Visual impairment from swelling may make an approaching hand startling.
Previous experiences with handling could also contribute.
And more than one factor can be involved.
The shelter can observe the behavior without inventing the event that caused it.
His Injured Eye May Change What Teddy Sees
With one eye nearly swollen shut, Teddy's visual field may be altered.
Depending on the condition of the eye itself, he may not see an approaching object normally from that side.
A hand can suddenly appear much closer than expected.
That could intensify a startle response.
It is another reason caregivers have to consider both pain and perception.
The Direction of the Hand Matters
Approaching from directly above may be particularly difficult for some dogs.
Teddy cannot easily move his injured head to track what is happening.
If the hand enters from the side of the swollen eye, he may have even less information.
So caregivers change the interaction.
They speak before approaching.
They move slowly.
Whenever possible, they let Teddy see where the hand is coming from.
They avoid unnecessary contact with the painful areas.
The goal is not to test how much he can tolerate.
It is to accomplish necessary care without adding fear or pain.
Teddy Still Drops
Even with a slower approach, the response sometimes appears.
A hand moves forward.
Teddy lowers himself.
His paws come up.
His head disappears.
The difference is what happens next.
Instead of continuing toward his face, the caregiver pauses.
Teddy is given time.
Nothing Bad Happens During the Pause
No one forces his head upward.
No one pulls his paws away.
No one holds him in place merely to prove that the hand is harmless.
Teddy remains low.
Several seconds pass.
Eventually, one eye looks upward.
His head rises slightly.
The hand has not chased him.
That experience can be repeated during necessary interactions in a controlled, predictable way.
Medical Care Still Has to Happen
Teddy cannot simply be left untouched.
His injuries require treatment.
The eye needs monitoring.
The jaw needs assessment and whatever management the diagnosis requires.
Shaved and wounded areas need appropriate care.
Pain has to be controlled.
So the challenge is not avoiding every hand forever.
It is making each necessary interaction as predictable and low-stress as possible.
Pain Medication May Change Part of the Picture
As Teddy receives appropriate veterinary pain management, staff watch his behavior.
Does he eat more comfortably?
Can he hold his head differently?
Does he rest more deeply?
Does he still drop when a hand approaches?
If the response decreases substantially as pain improves, discomfort may have been a major contributor.
If it persists, that does not automatically prove a traumatic past.
Behavior can outlast the original trigger.
And Teddy's medical recovery is still incomplete.