Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Talk
  3. Advice on collar biting?

Advice on collar biting?

Basenji Talk
  • O

    My 10 week old little boy doesn't like me putting his collar on! He's fine when it's on him and he's not especially afraid of it, but when I try to put it on or show it within reach he lunges for it thinking that it's a toy! Any ideas or advice to train out this behavior?

    0
  • tanzaT

    Just keep putting on the collar.. ignore the behavior and just put the collar on.... does this mean that the breeder didn't have collars on the litter before you got him?

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • O

    The breeder did have collars on them. Maybe they didn't have them on as frequently as I think? I'm not sure. Anyways, I'll try the persistence route. Hopefully it works! Thanks for the advice!!

    0
  • K

    What may help is:

    • don't tower over the dog and stand right in front of him or look him in the eye directly; sit on your hunches beside him, facing the same direction and be calm;
    • offer the collar and a treat just in front of it, so he has an incentive to put his head forward into the collar.
      Good luck.
    0
  • babyishcareB

    Puppies love to sink their sharp little fangs into just about anything during this teething stage, including the hands and feet of their owners. In some cases it's like you've brought a snappy alligator into your home, instead of the cuddly little puppy you had hoped for.

    0
  • wizardW

    Let him know the collar is a good thing - it comes with treats!
    But if he lunges for it, the collar&treat goes away. He has to sit nice (or down nice or whatever) before he gets the collar&treat. Just like training any other behavior.

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    At 10 weeks, he's using it as an excuse to play. Because sometimes getting a collar on fast is life or death, it's one of those I don't mess around with. Get a partner to help hold him, happy talk, put it on, say GOOD COLLAR, and treat. If no help, hold him firmly in your arms, same process.

    Start working on basic commands. Sit, as wizard suggested, is critical. I have had 100 pound rotties so excited to go out that it would be a wrestling match except for the SIT command, lol. I have even taught them to put their noses in their collars for a reward. Make the game into complying and getting treated/praised so you replace "bite the collar" with something positive.

    Debra

    0
  • CrazySenjiC

    When my dogs were young they'd back away from their collars or scratch at them because they were new and scary. I don't keep collars on my dogs in the house because they play roughly and I don't want any accidents. When they DO see their collars it means walk time and they get so excited they shove their heads though on their own. When it's associated with something positive they quickly learn to love their collars!

    Ch. Meisterhaus Make Me a Star ~ "Cody"
    11/28/02 - 10/13/12
    Ch. Meisterhaus Sweet Sensation BCAT ~ "Elliot"
    10/28/12 -
    GCh. Meisterhaus Jadaka Don't Stop Me Now ~ "Morgan"
    11/24/14-
    Meisterhaus Jadaka Rebel Rebel ~ "Wyatt"
    1/2/18-

    0

Suggested Topics

  • ?

    Collars

    Basenji Talk
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    5k Views
    Chealsie508C
    martingales- only thing I can use that my boy wont slip out of…that, and if you are used to a choke, this is considered a choke with safety. I am not a fan of collars on all the time due to possible strangulation (i crate my boy)....so I feel the need to put a disclaimer that a martingale does have a "loop on the collar that may catch on something
  • FlashF

    Basenji Collar

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    6k Views
    K
    We bought here: http://www.dogcollars.nl/ Fine stuff.
  • A

    Collar questions

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    MacPackM
    Mine are naked in the house, but they are older and not inclined to leave, even if a gate is left open. We wear Nick Russell Safety-choke, similar in theory to martingale in that it snugs up when the dog pulls. We walk in harnesses, it is safer for their old necks and spines.
  • Capt_Jack_our_BasenjiC

    ***Collar Question!***

    Basenji Talk
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    4k Views
    BasenjimammaB
    Otis doesn't wear his at home either only if on a lead..safety is key.
  • tanzaT

    Wearing Collars

    Basenji Talk
    34
    0 Votes
    34 Posts
    12k Views
    BasenjiDivaB
    @Jarodkjv: Since someone is always home with the dogs a better choice may be the Playsafe collar, it is designed for daycare type settings. It won't open by itself but it has velcro tabs that can be pulled open easily even if the dogs are tangled up. The advantage would be that you could use it to hold them without worrying about it accidently opening. But it's not really designed to have a leash hooked to it so you would have to put a regular collar on them if you were going to take them out. That looks like a great alternative and I do think I'll give them a try. Although the dogs wear regular collars in the house, we always use martingales or sporn harnesses when we walk them. I found the website interesting and was fascinated by the dog cold weather gear. Don't need it here but it was still fascinating. Those of you who live where there is snow - Would your dogs really wear a long legged, full body snow suit? Check out the Arctic Fleeces. http://www.faithfulpetproducts.com/CoatsFloatsBoots.html Pat
  • etzbsederE

    Collar Question

    Basenji Talk
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    8k Views
    jys1011J
    This one is a tuffy to say the least :) I think everyone has an opinion on what works & doesn't work for them. And I can honestly tell you that I have tried a number of collars AND leads LOL :D Talk about trial and error. My poor husband is so confused now he's like WHAT COLLAR WHAT LEAD?? In the end we use a martingale leash (simple a martingale collar attached to a 6ft leash) to walk them & at first we used a gentle leader or snoot loop to train to walk nicely. Training them with this takes time & lots of effort. When they go on their extra long (25 ft) exploring walk (I only use this in large field or hiking when I know no one else or no other dogs will be around) I use their harnesses BUT the harness I use attaches to the lead at the top of their backs not in front. So really it's whatever is more effective for you & your dogs. I got all 3 at the All Hounds & I REALLY love their service! They are really nice & helpful. http://www.allhoundsapparel.com Short Story on choke chains: I worked with a trainer who used choke chains & I did not like using this because I nearly choked my little girl to death once while we were attacked by an off leash dog. It was an accident & she was fine but I could have really hurt her. I also think the choke chains have a negative reward for a dog while walking. If they lunge at something…person, dog, squirrel, bird etc...they will choke themselves & associate something negative with that.