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Accustoming the puppy to the collar and harness
When a small, adorable puppy arrives at home, the owner embarks on a rewarding but also demanding journey, requiring determination and patience. It’s time to teach the puppy basic manners, like house training and how to respond calmly to a collar, harness, and leash.
What kind of products?
For puppyhood, a puppy collar and leash are essential. It’s a good idea to have these ready even before the puppy arrives home. While a puppy collar and leash will eventually become too small, comfort and quality, just like with children's clothes, should never be compromised.
When house-training, it’s important to take the puppy outside for bathroom breaks after each meal, playtime, and nap – that means many trips outside each day since the puppy mostly just eats, plays, and sleeps. Puppies can’t hold their bladder for long, so getting outside quickly is key. A collar that slips on quickly can be a big help.
The ideal puppy collar is light, like one made from nylon, and as inconspicuous as possible. A quick-release buckle is a great choice for ease, though a standard buckle works too. Never use a choke or semi-choke collar for a puppy – a simple collar is best.
It's also good to have a harness for the puppy, especially for longer walks. Why both? A collar works well for quick bathroom breaks, but a harness is more ergonomic for the neck and back during longer walks. Puppies are full of energy and curiosity, often darting to the end of the leash to investigate, and a harness distributes any pressure from leash pulls more evenly over the body.
A lightweight leash, such as a nylon leash with a small, light clasp, works well for puppies. A retractable leash is not suitable yet. The puppy should first learn to walk properly on a regular leash, as the “freedom” of retractable leashes can teach the dog it’s okay to roam up to five or even eight meters from the owner. Retractable leashes have their place later on, once leash manners are established.
How to introduce the collar?
For puppies, collars and other accessories are still unfamiliar and might seem like toys. Owners should be gently assertive, teaching the puppy that these items should be treated respectfully. Collars and leashes are not toys to be chewed or tugged on, so they should never be used during play.
The rule of thumb in dog training is that it should never involve slapping or negativity. Training is based on positive reinforcement – praising the dog enthusiastically when they do something right and ignoring unwanted behavior. Many puppies respond well to small treats as encouragement to learn.
For the first few tries, put the collar on the puppy slightly loose rather than tight. When walking, the collar should be snug enough for two adult fingers to fit between the collar and the puppy’s neck – adjust the collar as the puppy grows.
Initially, the collar (or harness) should only be worn for short periods, gradually increasing as the puppy becomes accustomed to it. At first, the puppy might dislike wearing the collar: “What on earth is this strap on me? Yuck, I want it off!” The puppy might scratch at its neck or try to chew the collar, but patience will pay off. Only reward the puppy when it calms down and behaves as desired – then it’s time for lots of praise and a treat.
If the puppy is wary of the collar or harness, start by letting it sniff the equipment, then offer a treat, sniff again, offer a treat through the collar, sniff again, and then gently slip the collar on while offering a treat. Praise the puppy when it cooperates.
Once the puppy is okay with the collar, it’s time to teach it that the collar can restrict movement. Hold the collar and gently support the puppy’s chest, pulling the collar lightly so the puppy feels a small amount of pressure on its neck. Gradually, this sensation becomes familiar, making leash training easier.
Never pull or lift a puppy by the collar, as this can injure the neck muscles, trachea, and other sensitive structures – even with a fully grown dog, let alone a small puppy.
With daily training, the puppy will soon learn that the collar is a sign of something exciting: putting on a collar or harness means an adventure outdoors awaits – and what could be better! Before long, the puppy will be thrilled at the sight of its gear and ready to make these items part of its daily routine.
FINNERO Products for Puppies
FINNERO BAMBINO collar is crafted from woven tape, making it very soft, lightweight, flexible, and comfortable on a puppy’s neck. It’s perfect as a first collar for puppies and suitable for small adult dogs as well. SEE MORE >
FINNERO BAMBINO leash is intended for a puppy as a first leash for outdoor activities and learning on a leash. There is a small nickel-plated pistol lock at the end of the leash, with which the harness is attached to the collar or harness. SEE MORE >
FINNERO LIGHT harness is made of breathable and slightly stretchy 100% polyester MESH fabric. The harness is very easy to put on and take off, with a quick-release buckle on the back. The LIGHT harness is a safe choice for puppies learning to wear a harness, as it evenly distributes pressure around the body.
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