Collar Grab
This exercise is done to help dogs become accustomed to the idea that grabbing their collar is a good thing.
TOOLS:
- Treats
- Treat pouch
- Clicker
TRAINING ENVIRONMENT: A quiet place in your home where your dog is relaxed.
RECOMMENDED TREAT POSITION: Put the treat in your dog’s mouth.
STEPS:
- Gently touch (do not grab) your dog’s collar.
- While you are touching the collar, click.
- Give your dog a treat with your other hand.
- Let go of the collar.
- Repeat this several times until your dog is comfortable with you touching his collar (he does not move away from your hand).
- Only proceed if your dog is completely relaxed. If not, keep practicing until he is.
- Next, put one finger under the collar.
- Click
- Treat with your other hand.
- Remove your finger from the collar.
- When your dog becomes comfortable with this use two fingers instead of one.
- When he is comfortable with two fingers, use three… and so on.
- When you have helped him become comfortable with all four fingers under his collar, advance by closing your hand.
- Click and treat.
- The next step is to tug just a little.
- Finally, go through the entire process of reaching for, grabbing, and gently tugging your dog’s collar.
- Click and treat.
- If he shows any apprehension, go back to the last place where he was comfortable.
HOMEWORK:
Practice for about five minutes a day until your dog is comfortable with you grabbing his collar. This may take a few weeks to achieve.
AT THE END OF THIS STEP:
Your dog will happily allow you to grab his collar.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
My dog won’t let me near his collar.
- If your dog is so sensitive that he won’t let you near his collar, try touching his back or his shoulder and gradually getting closer to his collar in several steps.
- Try moving your hand more slowly.
My dog will let me touch his collar but when I try to grab it he moves away.
- Go more slowly. Try to figure out a way to split the steps you are taking into smaller steps.