Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

Original poster

Snappy and growling when attaching lead

11 replies

Blahblahblah40 · 10/01/2022 10:44

Looking for an opinion from experienced dog owners regarding my puppy who is 9 weeks. We are having fencing re-done in our garden and so one side isn’t currently safe for puppy to be off-lead in the garden as he could easily escape! So since he came to us last week we have been working on getting him used to his collar and attaching a lead to go outside which has been going great so far. This morning he needed a poo and was growling and trying to nip at me when I tried to attach the lead to his collar to go out. Do you think this was just a ‘panic response’ due to the urgency for his poo?

OP posts:

Lou98 · 10/01/2022 11:12

Sorry not got much advice, I'm sure someone will be along soon that can advise better but just from personal experience - my dog hated his collar, he would roll about trying to get it on him every time and he would refuse to move when I'd attached the lead, we found a harness worked much better, may be worth giving that a try?

Also maybe try using the lead at random times around the house so that he can get used to it without it being an association just with the toilet iyswim?

As I say though, that's just what worked for us I'm not really sure about the growling and how to solve that but I'm sure someone else will have good ideas!

SirChenjins · 10/01/2022 11:15

Our puppy hates having his over the head collar and lead put on so I’ve bought him a step in harness (cheapie thing from The Range) which he tolerates a lot better and I put down a few bit of kibble to distract him while I’m clipping on his lead. I don’t know if this is the right thing to do but it saves my fingers from his teeth.

SirSniffsAlot · 10/01/2022 11:17

With only a week under your belt there hasn't been a huge amount of time to work on getting used to anything.

Lots of gentle, calm practise outside of times you NEED to get a lead on him.

Grab the lead, don't put it on, give him a treat - repeat, repeat, repeat
Grab the lead, move towards him, give him a treat - repeat, repeat, repeat
Move the lead towards his collar, give him a treat - repeat, repeat, repeat

...and so on - slowly moving up to the lead being clipped on, trailing behind him, lead being held etc.

Just lots of calm, good natured practice, with it being associated with good things like treats and he'll get there

Iamkmackered1979 · 10/01/2022 11:24

Something has happened but if you continue putting it on him whilst he has this response it will just continue.

Try unbuckling the collar does he do the same?
Keep the collar on in daytime - ours comes off at night. But for my dogs head collar we spent loads of time with some nice treats and a ‘word’ - nice getting him to sniff it and play with it put it on in house and nice - treat if he got upset I dialled it back down. Scatter feed whilst putting on or have a kong or fave chew too.

I did the same with his harness as some dogs are body sensitive - mine and don’t like a harness so I spent loads of time even before putting it anywhere near him getting him used to it lots of positivity then it went away 3 min bursts so not to overload. Doing it inside is one thing you need to do it outside as well as that environment is much more interesting scatter feeding is your friend as sniffing is a way dogs calm themselves and you have food reinforcement too. We used kibble from his meal allowance. He’s now brilliant with harness and his canni collar and you have the tools for anything that you find he’s a bit nervous of, the car for instance we played hide and seek round with food sat in on and all sorts before we even left the street and always to fun places so it isn’t always the vets or groomers early on.

Original poster

Blahblahblah40 · 10/01/2022 11:42

Thanks everyone. He’s been such a good natured pup so far bar the usual nipping, which we are working on, so it really took me by surprise. He’s quite happy with the collar on all the time, and is absolutely fine once the lead is on. Just getting it on him at that moment was difficult. Think I will put it down to urgency and monitor. Just been out for a wee and I picked him up to put the collar on and he was fine with that. Why are puppies so confusing?!

OP posts:

Janeandjohnny · 10/01/2022 12:02

Hello

What breed is he? I have this sometimes with my GSD who is a handful.
I use treats, dont let him back into a corner or you lunging over him will be a threat. So keep collar on all the time, clip on lead and let him trail around house with it (supervised), pick up lead and treat from time to time but not going anywhere, just pick up, treat & drop.

Also get down low so he comes to you - on your knees etc. Reward calmness (says he with battle scared fingers). Also a bigger collar with an extra big key ring clip makes it easier to clip lead with no hassle.

Bear in mind the feeling of needing to go to the toilet will induce a bit of nippiness in younger dogs - it happens in mine too.

Good Luck!

BSky · 10/01/2022 12:42

Lots of helpful advice above & see he’s now thrown you by being compliant with lead! (They like to keep us on our toes with their changing ways!)
Just to say our pup was (also surprisingly) nippy around that age. We normally let her out a regular intervals to avoid toilet accidents but actually found that her being extra nippy was a sign she needed a poo…

JustJam4Tea · 10/01/2022 15:02

Treats, treats and more treats and put it on at times when you don't go out. And take it off with treats too.

Original poster

Blahblahblah40 · 10/01/2022 15:13

He is a cocker spaniel so is a busy boy! 2nd vaccine next week and am hoping that having him out for walks will help a little.

OP posts:

Original poster

Blahblahblah40 · 10/01/2022 15:14

I did wonder if needing a poo would make him extra nippy. Makes sense though if they’re feeling desperate.

OP posts:

PetPositive · 10/01/2022 15:15

Hi, great to see lots of good advice here. One thing I can't see mentioned is that this could have been a play response. It's impossible to say without having seen exactly what was going on but for some dogs, especially puppies once they learn that collars/leads/harnesses mean going outdoors which is exciting, putting on the collar etc can become a game to them and you would also see the mouthing/nipping and growling with this (in an attempt to initiate play). The good thing is that regardless of the reason he's doing it, the answer is the same, practice desensitising him to his collar and reward calmness.
There's a good step by step explanation here pethelpful.com/dogs/Dog-Training-How-to-Get-a-Dog-Used-to-Wear-a-Collar-and-Leash
My one caveat would be to only reward whilst he's calm which they don't mention.
Good luck! If you want further advice or training classes for your puppy look for accredited dog trainers (ideally APDT) who only use reward based methods.

Flip