Hi All

Well Robbie has arrived and been with us now for just over 1 week, he is a very good boy is clean overnight in his crate has not done any pooh in his crate since we have had him and only done a couple of wee's the occasional night so i am over the moon with how good he is, he has only had 2 pooh accidents in the house and thats only because we were not quick enough and is going to the back door when he thinks he needs to go, he barks at first when we put him to bed at night but after about 20 mins goes quiet and we don't hear any more from him all night until we get up in the morning, the only thing is when he goes back into his crate during the day when we have to pop out he barks nearly all the time when he is left but hopefully in time that will soon stop, my family work nights so i am keeping my fingers crossed that it won't go on for too long, he is only left for 2 hours max during the morning so i don't think this is too long to leave him on his own but he doesn't seem to settle very quickly.
I am trying to get him used to his collar at the moment and he is not accepted it very well i have got a very soft puppy collar but as soon as it goes on he goes beserk barking and scratching at it i am only leaving it on for short periods but he doesn't seem to be getting used to it at all, i cannot remember what Hamish did when i first put a collar on him but i don't think he was this bad, if anybody has got any tips i would be very grateful, i don't want to frighten him but want to get him used to a collar as he starts puppy classes in 3 weeks time and he needs to have a collar on by then.

Thanks in advance
Helen

Hi Helen - glad you've got Robbie and that things are going as smoothly as can be expected! With collars, the old-fashioned way was to put the collar on and leave the pup to deal with it - usually after 20 minutes or so of scratching at it then trying to walk and scratch it at the same time and falling over they generally accept it perfectly well from then on. I prfer to take things a little more slowly (I hope it's not in fact extending the discomfort!) by putting it on just before a mealtime then taking it off when the puppy's finished eating. I've also been known to ut it on while the pup's sound asleep, and when he wakes up it's on - they don't seem to mind so much then either.

I do the same as JG, pop the collar on before meal times and I never saw a scratch. I would also put it on before play sessions. Little miss wasn't keen on her collar but when faced with the option to attack, kill and rip apart a wagging tuggy rope or sit and scratch at a collar she let the killer in her take over. :-p

You must be thrilled to have little Robbie at last. :)

Yes i am its great fun he is such a bundle of joy, things are going a lot better than i thought they would this early on but the collar is the main problem, i have tried putting it on before he eats but he goes so mad he then won't eat anything and just goes round in circles barking and whimpering and then just keeps scratching, it is only on very loosely so not that tight at all, i keep putting it on each day but he just doesn't seem to be coming around at all until i take it off and then he is fine.
It seems that he is trying to get his own way because as soon as it comes off he is fine and plays like normal just being a little bee i think!!!
Thanks again
Helen

Best thing to do is get a cat collar with a quick release . put it on and leave it on. putting it on and off will only make it worse. move on to a puppy collar in a week or two.

We just put them on as soon as they got home at 8 weeks and that was that!! Was I just lucky?

my litter wore cat collars from 4 weeks and went to owners with new collars so no probs there. shame your breeder didnt bother to do the same

Hi Helen, wonder if Robbie is another Westie only used to have a baby Westie that came to class and She objected to her collar, owners persevered but it got to the stage where she would yelp or even snap if you touched the collar, they changed the collar from leather/cotton/nylon ( I can't remember which) to a different material and in a matter of days she was fine with the new one.
Just a thought but it may be worth a try.
Chris
edited to add she was like Robbie and perfect with no collar

I just put a collar on and then continue with a training exercise.  Or feed first and then take into the garden.  I ignore any scrating or shaking. :)

I do it the old fashioned way once it goes on it stays on for good.

Try putting it on a bit tighter, as it's loose he may be able to feel it moving when he does.

Great you've got a new little boy to love after all your (and our)! heartache with Hamish.
:-)

i just put them on and thats that. i had 2 pups from my last litter that sat under the table trembling for 4 hours and refused to move. took collars off and they wee 100% normal immediately...it ws like switching on a switch!! Afraid the collars went back on them and stayed on them until they forgot.

Might be worth changing the material of the collar, if he still plays up and you are certain it cannot be uncomfortable I would just leave him to get on with it, they soon get used to it. :-)

I do pretty much the same as you Westcoast, collar goes on at feed times and exercise times, when there's something else to occupy the mind, I ignore the scratching etc. When I'm getting them used to the lead I attach it and let them walk around dragging it behind them when in the garden.

I just put the collar on and it stays put.I have never had any problems, maybe because mine all have little i.d collars on since birth.