How To Get Puppy Used To Collar | Collar & Leash Training

This article will show you the best way to introduce a collar and lead to your dog. This strategy will keep them calm and focused on you, creating stress-free walks and dog ownership.

Oh, and this framework also works with older dogs. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Problems we’ll help you address:

• Your dog gets excited or aggressive when they see the collar, making it difficult to leash them.
• You have trouble getting your dogs to cooperate when it’s time to put on a collar, leash, or harness.
• Your puppy immediately pulls when you go outside for a walk.

Stage 1: Introducing Collar

Before you begin training, make sure you choose the right time. Preferably, there are little distractions like other family or outside noise. Avoid collar and leash training when your dog is tired or overly excited.

1. You can’t do anything without a calm, quiet, relaxed dog. Sit down in front of your dog and wait for a few moments.
2. Hold a treat in your hand to get them to approach the collar. Repeat the approach several times. You want them to sniff the collar and gain a sense of familiarity.
3. When you feel ready, continue engaging your dog with the treat while you slip the collar over their head.
4. Remove the collar, leaving it on for a little while longer. This may be a two-person job. One person puts on the collar from behind while the other occupies the dog with treats.
5. Do a bit of training with your dog by asking them to sit and stand up a few times. Finish the training with the reward.

Pro Tip: If you have a spare cat collar, remove the bells and use it for your puppy. They’re quick-release and small enough to fit a puppy.

(Oh And One More) Tip #2: Make sure the treat is big enough to occupy them for more than a few moments.

Having Trouble Calming Down Your Dog?

• We recommend investing in a licky mat with some wet food or treats. This can provide further distraction and free up both your hands.
• If you’ve established a reward mechanism with a treat, occasionally hide the treat in a pocket. Looking for the treat will occupy your dog for a few extra moments.

Stage 1A: Introducing A Harness To Your Puppy

Harnesses are kinder to pups because they distribute the pressure around the neck and body evenly.

1. Get a y-harness that fits properly and allows freedom of shoulder movement.
2. Make sure your puppy is calm and focused on you.
3. Hold the harness still and lure them closer with a treat. This method is preferred over forcing the harness over their head, which may scare them.
4. Reward them with a treat once they’ve put the harness on “themselves.”
5. Once the harness is introduced, follow a similar approach to clip on the lead.
6. Immediately start doing stuff with them to get their minds off the new harness and collar. This will expose them to the feeling of something attached to them.

Stage 2: Introducing The Lead

You can introduce the lead with the collar and/or harness on. Remember that it’s always better to take your time.

1. As with the collar, hold a treat to get them to approach the lead. When they approach, gently rub the collar area with both hands like you’re petting their neck.
2. Repeat the approach several times until your dog is calm enough for you to approach their personal space. Don’t be afraid to reward them several times to keep your dog engaged.
3. When you’re ready to put the lead on, keep them seated and put on the lead.

Why Does My Dog Chew The Lead?

Dogs are simple creatures. So when you put an object right in front of their mouth, they will chew it. This is normal, but it can become problematic as they grow in excitement.

If you need to repeat the calmness training of sitting still and rewarding them with treats, do so.

Stage 3: Leash Training

Once the lead is on your dog, the work isn’t done. You need to focus on two things.

1. Continuing to keep your dog calm
2. Keeping them engaged and focused on you

You can accomplish this by rewarding them after they listen to commands like sit, stay, come, and pay attention. For the first part of leash training, stay indoors in a distraction-free environment.

Next, you’re ready to take them outside.

Put a treat down by your foot, step forward, and let them come to the treat. Repeat this process. This will teach your puppy that walking with you is pleasurable.

This approach will work for hesitant dogs that lag behind and excited dogs that want to pull immediately.