So, Digby always happily sat when told whilst I put his lead and collar on, ready to go wherever until a sudden change recently. About 4 weeks or so ago he started to run away when I got his gear out. This coincided with both using a harness (we had been using it about 7-10 days) and also to him getting a shoulder injury which obviously caused him pain. I cannot imagine that it was using the new harness that gave him his shoulder injury, but he could have associated putting all that on and going for a walk which was painful (and we maybe didn't pick up on that straight away). for whatever reason I now cannot get near him to put his collar and lead on without tricking him into it or cornering him which just seems mean and will probably ultimately make his fear even worse. His head goes right down when I put it on (he won't even eat the treat offered), until he is out of the house when he seems fine with it. I sat with a clicker and some prime M&S sausage for an hour the other day, with his collar next to me so he could see it, waiting to click any movement towards me and the collar - nothing, he just backed away barking and then skulked off. I have to take him out of the house, obviously, any ideas on how to get his collar and lead on (or harness) without traumatising him further. also, how on earth am I going to get him back to being fine with it all. oh, just to remind you he is now 9 months old and was therefore fine for many months until this recent change. thanks, I'm worried about him, hate to see him upset at the sight of his own collar and lead - should be a joy to see it as it means walkies time..
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness I'm no expert and your clicker idea sounded like it would work, could it be that you need to start with the collar in view but not next to you and gradually bring it closer. If you're next to him rather than the collar he may be more comfortable? Perhaps you could try an alternative like a slip lead? I used to make the loop really big and get Riley to put his head through for a treat without actually putting it on him. Now if I drop the loop in front of his nose he just walks into it and then to heel (mostly ) If Digby pulls or bounces at all though he may not enjoy the slip lead tightening round his neck.
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness I`m sure that it is an association thing with Digby , the shoulder pain and the collar and lead , they can be such sensitive souls . I agree with Barbara , slowly is the name of the game, just sit close, speak in soft reassuring terms with his collar in sight, moving it closer, using treats if that helps . I`m sure he will get past this, his desire to get out and about will slowly overcome his fears, good luck
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness You could try a slightly more passive approach to start with, so now pressure for Digby to actually look at the lead and collar for a click and treat. Maybe just loop it around your neck or wrist as you do normal fun things, like preparing his food and putting the bowl on the floor, a little clicker training session of something he can do really well like sit or down, or a game of ball. Just some ideas.
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness Thanks guys. I have a slip lead but worried about using it, he walks fairly well to heel on his lead but by no means perfectly. He has learnt not to pull to every human person we pass but still really tries to pull towards other dogs - hence the introduction of the harness as he is getting bigger / stronger and I was worried about his neck. The trainer we go to recommended this harness to give me more control (its one of those with a ring on the back and on the chest), whilst we work on walking nicely pass dogs. Its a good idea to treat for even looking - really breaking it down. Just worried that any slow progress will be ruined by me sneaking it on just so I can get him out of the house. It won't do him any favours to be house bound for weeks whilst we sort this out. Tricky one.
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness Hi Sersi, just a thought but what about taking him into the garden and putting his collar/lead on and letting him have a little run about and throwing a ball until you want to go for your walk? Maybe associating it with lots of fun and less stress. Helen xx
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness Do you have much of a garden. He'll be fine without "walks" for a while if you want to take the pressure off
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness this sounds so familiar we have the same problem, he starts doing a dance then wanting me to chase him i have no intention of chasing him, i sit down and wait for him to come to me,then i slip the harness on him, once it is on he is fine, can attach the lead with no problems on a collar and lead he pulls, never pulls with the harness. i thought it was just excitement when he sees it i thought about a slip lead but think he is to young yet
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness I really like the idea of big fun just after putting the collar etc on Helen - that's a good idea, trying to build a positive new association. Might try sitting in the garden with an unbelievable treat (tinned fish or something) so he hopefully can't resist, putting collar on whilst he eats it, big play, then another big treat, lead on and maybe leaving the house by the side gate rather than the usual front door way. Make the whole experience entirely different. If I still really struggle and can' t get near him even with such huge treats then it is maybe an issue that I need to address very carefully - like you say Barbara, I might need to avoid forcing the issue, stay home with him, and work through it tiny step by tiny step. Digby is also much better at not pulling with the harness Lynne, although he seems even more afraid of it than his normal collar and lead. He would not come to me ever though I don't think. I have started leaving all his "kit" lying around as well - rather than hung up and out of sight until we need it. I occasionally pop a bit of food next to it - he will go towards it and eat the food as long as I am nowhere near - so he's not so much afraid of the lead/collar in themselves - more putting them on. Thanks for all the ideas.
Re: sudden aversion to collar / lead / harness Lots of good advice here Sersi - I agree, take it slowly, make the collar and lead part of his everyday life. You could even try leaving the collar on him for several days, so he eats and sleeps with it on too. I would guess that attaching the lead is less of a difficulty than putting the actual collar around his neck. Let us know how you get on.
