Collar Grab

Teaching the collar grab

Prerequisite

Your dog should be conditioned to the use of the clicker.

Tools

Clicker
Pea sized treats
Treat pouch

Training Environment

A quiet place in your home where your dog is relaxed.

Recommended Treat Position

Hand your dog the treat or toss it if you know he will come back to you.

Steps

Gently touch (lightly brush, do not grab) your dog’s collar.
While you are touching the collar, click.
Give your dog a treat with your other hand.
Move your hand away.
Repeat this several times until your dog is comfortable with you touching his collar (he does not move away from your hand).
Only proceed to the next steps if your dog is completely relaxed.
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 until you have a good grip on your dog’s collar.
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.

After trained, try to maintain a positive association with the collar grab. If you have to use it to get control of them when they are not receptive, make sure you reward them. Try grabbing and then releasing them to go do something they like or were about to enjoy doing.

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.