Sometimes to lift the dogs over fences i grab the skin at the back of their neck, place a hand on their chest (to take the weight) and lift them over, until today I never thought there was anything wrong with it but someone saw me doing it and said it was cruel
If there is a hole in the fence they can get through or its safe to jump it i encourage them to do that but sometimes its not practical (high fences, barbed wire etc).
By the time i have climbed over the fence to reach back and get them over the chest and neck is the only thing i can reach. Both my dogs will go up on there back legs when they come to a fence, leaning their front paws against it so i can reach them and if its safe to do so i will place my hands on the back of their necks and let them use the pressure to push against and climb up. If thats not safe i will (while there stood up) grab the skin at the back of neck with my other hand on their chest and slide them up my arm and over.
I got them both used to being lifted like this and "scruffed" when very young pups with the clicker, the same with applying pressure so they can climb.
Is this cruel and if so why?
Neither are in any distress when lifted and Jacks so lazy sometimes he cant be bothered finding a gap to go through and will stand with his front legs up on the fence so i will lift him.
Any opinions?