Dear Darcie, Would you take a minute to tell me how you taught your dogs to walk into their own collars? You had four dogs the last time I saw all of you together, the three Tervs and Kari, your Golden. You held out a collar, said each dog’s name and each walked right into their collar! How did you teach them that? I’ve been trying with my dog for weeks, it’s not working. I send you my warmest wishes for your Christmas. I pray that your heart is healing from Dancer’s passing earlier this year and that you’re making room for another. Karen
Dear Karen, Just the other day Tilli came to me and as I hugged her close and put my nose into her back for a great big whiff of warm, loving Terv and I started crying. She smelled and felt so much like Dancer that it brought waves of missing my old girl. I know that Dancer is safe and at peace. She was my best dog ever. One of these days I’ll be ready for another. No one could ever replace her of course but all of my dogs have been special in one way or another. Dancer and I had that connection that is simply beyond my understanding, we really knew each other. I’ll love her forever.
Okay, on to a dog walking into it’s own collar. It’s easy to teach. Some dogs will learn faster than others, if you’re consistent and never put their collar on for them, you’ll see quick results.
Practice by yourself first before you start with the dog so your motions will be fluid and easy. It only takes a couple of practices to understand how to do this. The dogs will be fast so knowing what you want to do before you start will help you teach them more quickly.
Hold the collar open with one hand. Reach through it with a treat in your other hand so the collar is around your forearm. Offer the treat to the dog. You might need to take a step or two backward, you want the dog moving forward into the collar to take the treat.
When dog is moving forward to take the treat, slip the collar over your treat hand and onto the dog’s neck while the dog is eating the treat. While he is taking the treat say, “Put your collar on.” Keep a hold of the collar if your dog is one that takes off. Count to three while the collar is on. Without letting go of the collar say, “Let’s take your collar off,” and take it right back off. Immediately praise with pleasure, “Good dog.”
Do it all once again and stop, that’s enough for right now.
Do it again in about an hour. And again in another hour. And every time you need to put collars on to go somewhere. Practice in the kitchen, the bathroom, the bedroom, on the couch, on the floor, on the bed, outside the house.
The reason to practice behaviors in all places and with different people around is that when a dog learns a trick in the kitchen and you move to the living room and then to the yard or street, it becomes a new trick to the dog. The scenery has changed, the people are different, there are more distractions. Make sure that everyone in the family and all of your friends can put the collar on and take it off, giving a cookie when the collar is going on. Soon you won’t need a cookie any more. Fade the treats fast, that means only treat until your dog gets it and then maybe every third time for a while, then not at all. Praise always.
Don’t worry about training perfectly, you don’t have to be a perfect trainer to train anything. It’s all about having fun and getting the job done. I do a lot of laughing to make training fun. See those wagging tails!
Ultimately the behavior is, “Put your collar on.” Dog walks into the collar you’re holding open for them. Very soon the reward will be, put the collar on and we go out! Dogs love to go!
It’s so much fun to watch people’s reactions to this trick. How did you do that?! Stay humble, you really didn’t do anything but hold a collar and give a cookie. The dog did all the work. LOL!
Have fun! Merry Christmas to you and yours, too! I love you all. – Darcie
This was the first time these puppies have trained to put the collar on. Kent let me use his pups because I needed a video for you! (Remember, Kent is training these dogs by himself from start to finish, he’s never done that with a dog before.)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= o1EzuMarrxE&w=560&h=340&rel=0]
he he I know this is an old post, but had to share. . . Kyla LOVES diving into her collar. “Collar.” swooop! there she is!