By training your dog to get used to a collar and leash, you establish yourself as the one in control. Dogs thrive when they know what is expected.
When your puppy learns that he must accept his collar and lead, you will be able to move onto other areas of dog training. Here's what to do to teach him to accept his collar and lead.
It's important that the collar fits properly. Too loose and he'll back his way out of it. Too tight and he won't be comfortable. Try adjusting it so you can slip two fingers easily between his neck and the collar.
When you first put the collar around his neck give him lots of attention to take his mind off the collar. Don't rush this step. Once be gets used to wearing the collar you can move onto the next step in training your puppy. Lease training is so much easier if you have given your puppy enough time to get used to just wearing a collar.
After he has become accustomed to wearing his collar, the next step would be to attach a lightweight, short leash to his collar. The length of the leash should be about three feet or so. Then you are going to allow your puppy to simply drag the leash around for a few minutes at a time. You are trying to have him get used to the feeling of having something fastened to the collar.
Be sure to keep a close eye on him while he is dragging the lead around. He may become frightened and agitated if he gets stuck for any length of time. Your job is to ensure that this doesn't happen. For right now, simply making him aware that the leash restricts him briefly is enough. Remember, you want this to be a positive experience for your puppy.
Within several days, he will become accustomed to the feel of the lead. When he gets to this point, attach one end to his collar and the other end to your belt instead of letting it drag freely. Let him explore freely like before and let him get stuck. This time though, you won't go and free up his leash.
Instead crouch down and call his name. Reach out your hand and offer him a toy or treat to try to get him to come to you. Praise him lavishly when he comes to you. Do this for a short time each day. Undo the leash after he has successfully come to you a few times, but always leave on his collar.
You will know that your puppy leash training has been a success when he routinely comes when called after reaching the end of the leash. With this success, the rest of his puppy training will go so much more smoothly.
