Until your dog has learned to use the collar and leash, these implements will only be uncomfortable and limiting things for him. Once your dog learns to use them, the collar and leash will become security measures for him. They will never be tools of punishment and should not be used to "correct" bad behavior.
In this article on our site we are going to tell you some tips for teaching your dog to use a collar and leash, but above all, keep in mind that they never have to be instruments of punishment. There are different types of collars and leashes for dogs, which will depend on the type of pet you have, but once you know everything there is, you will be able to choose the one that best suits you and your dog.
Teach him to wear a collar
First let your dog see and sniff the collar (a regular collar, not a training collar). Then put the collar on him and distract him for a while: play with him, give him some food, etc. Do this for about five to 10 minutes a day, removing the collar when you're done. About two or three days later, your dog should be used to wearing the collar.
Dogs learn to use the collar very quickly, so you shouldn't spend too much time on this. However, some dogs get very scared when something is put on their neck. If your dog reacts like this, give him a little more time to get used to it and make sure you are calm when you put the collar on him.
Keep in mind that the collar must be neither too loose nor too tight The correct thing is that the space between the collar and the your dog's neck is long enough for you to run a finger through. However, it shouldn't be much wider. If the collar is too loose, it could catch somewhere. Or your dog will be able to take it off with ease. On the other hand, if the collar is too tight, your dog will have discomfort and difficulty breathing and swallowing.
Teach him to use a leash
Most dogs learn to use a leash quickly. However, some get scared when stopped by "that weird thing" their owner is holding. Others bite the leash when they go out for a walk.
To teach your dog to use the leash, first allow him to sniff and look at it for a few minutes. Then put it on, but don't hold it Let the leash hang loose while you distract your dog with a game (be careful not to trip over the leash). Practice this 10 minutes daily, for about two days. Then repeat the procedure but hold the leash while you play with your dog. When your dog reaches the end of the leash and is stopped by it, ignore the fact and continue playing with him. Make sure you don't throw toys out of range of your dog's leash. The idea is not that your dog is stopped violently when he tries to follow a toy. The idea is that he is gently stopped when, out of boredom or any other reason, he walks to the end of the leash. If your dog ignores the leash and won't walk away when he's playing with you, leave it on for a while longer and stop playing. When he gets bored or wants to go see what's going on somewhere else, he will be stopped by the leash
Do not practice this exercise for a long time. About five to 10 minutes a day, for two or three days, should be enough. Of course, if your dog freaks out on the leash, take a little more time (and make the exercise shorter). If your dog is fully vaccinated, you can take him for a walk with his collar and leash on. Unless he has a phobia, he will feel incredibly happy every time he sees the leash
Keep in mind that you should only use a normal strap, 2 meters maximum, for this exercise. A very long leash would allow your dog to run and pick up a lot of speed before reaching the end of the leash. This would cause a very strong impact on his neck, so it is not recommended.
