Learning to walk on a collar and leash is the basis of
all further training
for every puppy. Until the puppy has learned to
accept the collar and
leash, it will be impossible to perform any additional
training
The first step toward getting the puppy to accept the
collar and leash
is to find a collar that fits the dog properly. It
is important that the
collar be neither too light or too heavy, neither too
thin nor too thick.
A collar that is too light for the dog can be easily
broken, while a collar
that is too heavy may be uncomfortable for the
puppy to wear. It is
also important that the width of the color be
appropriate for the size of
the dog.
Determining the proper length of the collar is
relatively easy. Simply
wrap a tape measure or a string lightly around
the dog’s neck to get
an accurate measurement. It is important that the
tape measure not
be tight, just slightly snug.
Most collars are sized in two inch increments, so
you may have to
round up to get a properly sized collar. For instance,
if the dog has a
13” neck, you would buy a 14” collar, and so on.
After you have purchased the perfect collar, the
next step is to put it
on the dog and allow him to wear it around the
house. Do not be
dismayed if the dog whines, paws at the collar
or otherwise tries to
remove it. This is normal, and the dog should not be
punished for it.
It is best to simply ignore the dog and allow him to
work out his own
issues with the collar.
The dog should be allowed to wear the collar 24 hours a day for a
number of days to get used to the feel of the collar on his neck. After
the dog is accepting the collar well, it is time to start introducing the
leash. A lightweight leash works best for this process. Simply attach
the leash to the dog’s collar and allow him to walk around the house
with it. The dog should of course be supervised during this process in
order to make sure he does not get the leash caught on anything.
Getting the leash caught or snagged could frighten the dog and create
a leash phobia that will be hard to overcome.
In the beginning, the leash should only be attached
for a few minutes
at a time. It is important to attach the leash at happy
times, such as
playtime, meal time, etc. It is important for the dog
to associate the
leash with happy things. When the leash is not
attached to the dog, it
is a good idea to keep it near the dog’s food and
water bowls. The dog
should be encouraged to investigate the leash, and
to discover that it
is not something to fear.
After the dog is used to walking around with the
leash attached, take
the end of the leash in your hand and just hold
it. Allow the dog to
walk around. If the dog bumps into the end of
the leash, just allow
the dog to react and move as he desires. The goal of
this exercise is
to simply allow the dog to get used to the feel
of the collar and the
leash.
It is important to allow the puppy plenty of time to get used to
wearing the collar and leash before ever attempting to lead the puppy.
It is best to perform this exercise in the home or other environment
where the puppy feels safe and secure. After the puppy is comfortable
and content walking on the leash in the home, it can slowly be taken
outside. It is best to make these outside trips very short at the
beginning, and to lengthen them slowly over time. Some puppies take
to the collar and leash immediately, while others may require some
additional time.
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