  We present a method for constructing a consistent low energy canonical
formalism for higher order time-derivative theories, extending the Dirac method
to include perturbative Hamiltonian constraints. We apply it to two
paradigmatic examples: the Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator and the Bernard-Duncan
scalar field. We also compare the results, both at the classical and quantum
level, with the ones corresponding to a direct perturbative construction
applied to the exact higher order theory. This comparison highligths the
soundness of the present formalism.
