Why did my dog whimper when I pulled his scruff? Did I hurt him?

I don't recommend it unless it is the only way to break up a confrontation. Holding a dog by the scruff without lifting him can be used as a way of getting his attention if he is doing something inappropriate, but to lift a dog without supporting his body can do harm.

This could potentially cause damage to his cervical spine and discomfort and I personally would consider it not necessary at all. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

I'm worried that Ivy has hurt her neck from being scruffed. This could be something like the skin got pulled away from the underlying soft tissue or it could be related to an injury to the vertebra or discs. Unfortunately, that's hard to know since Ivy can't talk. I recommend to have Ivy examined today. Not being able to lift her head indicates a lot of pain or even nerve damage. The vet will need to conduct a physical exam to begin figuring things out. The vet likely has COVID protocols in place so call ahead and find out when they want you to arrive. You will need to follow their instructions. Until Ivy is examined by the veterinarian, she needs STRICT rest so no walks, running, jumping, plying or stairs. Crate rest is best. A warm (not hot) compress applied for 5 minutes every 2 hours may also help. be very gentle when handling her. I hope this helps.

Hello. No, I really do not think you have done any harm to Charlie Brown at all. Dogs are brave, sensitive & very smart. He knew something was wrong & you were upset, but his job was to stick by your side & comfort you ( & find comfort ) the best way he could. He will be fine. Do not worry. You have a very loving & smart dog. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Some dogs feel uncomfortable while being picked up, and you may want to try to be gentle while drying/brushing her. I typically recommend waiting until most dogs are fully dry before brushing. It is important to establish good behavior around people while Muffin is a puppy. You can do this by giving her treats when she is "good" or in situations where she may be somewhat uncomfortable in - for example, while you are picking her up, brushing her, etc. If Muffin starts barking, growling or nipping at a time when she shouldn't, I recommend ignoring her rather than punishing her. I would also be happy to answer any more questions you may have about training Muffin!

Dachshunds are prone to crippling/painful/expensive to treat intervertebral disc disease. IVDD affect approximately 20% of Dachshunds and is when the intervertebral discs bulge and compress on the spinal cord nerves often resulting in paralysis, crippling pain, incontinence. Surgery is often required and can easily cost $6-10K. Picking Luna up by her scruff leaves her back fully unsupported and puts her at risk for back/disc issues as she is no longer a small puppy/now weighs 15 lbs. Especially if she twists her back or struggles in the least while you are scruffing her, this injury could easily occur. A better way to pick her up is to fully support her legs and body with one arm while cradling her with the other. Starting her on VetriScience VetriFlex joint supplements now (available online), and looking into pet insurance now before she develops a ‘pre-existing condition’ also advised. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Besides this being behavioral, this could also be due to a medical issue such as a display of pain of some sort. I recommend that if this persists, you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and treat him accordingly. This may require taking x-rays. Good luck and have a great day!