Is it safe to pick the pup up by the skin at the back of the neck - YorkieTalk.com Forums

mimipink · 03-15-2007, 03:57 PM

Someone on here suggested picking the pup up by the lose skin at the back of their neck when they are doing something wrong and saying "No!" IS this safe? what age should the puppy be?

YorkieRose · 03-15-2007, 04:05 PM

NO, the only time you pick up the skin of the neck is to check for dehyration...I have never seen a mother do it either, they take the entire pup in their mouth to move them...maybe cats do it, but Yorkies do not...

mimipink · 03-15-2007, 04:08 PM

It didnt sound right to me... the whole puppy's weight supported by the skin. thanks for the info.

chachi · 03-15-2007, 04:13 PM

Picking puppies up like that hurts them

RowdysMom · 03-15-2007, 04:25 PM

I have picked my pup up by the back of the harness and said "no" in a very stern voice. It did the trick for me. Others may not agree with that tactic, but I was desperate to get his attention and it did.

Shanatink · 03-15-2007, 04:36 PM

I have never liked this. Ive heard some people say its okay and they try and justify it by saying thats what the pup's mother does but I remember when my boxer penny had a litter of pups and when she picked her puppies up by the loose skin on the back of thier neck they would cry like it was hurting them so I wouldnt let her do it and I would not suggest anyone do this to thier dogs. just my opinion

RLC12345678 · 03-15-2007, 04:38 PM

I have done it a couple of times when Hobbs has sprinted out of the back door and would not stop when I called his name. When I finally caught up to him, the only way I could get ahold of him was by grabbing him by the scruff.

Hokule'a · 03-15-2007, 04:45 PM

I have recommended 'scruffing' them but I have never meant picking them up by the skin of the neck. I 'gently' grab the back of their neck and give a little shake and I do mean little and I am not lifting them up at all. Hoku is actually rougher at it with her brother when they are playing than I have ever done. Perhaps I use the wrong terminology when I say 'scruff'. Sorry.

BubblPopElectrc · 03-15-2007, 04:45 PM

Ouch. I wouldn't suggest that.

YorkieRose · 03-15-2007, 04:47 PM

Grabbing a harness is different then the skin of the neck...a harness is like a brace and they make training/safety harnesses just for the purpose you mentioned...

browniesmom622 · 03-15-2007, 04:55 PM

only cats do this
i pick up my boys by the harness i always support there butt with my hand

BabyFidgette · 03-15-2007, 04:58 PM

Great question. I've always wondered this myself since we see cats doing this.

Yorkiedaze · 03-15-2007, 07:06 PM

If a mother dog moves her pups, she will pick them up tenderly by the neck, not the skin, but only when they are not moving around much and have not opened their eyes. I would never pick up a puppy by the skin of it's neck. You don't have to touch a puppy to get your point across. They go by body language anyway, and the tone in your voice.

03-15-2007, 03:57 PM	#1
mimipink Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 44	Is it safe to pick the pup up by the skin at the back of the neck Someone on here suggested picking the pup up by the lose skin at the back of their neck when they are doing something wrong and saying "No!" IS this safe? what age should the puppy be?

03-15-2007, 04:05 PM	#2
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	neck NO, the only time you pick up the skin of the neck is to check for dehyration...I have never seen a mother do it either, they take the entire pup in their mouth to move them...maybe cats do it, but Yorkies do not...

03-15-2007, 04:13 PM	#4
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	Picking puppies up like that hurts them __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

03-15-2007, 04:25 PM	#5
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,624	I have picked my pup up by the back of the harness and said "no" in a very stern voice. It did the trick for me. Others may not agree with that tactic, but I was desperate to get his attention and it did. __________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom

03-15-2007, 04:36 PM	#6
Shanatink Mommy to 3 Princesses Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 11,030	I have never liked this. Ive heard some people say its okay and they try and justify it by saying thats what the pup's mother does but I remember when my boxer penny had a litter of pups and when she picked her puppies up by the loose skin on the back of thier neck they would cry like it was hurting them so I wouldnt let her do it and I would not suggest anyone do this to thier dogs. just my opinion __________________ Custom Dog Clothing Boutique www.TinkerbellsCloset.com

03-15-2007, 04:08 PM	#3
mimipink Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 44	It didnt sound right to me... the whole puppy's weight supported by the skin. thanks for the info.

03-15-2007, 04:38 PM	#7
RLC12345678 I heart Hootie & Hobbs Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA Posts: 7,149	I have done it a couple of times when Hobbs has sprinted out of the back door and would not stop when I called his name. When I finally caught up to him, the only way I could get ahold of him was by grabbing him by the scruff.

03-15-2007, 04:45 PM	#8
Hokule'a Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 4,591	I have recommended 'scruffing' them but I have never meant picking them up by the skin of the neck. I 'gently' grab the back of their neck and give a little shake and I do mean little and I am not lifting them up at all. Hoku is actually rougher at it with her brother when they are playing than I have ever done. Perhaps I use the wrong terminology when I say 'scruff'. Sorry. __________________ Eva and her keikis: Hokule'a, Kalani & Pi'ilani

03-15-2007, 04:45 PM	#9
BubblPopElectrc Kyle Plus 3 Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 6,929	Ouch. I wouldn't suggest that. __________________ Kyle (me), Britney, Brooklyn, and Coral

03-15-2007, 04:47 PM	#10
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	harness Grabbing a harness is different then the skin of the neck...a harness is like a brace and they make training/safety harnesses just for the purpose you mentioned...

03-15-2007, 04:55 PM	#11
browniesmom622 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ny Posts: 11,253 Blog Entries: 5	only cats do this i pick up my boys by the harness i always support there butt with my hand __________________ We Love our Yt Angel! My Website< > FB page

03-15-2007, 04:58 PM	#12
BabyFidgette Learn Yorkie CPR! Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,855	Great question. I've always wondered this myself since we see cats doing this. __________________ Nicole & Baby "The more men I meet, the more I love my Yorkie!"

03-15-2007, 07:06 PM	#13
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	If a mother dog moves her pups, she will pick them up tenderly by the neck, not the skin, but only when they are not moving around much and have not opened their eyes. I would never pick up a puppy by the skin of it's neck. You don't have to touch a puppy to get your point across. They go by body language anyway, and the tone in your voice.