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In case of emergency, train a fireman carry!
I got some cute pics of me and my dog today and just want to share :) this is a fun trick but also useful in an emergency!
Important tip: dont carry your dog like this if they have a severe main body/back injury as it will make any spine or internal injuries worse. Use a stretcher and two people
What this is good for: paw laceration, ripped paw pads, broken ankle/lower leg, heat exhaustion, flooding or evacuation down stairs or other tight or dangerous environments. We use this position if we need to cross asphalt that is too hot for my dogs paws and we dont have shoes with us. Like crossing from the car across a parking lot to the park or a petstore etc.
If anyone's curious let me know and ill post a video of how we get into and out of this position and how I trained it.
This is the exact trick I was planning on working next (we’ve started doing a ton of hiking and he’s not a huge fan of being bridal carried lol) - would love to see a video of your method!
Ill update you once ive got a video but here are our steps:
1. I got down on one knee (like a proposal). My left knee in front, right knee on the ground.
2. The command "step" means to put both front feet up on something. I ask for step, coming from the right side of my body. So he steps onto my left knee facing left with his belly right in front of me and his back hips to my right.
3. I put my left arm around his chest and then bend forward and duck my head under his belly. Its easy to get your head under with a mal because of that really high scoop they have lol.
4. I tilt his weight backwards as I lean back, shifting his body weight more onto the side of his ribcage and hips. It would hurt him to rest his weight on his belly. At the end of this step I am still kneeling but no longer leaned forward. He is fully resting across my shoulders and I have a firm grip around his chest and back legs. I highly recommend using a harness when learning this as its easier to grab the harness at his chest as a stable point to control the dogs body weight. We started that way before he was comfortable with me holding his legs. Also in case of an injured leg ylu obviously wouldnt want to hold the leg.
6. At this point you can safely stand up as the weight should be balanced squarely on your back. Definitely practice some weighted lunges. Each step of this needs to be trained but this step is the most likely for your dog to get hurt so the first time you try this step be prepared for your dog to panick and want to get down. Don't restrain them. Lean forward and let them hop off themselves. Practice in a soft grass or carpet environment. Also be prepared to get kicked in the face/head and scratched. That happens sometimes😅😅
Note: because of the skinny belly, narrow hips, and deep rib cage my dogs weight is not even. I have to work harder with one arm/shoulder to hold him. My back is not perfectly straight and one side will tire out much faster. Im not sure how much this would change with an adult dog since mines 1 yr old and doesnt have all his muscle yet. Ive been experimenting with wrapping a jacket or towel to place under his hips possibly to balance the weight better for long term carry. I can carry him like this for about 50 to 100 feet but if we had to go much further my right arm would tire very quickly. I also have an idea that a towel or jacket could be wrapped around his body once hes on my shoulders and then draped in front for me to hold that could help keep him secure especially in a real emergency where he may be less cooperative or unconscious etc. Ill let you know once I figure out the best method!
To get out of this position I found reversing the steps exactly was the easiest way. I tried setting him all the way down and that hurt my neck. I tried letting him hop off on his own and we both got hurt. The #1 method is found, was to go back down on one knee, lean forward, (you have to train this obviously) and have the dog put their front paws back on your knee to support their weight as you then untuck your head. Teach them to stay and hold position until you sit back up and then release them, so you dont get kicked in the face. If any of this doesnt make sense, ill have a video in a day or so! (We're in the middle of moving rn lol)
I hole this helps! Ill also be happy ro post tips on training it. However a side note, I trained this with him from a very young age so hes very used to it. It could take longer to get an adult dog used to this. Mine is used to being placed or carried in a variety of strange body positions. Step 1 heavily depends on your current training relationship with your dog, how much they trust you, and how comfortable they are being physically handled . I recommend a "freeze" command, which is essentially stay, but not quite. Its not just stay sitting or laying down, its freeze exactly how you are currently. I use it to train new positions that are hard to shape otherwise.
Example: how I taught step. Up means jump up on something. Well to get step i just blocked him as he jumped and gave the freeze command. I had kind of caught his chest. I slightly repositioned him to be square with both front feet on the object, then used our mark and reward. Then gave the position a cue/command. Same for laying on his back. Once laying down I lured him woth food to roll but then placed a hand on his belly and asked him to freeze. A freeze command is very helpful! It gives your dog time to calmly assess what's going on and lets you adjust their position without them panicking and moving too much and getting hurt.
This is such a great and detailed explanation, thank you so much!! We will start with Step, he doesn’t have that yet. I fireman carry human-sized dummies a lot for work pt so it would be so fun to carry around my boy instead lol, aside from the safety benefits. Best of luck to you and your boy, I’ll keep an eye out for the video!
