crouching on the ground with the puppy in front of you, facing you. 
2. Place your right knee on the ground – If pup is on a lead put the lead under your knee so both hands are free 3. Use your left hand to lure the pup from your right knee in a circle until they are between your legs facing away from you 
3. Tilt your lure back over the pup’s head so they go into a sit 
4. Mark and pay 
5. Put your knee down so you are kneeling with pup sitting between your legs and place your two hands on the pup’s chest 
6. Repeat steps 1-6 until pup is quickly and easily moving into position as you lure
7. Repeat steps 1-6 but this time say the word “close” just as their bottom touches the ground Do this 3 times 9. Fade the lure and work on duration – Reward pup for being still and calm. Ignore any wriggling or mouthing.
8. Do this 3 times
9. Fade the lure and work on duration – Reward pup for being still and calm. Ignore any wriggling or mouthing.

Handling Method

NOTE: For pups over 3 weeks, all handling starts in the “Close” position.

Ears

1. Gently hold the puppy’s chin with one hand then use the other hand to lift their ear 
2. Look inside and smell their ear for any signs of infection 
3. Repeat with the other ear 
4. Gentle praise, reward

Eyes

1. Hold puppy’s chin gently and look at each eye 
2. Gentle praise, reward

Teeth

1. Gently hold pup’s chin and use the other hand to lift pup’s chin on one side to look at their teeth 
2. Repeat on the other side 
3. Gentle praise, reward

Legs and paws

1. Run your hand down one of pup’s legs to their paw 
2. Feel between the pads on their paw 
3. Gentle praise, reward
4. Repeat with other 3 paws 

Vet Restraint

1. Use your left hand to gently restrain pup’s head against your chest so they are looking towards your left 
2. Run your right hand down the back of the pup’s right leg to their elbow then raise their leg (it should be outstretched as if for a blood draw) 
3. Mark and pay 
4. Switch so pup is facing the opposite way and the other leg is outstretched 
5. Gentle praise, reward

 Lay Over

1. Place one arm underneath pup’s front legs
2. Lift your arm (therefore lifting the pup’s front legs)
3. Lean down until you are lying over the top of the dog 
4. Remove your hand from under the pup 
5. Gentle praise, reward

Release cue

1. Tell the puppy “Go free” and allow them to break position 
2. Give them a pat and plenty of praise

Handler can throughout the day not engage with pup but still provide variety by  

• Knocking on the door when passing the den. 
• Make other random sounds throughout the day e.g. when going in den for other duties like health checks, weighing pups, changing bedding 
• Rattle hanging toys, bang two objects together to make an unexpected noise, drop objects, pretend to cough, laugh or sneeze. 

The handler can take pup outside of the den for one on one time away from the littermate. Again, a very brief experience will aid new learning and build confidence and resilience. Return pup to Brood for a comfort feed. 

Only extend time away from littermates once pups are comfortable and have confidence in the handler. Pups are learning the handler will not ask pup to do more than it is capable of doing. Building trust between handler and pup is ongoing.

• Have Brood in with pups (ensure Brood knows and is comfortable with onlookers)
• Plan short visits initially and end on a positive before pups display stress signals
• Repeat a second time for confidence building. Pup has been there so building up more positive associations around changing environments
• Use bedding that has the pups/Brood scent on it
• Bring familiar toys
• No new people in with pups. Staff are a familiar like toys and blankets. Limit new learning to sights, smells, sounds in new environment.

Introduce pups to the room prior to placing it in hydrobath. 

No water initially. Non slip mat on floor 

Pups in pairs 

Familiar toys for play 

Voice and touch for reassurance 

Time ending so it is a short brief positive experience 

Goal: To teach puppies to purposefully follow mom and people from one place to another. This activity should be done beginning when puppies are all comfortably walking at around 4 weeks old. 

Location: This activity should only be done over short distances where the puppies are already located for example- from whelping room to the litter’s outside play area. 

Protocol:

1.   Say (Mom’s name) and puppies, “Let’s Go”
2.   Take a few steps and wait for puppies to follow mom
3.   Give verbal praise to the Mom and Puppies. 
4.   Continue to take a few steps and verbally praise mom and puppies for following you. 
5.   Remember to keep sessions under 5 minutes. 

Please Note: If at any time the health or safety of the puppy is at risk (i.e., the puppy is eating something they aren’t supposed to, or the puppy has escaped the yard) please disregard this protocol and immediately address the concern.

Goal: To associate the cue “Puppy, Puppy” with being fed and to use this cue to call the puppies to you. 

When to do the activity: 

Before feeding the puppies

After you enter the kennel, tap the bowls, and say “Puppy, Puppy” before putting the bowls down.  This conditions the puppy to associate being fed after the bowls are tapped together and they hear “Puppy, Puppy”. 

Bringing the puppies in from the yard

Materials needed: Treat pouch with the litter’s food

When you are ready to leave the yard, say “Puppy, Puppy” to and give each puppy a treat. Exit the yard and encourage the puppies to follow you into the concrete walkway. When you are halfway to their kennel, give the puppies a treat and reward them for their hard work. 

Use the cue “Puppy, Puppy” to bring the puppies in to their outside kennel. Say “Puppy, Puppy” and encourage the puppies to follow you. Give the puppies a treat when they come into their back kennel. 

Troubleshooting: 

The puppies won’t come to you or follow you out of the yard

• Decrease the distance between you and the puppies in the yard. Cue the puppy by saying “Puppy, Puppy” and treat them when they come to you.