What to Do If Your Dog Hates Their Collar?
Every owner has experienced putting a collar on their pet, but not everyone has a smooth experience. For some dogs, they don’t like wearing a collar and will always show signs of pain or resistance when you try to put it on. Even when he managed to put the collar on, he kept clawing at it trying to take it off. But dogs need to wear collars at many times, such as when going out for a walk. If you don’t put a collar on it, it may run away or even be life-threatening.
What should you do if you find that your dog resists when you put a collar on it and always tries to escape? Don’t worry, let’s put together the following guide on how to put a collar on your dog.
Eliminate Fear
Part of the reason a dog may not want to wear a collar may be because they are afraid of them, so avoid grabbing your dog and forcefully putting the collar on them. Because doing so may be counterproductive, and the dog will be even more afraid of wearing the collar.
First, you can prepare some snacks and put them on the ground to attract your dog to you. Then slowly take out the collar and place it around the snacks. Be careful not to put it on your dog forcefully at this time, as your puppy may feel scared. You can place the collar around the treat to entice your dog to sniff the collar and provide a treat reward. Let your dog develop a positive association with the collar.
Next try to put the collar on the dog’s head or body, but be careful not to put it on them directly. If the dog runs away, repeat the previous steps. If the dog sticks its nose into the ring or touches it at this step, give it some more rewards.
Finally, if your dog resists none of the previous steps, you can slowly put the collar around the dog’s neck. Repeat several times, and reward the dog with snacks in time as long as he does not resist. You can also try wearing the collar on your dog for a while to let them get used to the feeling.
Find the Right Collar
Another reason why a dog may not want to wear a collar may be that the collar does not fit properly. Then it will be useless no matter how you train them, you need to find the most suitable collar for them. When choosing a collar for the first time, make sure it is comfortable. Try to choose lightweight, soft materials and avoid anything that might cause irritation or discomfort.
Secondly, the size of the collar is also very important. If it is too tight, the dog will be uncomfortable. If it is too loose, it may fall and be dangerous. How to find the best size for your dog, check out this guide.
Extra Small Dogs (under 10 lbs): Collar width of around 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch.
Small to Medium Dogs (10 – 40 lbs): Collar width of around 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch.
Medium to Large Dogs (40 – 80 lbs): Collar width of around 3/4 inch to 1 inch.
Large to Extra Large Dogs (80+ lbs): Collar width of 1 inch or wider, depending on the dog’s neck size and strength.
Tips for wearing a dog collar
Be patient when training your puppy to wear a collar. Puppies are our best friends, give them some time to get used to the collar. You must remain calm when putting the collar on them. Even if they show resistance or yell at you, please be more patient. After they successfully wear the collar, timely rewards and praise should be given to let them know that this is right. Finally, consider sevenpet collars. We have many types and sizes of collars, so there is sure to be one that is best for your puppy.