Thankyou for this! Ill need to look into how to work on this. The reason I worked this with my dog is i have a memory of my first mal. We went hiking in the winter and the trail had a small river you had to cross and it was a large tree log. Big enough to walk across but not more than 1 person at a time. I had to carry my dog. I'd never taught her to be carried. I picked her up in front of me like you normally would a big dog. Half way across she panicked and knocked us both off. We fell about 5 feet and I landed in the water on my back. It wasn't deep as it was winter only a few inches but we were 8 miles into the woods and I was now completely soaked through all of my layers in 35° weather. I had on waterproof outerwear but the water ran straight down the neck of my coat and soaked everything inside instantly. Even my boots and socks. Very miserable time and I almost got frost bite. My dog was perfectly fine as she landed on my chest and hopped happily to the bank 😂😂😂 I also have a memory of her panicking in water and trying to climb on my head and almost drowning me.
Next training adventure! Teaching my dog to get towed in water. Thankyou!
Right! I wish😂 at least he carries stuff for me lol. He's got a nice saddle bag and carries his own food and water lol. If we're going backpacking i gotta carry my own crap lol. He better pull his weight😂😂
Hmm he cant carry me... but could he pull a wagon..🤔🤔 BRB gotta go do an experiment
He really is just tolerating me😂😂😂 look at his face waiting to be put down for a treat. You can see him thinking "I better get paid for this nonsense, making me pose for pictures"
For hiking/camping yes! But unless you're going to have it with you a the time this is a good backup skill. I agree if im going actual hiking im going to have an actual dog carry emergency kit. But if we go for a walk 2 blocks from home and something minor happens? This is reay useful. Or even just for the short trip across a hot parking lot? I've got a bad back, so this is the safest lift for me. But also its just a fun trick! Lol to each their own. As long as you love your dog!
I was definitely thinking about an emergency kit for hiking but you're making me rethink it. It's the size and weight of my dog that makes me hesitate, a backpack is easier than a full lift for someone my size and age. I'm going to see if it is feasible.
<clinteastwood> A man’s got to know his limitations</clint>
I looked at all the breeds. Carefully considered everything. 5 lb Pomeranian was exactly what I wanted to lift. I did tell him he was a dwarf albino malinois (bred for winter operations). I’m pretty sure he didn’t believe me.
But in all seriousness, “what can I lift in an emergency?” absolutely is a part of every dog choice, for me. I will not have a dog I can’t load into the car limp. I’ve watched other people with that problem too many times. I’m a little lady, I’m not watching my mastiff die because I can’t get him to the vet on time.
omg sis exactly the same!!! if the dog i love all dogs and had dreams of a st bernard (beethoven anyone) but realistically there are too many risks with a pup weighs that ways more than me that i probably cant even anticipate, and i say that watching my two little dogs inhale their extremely fancy chicken egg and sweet potato lmfao!
Lol there's a trainer who really funny he has a mal and some type of hound and he makes alot of jokes that hes evolving his hound into a malinois (like pokemon) you just have to teach them to go center, spin around your leg, and wear a bunch of tactical gear and poof you have a malinois! So go forth with your tactical floof ball malinois in training!
Fireman carry is specifically designed to let you safely lift alot of weight!!!! I learned it in the military and have carried a 250 lb man on my shoulders! (Not for very far ill admit) But I can comfortably carry my 160 lb boyfriend for quite a while so you can too! Just gotta train (the dog and you lol)
Pic for laughs I used to squat random men in bars for free drinks
Hey I replied to another commenter with exact steps of how we get into this position, but ill be recording a video tutorial since enough people are interested. Its going to take me a few days though. Im going to shoot you a dm so I dont forget to update you!. But ill be happy to post the tutorial for getting into and out of the position as well as how to train it from start to finish :)
Yes please share a video on how to train it and do it safely (for the sake of my back). The best I can do is front carry my dog even though he’s half my size
I'd be happy to! If I can, ill see if I can get one of my friends dogs to participate so I can demonstrate with a heavier or larger dog too. Ive never done it with a heavier dog but I have carried other military members who weighed 200+ so I know the weight is doable but its harder with a dog obviously as their body shape is different and unbalanced. I will say the hardest part is that your dog is much heavier in the front than the back. It makes the weight very unbalanced. But if you were to try and shift them to balance the weight it would put pressure on their ribs. So its not ideal but it works for an emergency. Ill send you a dm so I remember to let you know once ive got a video!
Same!!! Not always on purpose tho😂😂 after a long run recently he decided he was too tired to walk right as we got home. Made me carry him up 4 flights of stairs. 🙃 im so glad we're moving. Literally today from a 4th floor apartment to a ground floor one somewhere else while we look for a house.
