This document provides guidance on restraining dogs safely and understanding canine aggression. It outlines key principles for restraining dogs, including controlling the head, using towels or gloves as barriers, and lifting small and large dogs with assistance. It defines restraint and explains approaches for standing, lateral recumbency, and dorsal recumbency. The document also defines aggression and outlines categories including territorial, protective, possessive, social, fear-based, defensive and dominant behaviors. It stresses having a plan, building trust with fearful dogs, understanding body language, and knowing when to call for help. The overall goal is restraining and handling patients without injury using calm, confident behaviors.

1. Basic Restraint and understanding
of Aggression in Dogs
Cat Ouellette, CVT
Ophthalmology Technician Supervisor

2. Basic Restraint
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Patients that are great at
home can become
nervous or vicious in the
hospital
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Pain or fear can increase
aggression

3. Definition of Restraint
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The act of keeping someone or
something under control
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Primary goal of restraining and handling
patients is not allowing anyone to get hurt

4. Prior to handling
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Make a plan
All supplies pulled and ready to go
Assess the patient
Keep area quiet and secure

5. Approach
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Confident and comfortable body language
Avoid fast movements
Do not grab
Come to you
Sniff the back of your hand
Watch patients body language

6. Muzzles
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Best first defense
Prime time to get bitten
Snug

7. Handling
•
Towels or gloves

Can be used as a barrier to help protect
your self

Most teeth will go through gloves

8. Lifting
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Head must be controlled at all times

Small Dogs

Lift by placing one arm around the animal’s
neck to control the head, the other arm to
scoop up under the rear end

9. Lifting
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Large Dogs
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Lift with your legs NOT YOUR BACK!!
Two person team works to better control
patient
Place one arm around the animal’s neck
and the other arm behind the forearms and
around the chest
Other technician will have one arm under
the belly in front of the rear legs and the
other arm to scoop up the rear end

11. Restraint
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Patient’s head must be controlled at all
times

Do not be too aggressive

12. Restraint
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Standing
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Hugging grip with the arm around the neck
Other arm placed around abdomen and
chest
Stabilize against your body

13. Restraint
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Lateral recumbency (on their side)
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Positions with feet away from holder
Know when to call for help

14. Restraint
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Dorsal Recumbency (on their back)
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Best to use 2 handlers
Head is well restrained
Use a trough for stability

15. Restraint
•
IV injection or peripheral catheter
placement

16. Understanding Aggression
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A way of communicating
•Definition of Aggression
-Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another;
readiness to attack or confront.
-The action of attacking without provocation

17. Sequence of aggressive behavior
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Becoming very still and rigid
Prolonged eye contact
Harsh bark that sounds threatening
Lunging forward or charging at the person with no contact
Mouthing, as though to move or control the person, without applying significant
pressure
Growl
Show teeth
Snarl (growling and showing teeth together)
Snap
Quick nip that leaves no mark
Quick bite that tears the skin
Bite with enough pressure to cause a bruise
Bite that causes puncture wounds
Quick repeated bites
Bite and shake

18. Categories of aggressive behavior
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Territorial

Defend where they live

19. Categories of aggressive behavior
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Protective
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Defend other pack members
Family or friend

20. Categories of aggressive behavior
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Possessive
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Protect food, toys, bed, crate

21. Categories of aggressive behavior
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Social
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Keep pack order
Dog feels higher in the family pack

22. Categories of aggressive behavior
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Fear
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Common in hospital
Fight or Flight response

23. Categories of aggressive behavior
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Defensive or Dominant
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Common in hospital setting
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Best defense is a good offense
Make themselves look BIG

24. Treat each patient how you wish your pet
would be treated

25. Handling
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Fearful Aggressive Dogs
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Have a plan
Build Trust/Confidence

26. Have a plan
All supplies pulled and ready to go
Assess the patient
Keep area quiet and secure

27. Lowering Fearful Aggression
*Have staff members carry treats or cheerios to
toss in the cage or run door every time they pass
*Staff needs to understand the animal’s body
language and communicate to the patient that they
are not a threat with their human body language
*Goal is to use the body language and treats to
show that we are not a threat

28. Build Trust
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Get Low
Move slowly
Allow the patient to sniff the back of your hand
Talk in a happy voice
Allow the patient to come to you
Patience

29. Handling
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Defensive or Dominant
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Only experienced technicians
Do not take risks
Have a plan

30. Don’t let your guard down
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Can not rely on owners or doctors to tell you
that the patient is aggressive
Always monitor your patients body language
Know when to call
for help

31. Questions?