Which lifts are approved for picking up an MWD?

• A. Shoulder lift and back lift
• B. Underbelly lift and tail lift
• C. Abdominal and hindquarter lift
• D. Chest and neck lift

Answer: (C)

Lifting a MWD needs to protect the dog's spine, neck, and internal organs while keeping you in solid control. The abdominal and hindquarter lift does this best by letting you support the dog with large, stable body areas and keep its center of gravity close to yours. You slide your arms under the dog’s abdomen behind the front legs and cradle the hindquarters, lifting smoothly with your legs and keeping the dog close to your body. This distributes the weight over the abdomen and hindquarters, maintaining a neutral spine and reducing strain on the neck and back for both dog and handler.

Lifts that place weight on the shoulders, back, chest, neck, underbelly, or tail tend to create awkward leverage, compress sensitive areas, or pull on the neck, spine, or ribcage, increasing the risk of injury and making the dog uncomfortable or resistant. That’s why the abdominal and hindquarter method is the approved approach: it stabilizes the dog, protects critical structures, and gives you better control during the lift.