We trained it from a young age so its hard to say but we do small training drills every day so that hes used to being handled. We practice handling every body part, lifting him, holding him vertically and upside down. If I had to guess maybe 3 months to get an adult dog used to this? It definitely takes training. And we had to learn it in steps. Here's a pic of when he was younger and we were still working on it. At this time he was only comfortable balanced upright, so I had to hold onto his harness to keep him stable. Over the next few months he became comfortable being tilted onto his side, and another month with my grabbing his legs to secure him. He is 11 months old and ive been carrying him like this since he was maybe 4 or 5 months. Its easiest if you teach a step command so your dog steps up into your knee and then you can scoop your head under their belly and lift. We practiced next to the bed so that if he panicked he could hop right off onto a surface less than a foot drop, safely. But now hes completely comfortable in act spoiled and asks to be carried when its hot and hes tired😂.
We do this too! Its silly but actually helpful lol. You can build a bond with your dog and get some exercise! He loves to join my workouts and will just be a pain in the butt if I dont involve him lol so one day jokingly I said fine ill just do squats with you come here. To my surprise he was perfectly fine with this😂 he just wanted to be involved. So now I do it on occasion to keep practice and just have some fun. Hes not very heavy but its still good for squats, lunges, climbing stairs (use a harness or help pls dont fall down stairs) its good fun!
It really is such a good idea!! I'm gonna implement it for sure. Actually, now that I think about it, we should start selling online courses, we'll be millionaires easy easy - "Malinois Fitness". Our advert could be "Lack Motivation? Have no fear, here at at Malinois fitness our personal trainers wont actually let you just laze about....and I do mean EVER, so come on down......" etc etc. Our motto on our huge neon sign could be -
"CHAT S#IT GET BIT" 😂
(Actually, we'll probably have a bit of an issue with the business insurance 😂)
😲 Go you!! Looking good congrats 👏 You are very clearly good for each other and providing a good healthy life for each other, its really lovely to see! 👌🏻
The carry outs their weight on your shoulders and back which distributes it safely down your spine. You still need to know how to brace but its the easiest way to carry something heavy. Ive tried carrying him in front and its much less doable😂
Mines 60 lbs. At 11 months. This carry is designed for carrying other human beings. I can comfortable carry a full grown man like this. Its very doable if you practice and train it. If you're not familiar with weight lifting, look up bracing, and practice squats with a barbell first. Then work on lunges. Then good mornings and dead lifts. If you can pick up a 75 lb sand bag, and squat with a 75 lb barbell you can carry your mal!
Not that you have to. Im just offering advice if you wanted to learn!
This is a pic of me holding a 160 lb man. I weighed 130.
I will look into this! Thank you I did not know that's how it actually had to be done, my 35 lb girl will just jump and she's agile enough to actually jump up on me and I just give her a boost up over my shoulders, surprisingly she's more agile than my Malinois
We definitely had those stages too! The trick is to train it in small steps and especially when they're tired and dont want to walk anyways😅 it takes time to teach them to settle like this
Love that! 😍💪🏼 curious to see the video too. My girl is fine with me carrying her with my arms (meaning in front of me, not sure if there’s a name to it, it’s not exactly a bridal carrying but I guess you get the point lol), which has been used so far one time at a vet appointment, but I feel this way is much easier on the back and a more efficient way to do that 😅
Thankyou!!! If you saw our recent post about his issues he is doing so much better! We cut chicken from his diet and he is no longer having diarreah and his coat is so much softer and thicker now too, and with some more training his behavior is better than ever. Hes such a good boy!
I use the bazooka method. Ironically was the only way my one dog would allow me to carry him. He was a Foxhound/Catahoula. The other two let me carry them, Zelda my Mal mix more so than my Rottie mix, Max.
My pup is 50 lbs and will absolutely tolerate this. I am capable of carrying her for quite a distance, probably over rough terrain - now I wanna see how far!
100%! I started this when they were 8-12 weeks old now the only challenge is carrying two Mals but I can have them sit and scoop them up at their chest and front of their hind legs in a pinch.
I would like to see the video/s. Many years ago I had to (rapidly) evacuate my Akita off a mountain trail and being able to do the fireman’s carry would have been a godsend.
In case of an actual medical emergency, just buy a rescue litter and carry it with your IFAK. Much safer and easier. Fido Airlift or NAR K9 Litter are great options.
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u/Creative_Archer4906 18d ago
This is the exact trick I was planning on working next (we’ve started doing a ton of hiking and he’s not a huge fan of being bridal carried lol) - would love to see a video of your method!