Spread your fingers out so that you support as much of the dog’s upper body as possible. The wider the area you can spread his weight over, the gentler it will be on his spine. Make sure that the dachshund knows that you’re picking them up first! A lot of dogs get nervous because they’re walking and then suddenly scooped up into the air.
Here, again, it is best to spread your hand to give the widest base of support possible. Since dachshunds have an elongated spine and back, they’re more likely to have back and spinal issues. So, you always want to make sure that you’re supporting their lower back whenever you hold them.
Luckily, with a little practice, this should become second nature after a while. Eventually, it will feel “wrong” to pick the dachshund up in the incorrect way.
Gently shift the dog’s weight so that it comes to rest on the forearm of the arm that you were using to support his rump. Use your full forearm to support his weight. Tuck the dog against your body for added support and comfort. This should feel a little like how you would cradle a baby or hold a football. Use your free arm when needed to help the dog balance and keep him from squirming or wriggling free.
Ideally, you’ll want his feet to be touching the ground before you let go. As you’ll read below, even a drop of a few inches can put stress on the dachshund’s back and joints. Always make sure that you’re placing the pup on a solid surface.
In general, you will want to avoid any sort of hold that supports only half of the dog’s body length. This is true even if the dog is already standing on one set of legs — like, for instance, if he is propping himself up on his hind legs while looking over the top of a sofa. In this case, you’ll want to lean down so that you can support his rump before picking him up.
Don’t trust your dog’s body language here. Dachshunds don’t know that their skeleton can’t support falls, so they may be perfectly willing to jump out of your hands. Even if this doesn’t cause them immediate pain, it can lead to painful problems if continued in the long-term.
For example, one way you might accidentally do this is by scooping the dachshund up suddenly when he doesn’t expect it. If you startle your dog, he may wriggle or twist out of one of your hands, putting an unnatural bend in his spine as he hangs. Make sure your dog is calm and aware of you before you attempt to pick him up.
Some signs of pain in dogs are obvious, like yelping, whimpering, etc. However, others a little more subtle. The following are nonverbal signs that a dog may be uncomfortable:[3] X Research source Trembling (without another explanation, like coldness) Trying to get away Unnatural amounts of affection or aggression Holding the mouth closed (rather than having a natural, “happy” look)
This is especially true for children, who can sometimes be too rough with dogs by accident. It’s a wise idea to supervise children when they first interact with your dachshund until you’re confident that they know how to play safely.
