There is a wide range of ways in which we try to calm excited animals! One person talks incessantly to their dog, who is trembling with fear. Another starts wildly scolding a struggling cat. Calming gentle stroking or distracting scratching, soft sssshing noises or laudatory trills escape our mouths in the hope that they will have an effect on the resisting animal or one that is ready to flee.
Mrs. Panik becomes frantic and, busily moving sofa and armchair, pursues the cat trying to hide. Finally caught, the scratches on her own arm are bandaged. Now Mietz is to be vaccinated. A courageous grip on the neck is supposed to make the cat, which is stiffening with tension, compliant by releasing endorphins. Mietz meows miserably, but this time her claws are not fast enough. Experienced hands quickly push her back into the transport box. At home, Mrs. Panik is overcome by a guilty conscience. Mietz crawls into hiding. She seems offended, or is she shocked and frightened? Mrs. Panik sits down in front of the sofa, under which Mietz makes every effort to become invisible. Mrs. Panik whispers to Mietz that she should forgive her, that it was only for her own good. When Mietz doesn't react, Mrs. Panik leaves disappointed, but puts a bowl of her favorite food in front of the sofa. She hopes this will calm Mietz down.
The cattle farmer, on the other hand, pats his Moni on the flank and leaves her to her own devices. Everyone knows that cattle are tough. They're not as soft as all the lap and petting animals. While Moni writhes and moos loudly in the forced stall while the hoof ulcer is cut out without anaesthetic, farmer Horst is unimpressed and has a stimulating chat about agricultural politics. Suddenly Moni starts kicking wildly as the knife penetrates deeper into the tissue. Horst raises his hand in a flash and clenches a threatening almost in front of her eye. The cow is startled and bows her head as the knife cuts deeper. Done! Now just the bandage. Horst returns to his conversation.
Hard-working dog trainer Clara voluntarily lets her well-behaved dog Tino jump onto the treatment table. Click! Clara feeds a reward. Then, in an observant and neutral position, she watches as Trixie, seemingly unconcerned, allows a blood sample to be taken. Click! Food. A gesture with her hand and Trixie jumps off the treatment table, remains motionless, click, food. That was quick! Clara leaves the treatment room with Trixie, her chest heaving with almost imperceptible pride, while the veterinary nurse is still amazed.
Mucki the rabbit is unreasonable, no amount of coaxing will help. He wriggles his hind legs. Hopefully he won't jump out of the arm, fall off the table and break a leg! The professional quickly takes over. With a skilled grip, Mucki is wrapped in a cloth, gently pressed against the human body and secured. He is vaccinated, quickly, pragmatically, bang, done! Mucki is still wrapped up in his box and the lid is quickly closed. Mucki is allowed to go home. It wasn't so bad after all.
Gismo the gelding snorts with puffed out nostrils as the vet approaches him with a determined stride and reaches into his mouth without question. The entire hand disappears into the horse and Gismo opens his eyes and backs away. The vet routinely shortens the rope and jerks it energetically two or three times, zap zap zap, the halter has a jerky effect on his neck. The vet continues the examination. The animal freezes. The vet says he just has to obey.
The owner of mare Giselle is outraged. That's no way to calm a horse! She is looking for a gentle way of dealing with animals and wants to avoid any coercion or pressure. However, as she is unable to find a sensitive practitioner who meets her requirements so quickly, the animal has to go without the necessary treatment for several months.
Frido the cat, on the other hand, is a cool sock! He struts confidently and relaxed from his transport box onto the vet's treatment table. Syringe? No problem! Swallow a tablet? Why so much excitement? He just swallows it. Was what? Frido is at peace with himself, he trusts and somehow conveys to people that they can trust him too. He is uncomplicated, peaceful and just a cool cat. Why can't everyone be like him?
So which of the pet owners and professional animal handlers is right? The question simply cannot be answered! Nowadays, it is clear that pressure and coercion are not the right way to deal with animals! However, in an emergency, such as veterinary treatment, it is sometimes not possible without it. We have to realize that veterinary treatments, but also other necessary measures such as cutting claws, hoof trimming or similar, are often border crossings for animals. The animal's body or individual body parts must be restrained or otherwise immobilized in order to avoid injury. This often creates pressure for everyone involved. The ways in which this immobilization is achieved can vary greatly. While some merely pursue the goal of making animals docile, i.e. obedient and functional, others aim for a cooperative approach that prioritizes the animal's well-being.
No matter what methods we follow in dealing with animals and the way we try to reassure animals, we should be aware that a number of factors influence this:
- Historical and cultural background, how people generally believe animals should be treated
- Personal experiences of the individual
- Beliefs about oneself or others
- Knowledge or lack of knowledge
- Practice in handling animals
- Training methods taught
- The respective personality and history of the animal
- Our previous history
- Last but not least, our individual feelings and behavior depending on the day
Let's assume we are interested in the welfare of our animal roommate and at the same time are aware that we are pretty helpless when it comes to calming our excited friend. What can we do now? What can we use as a guide if we want to use the latest knowledge to teach animals that they don't need to get upset? Are there any recommendations, training methods or tricks?
If we look around with interest, we can see that we are in a very grateful time. Gone are the days when animals were not considered sentient. We generally recognize that animals are sentient beings. We may not yet behave accordingly, either because we are unaware of how sentient these animals are or because we simply don't know how to do it. Old, outdated manners mix with the latest findings. At the same time, gentle, cooperative training and handling methods are not yet known or established in many places.
We don't want to look at what is outdated and obsolete, but what is the most up-to-date. We also don't want to put our finger in any wounds, because we know that if something is good, it will catch on at some point and the undesirable will automatically change. We look at the paths we want to take and not at the ones we don't want to take. But we also don't look the other way when injustice is knowingly happening. We want to say no when something does not benefit us or our animal. We want to educate so that knowledge can spread for the benefit of living beings and unnecessary suffering can be reduced. Let's look at how animals can be reassured according to the latest state of knowledge!
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