Hi. My 11 week old pup is having real issues getting used to wearing a collar. I introduced it to him gradually, an hour a day increasing to all day but the moment it goes on, he changes completely. He whines and whimpers,cowers in corners, scratches at it constantly and his whole personality changes. I am so far ignoring his protests in the hope he will eventually get used to it but so far, after two weeks, no luck. Any thoughts or advice? Many thanks H
Re: Getting used to a collar What type of collar is it? Harley refuses to wear a leather collar, but will happily wear padded material ones.
Re: Getting used to a collar Maybe try and associate the collar with good things. For instance, start with putting in on prior to feeds, so the link with the collar and feeding is there. If that is okay, maybe put it on before a good play session in the house or garden?
Re: Getting used to a collar Thanks for the feedback. The collar is a material one which came with a matching lead from Pets at Home. It said it was a puppy starter collar.
Re: Getting used to a collar We had a couple of weeks of Elsie not liking her collar, we "cured" it by just feeding her with it on, then putting it on and playing a game, then putting it on and going outside, now she is happy to wear it all the time.
Re: Getting used to a collar [quote author=Hylts link=topic=7570.msg105816#msg105816 date=1409410014] Thanks for the feedback. The collar is a material one which came with a matching lead from Pets at Home. It said it was a puppy starter collar. [/quote] Oh, I think I know the ones. They're nice and soft, but it's not a natural thing for a dog to wear a collar, and some feel more strongly about it than others! I think Jac's suggestion of putting the collar on prior to food is an excellent one, but for the next week or so you could take it straight off afterwards, assuming he's not so upset he won't eat- if that's the case we'll need to think again. For walks, might he be better with a harness? The tag can go on a harness just as well as a collar. My dog only wears her collar for walks, and I know lots of people on here do similar, so it's really not essential to try to aim for him to wear it all the time.
Re: Getting used to a collar Charlie, my boy, was exactly the same. I never had him wear his collar all day, still don't. And take it off whenever possible. He was far worse with harnesses. I never really found a solution, although it did improve over time - he still goes under the kitchen table 6 or 7 times out of 10 though. Even though his collar is associated with walks and he always gets chicken for having it put on. It got worse before it got better though, and at one stage it was a right palaver to get him into anything to leave for a walk. I don't think there is much you can do - associate it with really good things is about it I think. And don't leave it on too long, and don't take it off when they are fussing.
Re: Getting used to a collar We learned a lesson in 1996 when my MILs home burned to the ground, a collar on her dogs would have been extremely helpful, instead we had to use a bathrobe belt and my husbands gloves knotted together to tie a piece of washing line onto to stand beside the road in the dark. If they had collars it would have been easier getting them out and keeping them safe. Firemen were fantastic and went in twice to get them !
Re: Getting used to a collar I would go back to basics with introducing the collar - start with several short session a day. Put the collar on, feed some treats, take it off again. Put it on, feed a meal, take it off. Repeat. Once your pup appears happy with this then start leaving it on for a little but longer - so maybe out it on, feed a meal, wait 5 minutes, take it off. The key thing would be to never take it off when he is fussing with it, then he will learn that if he makes enough of a song and dance about it then it will get removed. If he is fussing with it eg scratching at, rubbing or shaking etc, wait for a pause then distract him and remove it. Then he will get used to the idea that it only gets taken off if he's not bothering with it. As others have said, however, some dogs never adjust to wearing a collar or harness, though in my experience of real life (7 years working in rescue kennels) I've maybe met only one or two dogs that really detest it, and this has usually come from negative associations with it, for example being grabbed by the collar and shaken or dragged around by it, or being choked with a half check or choke chain.
