How to hold a small dog in your arms

[gemy]

I hope the experienced Yorkie/owners/breeders etc; post on this thread. The way I hold a puppy, small dog, young or old, is the same way. This method should keep puppy/dog safe from "slipping out of your arms:

The Hold: As I am right handed this is a natural way for me to hold, left handed folks do opposite side.

I set the pups right side into my left ribs, the I use my left hand and wrap one or two fingers around their left leg where it joins into their chest.

The Lift" - Practise this one with you sitting on the floor with your puppy, until you are very used to the hand placement. And just lift pup from the floor into your lap . I use two hands for the lift. Right hand (2/3 fingers of) go in between their back legs, and left hand under and wrapped around their jaw bone. Lift up with both hands, and draw into your chest abdominal area immediately. Then place dog on your left side and hold as described above.

Some Yorkies can wiggle quite strongly; and it is surprising even to adult folks.

[Maximo]

I use the "football" hold with my right hand on the dog's chest, braced behind the front legs, and my left hand supporting the doggy's bottom and hind legs...holding the dog against my chest.

[chachi]

Thanks for the good information Gemy

[Nancy1999]

I do something similar, but I wrap my left hand around their right front leg instead of left leg. So far, they have never been tempted to jump our of my arms. I've heard that holding a paw will help prevent this. I hope all breeders who are reading this will advise their puppy buyers of the proper way to hold a Yorkie, you're so right Gail, they can be little wiggle worms.

[alaskayorkie]

Great topic!

When I pick them up, I always avoid using just one hand and grabbing them in the middle of their body. I think that puts too much stress on their backbone, supporting all the weight in one spot. Instead, I wrap my right arm, palm down, around the top and under the back side of the belly. My left arm, palm up, goes under the chest and head area.

I carry them in a similar position but allow them to sit more on the crook of my right elbow, with my right arm on the outside to prevent them from falling or jumping. The left arm curls around their chest, allowing them to sit in a comfortable down position.

I've heard too many horror stories about Yorkie falls from adult arms to take any chances.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by gemy

I hope the experienced Yorkie/owners/breeders etc; post on this thread. The way I hold a puppy, small dog, young or old, is the same way. This method should keep puppy/dog safe from "slipping out of your arms:

The Hold: As I am right handed this is a natural way for me to hold, left handed folks do opposite side.

I set the pups right side into my left ribs, the I use my left hand and wrap one or two fingers around their left leg where it joins into their chest.

The Lift" - Practise this one with you sitting on the floor with your puppy, until you are very used to the hand placement. And just lift pup from the floor into your lap . I use two hands for the lift. Right hand (2/3 fingers of) go in between their back legs, and left hand under and wrapped around their jaw bone. Lift up with both hands, and draw into your chest abdominal area immediately. Then place dog on your left side and hold as described above.

Some Yorkies can wiggle quite strongly; and it is surprising even to adult folks.

That's the way I have always held mine. They can too easily jump right out of your arms to their death and many have done just that.

[capt_noonie]

Yikes, I've always held them with just one arm. Usually one in each. Arm goes around the top of the body and hand underneath, 3 center fingers in-between front legs, butt sits in crook of my arm, and resting on my hip.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by gemy

I hope the experienced Yorkie/owners/breeders etc; post on this thread. The way I hold a puppy, small dog, young or old, is the same way. This method should keep puppy/dog safe from "slipping out of your arms:

The Hold: As I am right handed this is a natural way for me to hold, left handed folks do opposite side.

I set the pups right side into my left ribs, the I use my left hand and wrap one or two fingers around their left leg where it joins into their chest.

The Lift" - Practise this one with you sitting on the floor with your puppy, until you are very used to the hand placement. And just lift pup from the floor into your lap . I use two hands for the lift. Right hand (2/3 fingers of) go in between their back legs, and left hand under and wrapped around their jaw bone. Lift up with both hands, and draw into your chest abdominal area immediately. Then place dog on your left side and hold as described above.

Some Yorkies can wiggle quite strongly; and it is surprising even to adult folks.

Excellent gemy!! I go over this with all my buyers...it is the fingers around their left front leg that I insist all my new parents learn to do. I stress the improtance of this to them, and how important if they let friends hold their baby, that they do likewise. Likewise, the lift....we have a demostaration and then they repeat the lift and hold/grasp until they are comfortable doing it.