How To Introduce Your Puppy To Their Collar And Lead

Introducing walking equipment the right way: a guide to stress-free training

Your puppy is home and you cannot wait to take them out for walks, but as soon as you try to put their collar, lead or harness on them, they run a mile or they try and bite your hands to death!

It happens sometimes and that’s because wearing pieces of equipment is quite an unusual and very strange thing for puppies. Sometimes, mishandling causes issues if the puppy has been held down to get dressed too.  If you think about it, it is completely unnatural for a puppy to wear anything on their bodies; even being on a lead and restricted as to where they can go is very alien to a species who are designed to go and explore things freely. Getting them used to their walking gear nice and early is always so worthwhile and it doesn’t really take much time until they learn to love it. That said, if your puppy is showing signs of extreme fear or stress when they are wearing their walking equipment, such as shaking, toileting, shutting down and not moving or serious biting, please get in contact with a professional trainer as soon as possible for help.

Choose the right collar and lead

Before starting, make sure that you have the appropriate collar, harness and lead for your puppy. A soft, adjustable collar is ideal for a puppy’s delicate neck and a soft material y-shaped harness is much more comfortable for their growing bodies. The lead should be lightweight and not too long to prevent it from dragging and causing discomfort. If you would like help choosing the right collar, harness and lead for your puppy, please get in touch as I have a number of links I can send to you to help.

Introduce the collar gradually

Some puppies actually do really well with simply having their collar put on and left on, as long as you don’t leave it on when they are unsupervised. That said, this does leave the argument that you are giving your puppy no choice in the matter and they therefore simply tolerate wearing it rather than love wearing it. With an extra little bit of time, you really can introduce your puppy to the walking equipment in a gentle way and this would be my preference. After all, you will be getting your dog dressed thousands of times for the rest of their life. Why not take the time, whilst you have it, to help them?

1. Familiarisation: begin by letting your puppy sniff and explore the collar and harness. Place them near their food bowl or favourite toys to create positive associations. Hold each piece out for them in your hand and when they sniff it, say “YES” and give them a treat by throwing it across the floor. That way, your puppy will have to return to the collar or harness and interact with it to get another treat, thus building a nice picture of them approaching their equipment rather than moving away. Repeat lots.

2. Getting them dressed into their collar and harness:

  • Collar: once your puppy is quite happy with seeing their collar, start by putting the collar on your puppy for a few minutes at a time. Do this when they are calm and distracted, such as during playtime, mealtimes or just before you start a lovely little training session with them. Gradually increase the length of time they wear it for as they become more comfortable.

  • Harness: when it comes to the harness, start by grabbing a handful of very tasty treats. Something super smelly that they absolutely love. Hold this hand through the head hole of the harness and let your dog sniff and follow your hand as you move it back through the head hole. Your puppy should follow your hand until they have popped their head through the head hole. If they back away as it starts to go over their head, don’t panic, just take your time and be patient with how slow they need to take this step. Once their head is through the hole, drop the handful of treats on the floor for them and whilst they are busy eating them all, do the rest of the harness up around their body. Once done, engage them in a game or a little training session before taking it off them again. To get them undressed, I repeat the above but in reverse order. So, drop a handful of treats on the floor and whilst they are busy eating, undo the harness. Then, take another handful of treats, pop it on their nose so they can sniff it and move your hand backwards so that your dog is backing out of the harness. Once the harness is over their head, feed them their treats.

3. Add the lead: quite often, you will find that you puppy will bite the lead because that’s what puppies do. Although sometimes this happens as a result of feeling frustrated that they are restricted. Try not to pull back on it if they are biting it as this becomes a fun game of tug for them! Instead, distract their attention and get them interested in something else, such as training or a fun engaging game.

Start with short walks on the lead around the house and then move into the garden. Don’t pull back on the lead if your puppy pulls.  Instead, gently encourage them to follow you with a cheerful voice and treats. Patience is key.

Once your puppy is used to having their lead on and happy with it, start practicing outdoors. Firstly, start with short sessions in a non-distracting environment and move to more stimulating environments as they become more confident.

Continue using treats and praise to reinforce good behaviour. If your puppy shows signs of fear or stress, take a step back and return to a more familiar environment.

Allow your puppy to explore at their own pace, ensuring they feel safe and secure.

Additional tips:

  • Consistent training sessions help your puppy understand what to expect, as well as maintaining and improving their training skills.

  • Remember that every puppy is different; some may take longer to adjust than others. Be patient and progress at your puppy’s comfort level.

  • Introduce your puppy to new experiences gradually. Avoid overly busy streets, high traffic areas or crowded areas until they are more confident on the lead.

  • Remember, it is a legal requirement in the UK for your puppy/dog to wear a tag or identification label on their collar or harness with your contact details on.

By following these steps, you can help your puppy develop a positive association with their collar, harness and lead, making walks an enjoyable experience for all of you. Remember, patience and kindness are the keys to successful training.

If you would like help with puppy training, email info@progdog.co.uk or head to the Book Now button below. 

Happy training and enjoy your puppy, they don’t stay so little for long xx