Obedience I
Obedience II
(Coming)Obedience III
(Coming)
OBD
I
Getting the puppies comfortable with wearing Collars
The wearing of the general collar (ID collars, etc.) is what we are working towards. The other types of collars and harnesses can be applied after this task.
The puppy is not always comfortable with wearing a collar. Quite a few puppies will either see it as an irritant and want to constantly scratch at it or just try and instantly remove it.
We operate with gradually wearing the collar. 15 minutes to start off with. We do this several times a day. This process is completely supervised. The idea is to allow the pup to ease into the collar around the neck. Longer intervals can be applied as the situation seems appropriate. In our new puppies' cases, the collar was accepted within a full week.
OBD
I
Getting the puppies comfortable with a leash
Pups are not fond of the leash when first introduced. The trick that we practice is to clip the leash on to the pup's collar and allow them to drag it around. This normally takes place in the house or on a closed-in area like the backyard. The closed-in area is for the pup's safety.
Once the leash is not that much of a distraction, you can pick up the leash and move with the dog. If the dog wants to move around, you move right a long with them. This is establishing a connection between you and your pup with the leash as a conduit. No need for any tug-of-war or gentle pulling right now. Allow this to go on for a couple of days to a week. Rushing this can potentially cause your pup to be skidish when it comes to applying a leash.
