Low-stress handling is integral to your pet’s physical and mental health. While our Lebanon Animal Hospital team uses various low-stress pet handling methods in our daily interactions with our patients, the true benefits for your pet are built on a solid foundation and strong relationship that you begin at home with your pet.

So, whether you’re a first-time pet owner or a seasoned pro, it’s never too late to integrate low-stress handling techniques into your at-home pet-care routine. Before we break down how, let’s start with the basics—what is low-stress pet handling? 

What is pet handling? 

Put simply, pet handling is exactly how you perform the physical components of your pet’s daily routine, from grooming to feeding. And, the way you handle your pet impacts them much more than one isolated physical interaction. Your handling methods drastically affect your relationship with your pet and also set the tone for your pet’s behavior in different environments with different humans and animals. So, handling your pet appropriately is vital.

What is low-stress pet handling?

Are low-stress handling techniques for your benefit or your pet’s? Truthfully, both. Low-stress techniques prioritize your pet’s comfort by replacing any anxiety or fear-inducing tactics with a gentler approach. The goal is to build trust between you and your pet by creating a low-stress environment for your pet, and subsequently, yourself.

What are the benefits for pets? 

Low-stress techniques involve more than only lowering your pet’s anxiety. Prioritizing your pet’s care so that they are happier and healthier provides tangible benefits, including:

  • A stronger relationship — Respect works both ways, and when you treat your pet with respect, they will in turn respect you as their owner. A pet who feels safe and secure develops a stronger connection.
  • Better behavior — Pets who are well-adjusted and happy and not stressed are more likely to be open to new training and learning that results in good behavior at home and with unfamiliar people in unfamiliar situations.
  • Improved wellbeing — Pets are like humans and they benefit from reduced stress levels and increased happiness physically and emotionally, which improves their overall quality of life.

How can low-stress pet handling be implemented at home? 

When you integrate low-stress handling into your pet’s at-home routine, you set them up for success inside and outside the home. Here’s how:

  • Create a safe space — First, designate a comfortable space for your pet that is easily accessible, and where they feel safe and secure when they retreat there. Their space can be a simple dog bed or a cat tree but should be an area that does not trigger fear or anxiety and thus is not likely to cause stress. Ensure the area you choose:
    • Does not allow potential environmental stressors (e.g., loud noises, extreme temperatures)
    • Allows easy access to food and water
    • Is stocked with toys and blankets that comfort your pet.
  • Respect pet boundaries — When you set up a place where your pet can retreat and relax if they feel stressed or overwhelmed, you’re showing your pet that you respect their personal space.
  • Be observant — Respect for your pet goes beyond a designated physical space—always watch for physical signs of stress or discomfort, such as not looking you in the eye, dilated pupils, or frequent panting, that indicate your pet needs support. Then, they may need adjustments, such as taking a break from training or exercise or some time alone to calm down. 
  • Be gentle and gradual — You set the tone when you interact with your pet, so if you stay calm, your pet will likely stay calm, too. Always acclimate your pet gradually to new people and activities and let their behavior dictate your actions—for example, you should back down at the first sign that your pet is feeling stressed. Reward all good behavior with positive, verbal or edible reinforcement and consider consistent rewards to encourage consistent behaviors. 

How should low-stress pet handling be put in action? 

You can implement low-stress handling techniques in every aspect of your day-to-day routine with your pet, which will likely lead to their overall improved behavior and wellbeing. For example, when you groom your pet:

  • Be gentle — Introduce grooming tools, such as nail clippers or shears, slowly, allowing your pet to check out the tools before you use them.
  • Observe — Look for signs of discomfort and adjust your approach based on your pet’s demeanor, such as calm and relaxed or anxious and stressed. Stop anytime your pet seems stressed, give them a break, and try again when they have relaxed.
  • Reward — Praise your pet and reward them with treats at each stage of the grooming process to keep them happy and to encourage continued good behavior until the session is done.

You can use the same techniques for other activities such as medicine administration, veterinary visits, or socializing with unfamiliar animals or people. Low-stress pet handling can help keep you and your pet comfortable in any situation. 

Low-stress pet handling techniques are extremely important for your pet’s physical and mental wellbeing and they set the stage for all their interactions. And, while keeping your pet stress-free may seem obvious, the actual techniques and their execution aren’t always simple.

At Lebanon Animal Hospital, we prioritize low-stress handling in all our veterinary care. So, whether you’re looking for a clinic that always uses these techniques or need guidance on implementing these techniques yourself, give us a call. We look forward to seeing you and your pet at our hospital soon.