CATCHING DOGS WITH A NET Part 3 of 4. Netting Sleeping Dogs and Other Tricks

Part 3 of 4. Netting Sleeping Dogs and Other Tricks (with videos)

Catching a Resting Dog

You can see from Part 2 of this series on netting that when we are catching a dog running along a wall, we are going to sweep the net straight into the dog.  But when catching a dog that is sleeping or laying down, we will use the net in a different way.  Instead we place the net over the dog and many times it will be done softly to keep the dog’s energy low.  After placing the net over the dog, throw the net away from you.  Then slide the hoop on the ground towards you (a quick jerk can be enough) and the dog will try to struggle away from you and will move back into the deep part of the net.  Quickly follow with the twist, Y pole, and towel as described in Part 2.

It is often easier to catch resting dogs when there are a lot of people on the streets.   Stimulus is everywhere and if you stay relaxed, you are just one of the people.

Here is a video with some examples of catching dogs with nets.  My comments will follow.

HUMANE DOG CAPTURE & HANDLING WORKSHOP KNOXVILLE, TN MARCH 23-24, 2013

I am excited to announce that I will be teaching a humane dog capture and handling workshop at the Young Williams Animal Shelter in Knoxville, TN on March 23-24 (Sat and Sun), 2013.   We are gathering up our Y poles, nets and box traps to give you my 2-day course with hands-on labs.  No live dogs will be used but the workshop is alive with slides, videos, hands-on labs, and demo equipment.

Ladakh, my assistant.

Even though my artificial workshop assistant, Ladakh, always cooperates, he still does a good job to help me teach how to handle fearful dogs.

REGISTER AND COME JOIN US! 

To register or get more information on this workshop, visit my website Training Schedule.  Here is a PDF course announcement.  The workshop is limited to 30 people so register early.  The 2-day course fee is $275.  Places in the course are reserved once payment is made.

Netting Lab

This course is a non-chemical capture course specifically designed for shelter staff, animal control officers, disaster responders, rescue workers responding to hoarding cases and puppy mills, and spay/neuter programs.

 

Want to know what will be covered? Here is a general course outline.

Subjects for this course will include:

Box Trapping Lab

• Humane physical restraint
• leash work, catch poles, snappy snares
• Learning how not to fight the animal
• The Y pole – an essential and humane tool for handling fearful dogs
• Box trapping  – how to successfully catch the dogs.
• Netting techniques
• Catching dogs in large enclosures
• Much more!!!

CATCHING DOGS WITH A NET Part 2 of 4. Catching a Running Dog Along a Fence

One very effective way of catching dogs is when they are running along a fence or wall.   Sometimes the only way a dog can run past you is if it runs between you and a wall, so it is good to learn this technique.  I have learned how to use nets to catch wolves at zoos and other captive wolf programs in the U.S.   From my later experience handling street dogs I have modified my technique and softened my behavior to scare the dog less and added a Y pole and a towel to reduce their struggling and stress.

This is Part 2 of a four part series on netting dogs.  In this article I will describe:

• How to practice before you begin to catch dogs.
• How to catch a dog running along a wall.
• Ways of Being as well as the ways of doing, because we are asking the dog to run by us. (Good posture.  Relax.  Invite them to run past you.)
• How to use nets with a line of people to catch a dog in a large open area.

CATCHING DOGS WITH A NET Part 1 of 4. Net Description and Added Tools

Part 1 of 4. Net Description and Added Tools

Photo by JBF India.

Nets can be a very humane and effective way of catching street dogs.  They are a versatile tool for animal control officers, disaster responders, those rescuing hoarding cases, and spay/neuter programs (ABC programs in India).  A net can also be a valuable tool for handling fearful dogs in animal shelters – yes for dogs too, not just cats!

Yet there is no information available on how to use a net successfully and humanely.  Here at the Feral Dog Blog I will provide you this rare and valuable information.  In addition to netting I am introducing and encouraging people to use a Y pole (when there are at least 2 people) and a towel.  Learn more later.

In this a four part blog article, I will describe:

Using Non-Physical Tools To Catch Dogs

Dr. Mark teaching at MN Zoo.

A few weeks ago I taught a short customized wolf capture and handling workshop to the animal caretakers at the Minnesota Zoo.  We first spent an afternoon in the classroom and the following morning handled their gray wolves, coyotes, and dhole (an Asian canid) in the pens.

As I was half way through my afternoon presentation I realized that all I had been talking about was how to use physical methods and tools for catching the animals.  I spoke about how to use the facilities like utilizing the shape of the pens, the smaller holding areas, and the den boxes.  I covered nets and Y pole and calm physical restraint and as I was talking I realized it was all physical so I shifted into the following advice.

Dr. Mark Teaches for HSU at Memphis Animal Shelter

Dr. Mark Demonstrating Scruff

Last week I had the pleasure and honor to teach a dog handling course for Memphis Animal Services at the Memphis Animal Shelter as an instructor for Humane Society University (HSU).  The course was titled: “Humane  Handle of Fearful Dogs for Shelter Staff and ACOs”.   Administrator James Rogers arranged for me to teach the 1-day workshop twice so all shelter staff and ACOs could attend.  This course was offered through Humane Society University.

I was extremely impressed with how receptive all MAS personnel were throughout the course and at how much fun we all had exploring humane ways of handling dogs!  To honor their expertise, I invited several people to demonstrate either new techniques or variations of techniques I was teaching.  We are all each other’s teacher and I learned as well as trained.

Social Dominance in Canids is Not a Myth

There is so much confusion when dominance in canids is discussed.   It actually is not that confusing.  Much of the confusion arises when “experts” attempt to re-state the findings of canid experts such as Dave Mech and Marc Beckoff – even suggesting that dominance is not part of the social structure in wolves or other wild canids.

I stole the title of this post from a post written by Marc Beckoff at the Psychology Today Blog and relating to a subsequent and sincere apology from Lee Charles Kelley.  If the subject of dominance in canids is important to you, it is important for you to read these posts.

I do not write about dominance in canids to explain canid behaviors or to guide people for how to train dogs.  I discuss and explore dominance in canids because dominance can be a valuable AND COMPASSIONATE  tool for capturing and handling feral or fearful dogs, which is the theme of this blog.

Thank you Dr. Beckoff and Dr. Mech for your persistence in clarifying your behavior observations.

Respectfully, Dr. Mark