More beginner questions... looking forward the day where i can reply to others questions! :) 9week old BT and i was wondering when i should introduce the collar. i have tried twice and he HATES it. should i just leave it on and let him deal with it? also, when should i begin leash training?

Hi,
The best way to introduce the collar is to put it on him justbefore you do something pleasant with him, such as playing a game or feeding him. He'll hate it (one of mine used to scream as if I was slitting his throat!) and scratch at it, but if you can distract him, as soon as he stops you can praise him. then start another game with him, and after a minute or two, take the collar off. Do this a few times a day for a few days and he'll getused to it. Then you can leave it on all the time and he won't be bothered.

Don't start attching the lead until he ignores his collar, including when you handle his collar and move it round on his neck or gently pull on it. Then you can attach the lead before you play with him, but just let it drag. Take it off at the end of the game/meal/whatever so that he doesn't start chewing it!

Hope this helps.
:)

Greg

What I do with my puppies is not actually use a collar as such until then have got used to having something round their necks. Everyone of mine has objected to a collar.

What I do now is to use a bootlace type slip lead, which you can get at many pet stores. They are no thicker than a bootlace and having a sliding attachment to fit them snugly to the size of the neck. Another advantage of this is that you can use it until the pup is grown enough to have a permanent size collar.

I only put this on for very short times to start with, normally when in a new situation so that the pups mind is on other things. Borders are so nosey that they tend to forget feeling uncomfortable if there is something more interesting to look at. :-D

Personally I only put it on the first time they go to training classes, but if you want to teach him earlier than that then put it on in the garden and have playtimes with something that he really enjoys playing with, whilst he is wearing it.

Mine got used to it at 9 weeks. Distraction is the key and don't remove it once it is on. If you put it on first thing in the morning, it's well forgotten by the end of the day.

Hi

I have always used a really soft (velvet type) cat collar on my pups works so light they don't remember they've got it on ;)

And they are cheap from pet shops/stalls in the market and about £1 around here, they are brilliant until the pup is old enough for a proper collar worked for my Stafford pup.
Karen

Generally people will tell you to introduce it slowly and for short periods. I completely disagree with that - I put it on and it stayed on and that was it - and after a day of objecting they forget it's there.

I used a cat collar on mine - the kind with the stretchy bit so if it gets caught on something it 'can' be slipped off. AND if you leave the bell on you'll always know where the puppy is.

Wendy