When did/do you introduce puppy to a collar?

[Aimeedyan]

We bought Harley a collar, Harley Davidson leash, and ID tag, but haven't put the collar on yet because his week has been so up and down already!

We plan on taking him out of town next week, and I'd feel better knowing he was on a leash if need be. Is he too young? Too little? He's 9 weeks, 1.5 pounds... It's not like he can run away easily, but he's easy to lose because he's so small =)

I have read conflicting things... some say to introduce it slowly in short periods of time over a course of a few days. Others say to just stick it on them, and they will eventually get used to it.

What do you think?

 

[damo]

Our puppies had collars when we got them at around 7-8 weeks. The earlier the better. It is good to let them run around with the collar and least on to get the feel of it.

Glad to hear Harley is feeling much better.

 

[aprilgail2]

The day we brought him home I put a collar on him and he has had one ever since.

 

[LindaG4458]

Our pups always get collars right away. It's easier if they get squirmy or run into danger to have something you can grab. Mine are nervous if I have to take the collars off for bathing, changing tags, etc. The get excited when the collars go back on.

 

[KristiKelly]

I put a collar on our puppy the first day we got her, she didn't seem to notice. Now, the leash, that's a different story, it took us a couple of weeks for her to get used to that.

 

[elgerber]

Our golden came with a collar on from the breeders. They had 11 pups in the litter and they put collars on them very early on. That was how they identified them. They each had their own collar color. Jake was blue, and we used blue in part of his registered AKC name as a tribute to them.

I think the earlier the better. You can also just let him drag the leash around the house if your watching him, so he can get used to that before it's time to try a walk.

Erika

 

[candykisses]

We put a collar on Magoo about a week after we brought him home.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by elgerber
I think the earlier the better. You can also just let him drag the leash around the house if your watching him, so he can get used to that before it's time to try a walk.

Erika

be sure to buy an extra one...out dog DESTROYED a leash after we put it on her like this! heheheh

another good thing to get them use to? a harness. our dog isn't very good on the leash...she tugs on it so much, straining herself...she's going to hurt herself one of these days. now, when we take her for walks, we put the harness on her - it goes around her front legs and belly (hard to describe) and the leash attachs around her mid-back...makes walking her SOOOO much easier.

 

[stamper]

I'd say put it on now! It doesn't take too long for them to forget it's there.

For leash training - try putting on the leash, doing kind of a fast foot shuffle step and talking in a high, silly voice and acting foolish to get him to go along with you and not try to get away from the leash. The more excited you are, the more he will want to follow along and see what's up!

Something no one has mentioned since you said you are taking him out of town. At 9 wks. he isn't fully protected by vaccines yet (won't be until the 2nd set). Be careful what he is allowed to come in contact with. I wouldn't let him around strange dogs just in case and even walking where strange dogs have been could pose a problem. Just and FYI.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Well, I put it on him and it was HUGE. I bought the smallest one they had, tightened it as tight as possible, and it hung off him. Hmm. DH took it off, said we'd have to wait until he got a bit bigger... he could easily pull his head out of it.

SOOOOOOOO, I guess we'll wait!

In response to him not being vaccinated and such, you're right. I have avoided taking him places because of that, or letting him encounter any other animals. We are just going to my sisters house to help her move, so not far. =) In two weeks, the Vet is going to worm him again and get him some more shots. He was too sick this week to get any, doc wants to let him get a bit more meat on his bones before giving him some more shots...

Thanks for all your advice!!!!!!!!!

 

[tkyes]

we put one on our dog before we even took her home. We picked her out from the litter and put a little red collar on her when she was only about 4 or 5 weeks old.