Dear Critter Corner:
Our puppy loves to go out for his walks and any other adventure, but he is very resistant to having his harness or collar put on. He will avoid us or even try to bite. Is there anything we can do to change this?
For many dogs this is a common problem, they don’t like putting their head through something or having a human hover over them. There are a few tricks that you can work on to help your pup overcome the avoidance of his equipment.
One of the first things to do is to teach your pup that when his equipment comes out the fun begins. You will work to desensitize him to the collar or harness through the use of some treats or if he is toy driven, the opportunity to play or hold his favorite toy. To start you will show the harness and give a treat. When you see him get comfortable, you can encourage him to put his nose through the harness to get the treat. The next step would be to get him to put his head through and have the harness hang for a moment. You want him to be comfortable with the process, so take your time and move on when he is ready.
Once your pup is comfortable having the equipment put on, you can have him start to offer a sit and then add a cue to signal him to put his head through the harness or collar on his own. Be patient and wait him out if he hesitates or is overly excited for the walk. Remember you have many years of walks ahead of you and getting out the front door on a good note will make for a better walk for both of you!
If you are still having problems or would like some extra help, you can schedule a 1:1 Consultation with one of our behaviorists or call our Behavior Helpline at ext. 183.