Help! He hates his collar/harness - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Ponyup · 07-20-2005, 11:25 AM

I need advise on how to get him to wear his collar/harness. Everytime we put his harness on he lays flat on the ground and refuses to walk, but if we take it off he runs around like normal. I have a step-in adjustable harness that i got at petsmart. I wasn't real worried about because he only has to wear it when we go on trips to the ball diamond or my mom's house, but now he's starting to take off when we let him out to potty. So I thought the collar might be better so we can clip the leash on quickly just so he can't take off. But when we put it on him last night he rubbed and rolled and then went to sleep and he just wasn't himself all night and he wouldn't potty with it on. And he won't potty with his harness or a t-shirt on. Just wondering if this is normal and if anyone has any advise on how to get him over this.
Thanks.
P.S. He is 10 wks old & 4 lbs
I also know all the reasons why you shouldn't use a collar.

chachi · 07-20-2005, 11:30 AM

When I first put a harness on my dogs they would do this inside the house. As soon as I took them outside on a walk they walked though so you might wanna try that.

Sydney'sMom · 07-20-2005, 11:34 AM

Hmmm....I'd say that you are just going to have to get him used to it. My method is collar all the time with id tag on it...and harness only for walking. So if I were you I would just put the collar on him and let him pout about it for awhile. He'll get over it. Just make sure that it's comfortable (not too tight, and made out of a soft material).

As far as the harness...does he enjoy walks? If he does, then take him out with the harness on, and if he fusses...bring him in. If he wants to walk...he'll get used to it.

I think you are just going to have to use some "tough love" on this one

Ponyup · 07-20-2005, 11:38 AM

We don't really go on actual walks yet, but he loves to be outside and sniff around and such. I'll take the tag off the collar and see if that helps.

Sydney'sMom · 07-20-2005, 11:40 AM

Honestly they will get used to almost anything eventually. Try putting the harness on him in the house and then distracting him by playing. Before he knows it 15 minutes will have gone by and he wasn't bothered by the harness at all.

Ponyup · 07-20-2005, 11:42 AM

What kind of harness & collar do you use?

Sydney'sMom · 07-20-2005, 12:02 PM

Here is the link to the one I have. It's very nice and comfortable for her. However it's a little pricey. It's worth it to me because walking is one of Sydney's favorite things in the world...so we use the harness all the time.

http://www.bowsawowsa.com/product_in...851a0fa9b55323

ps. I don't think that this one would fit your dog at his age anyway. Syd is abotu 5 lbs...and it barely is small enough for her.

eroar2 · 07-20-2005, 12:16 PM

You said that your baby is only 10 wks old. Don't worry... He'll get used to it. He probably just doesn't like the idea of being leashed. He just has to get used to it. Mine did it in the beginning to. Just flopped right down to the ground and wouldn't budge. You just have to train him to use a leash. Start a little every day inside the house and work your way out... He'll get the hang of it...

Mine's a year old now. When I pull the harness out now she get's all excited

But then when i go to put it on her I have to chase her around the apt to put it on...

But once its on we're all good

And on our merry way! It's a little game we play everyday!

We have a step in harness now and I prefer that to the one that I had to squeeze her head through before!

Ponyup · 07-20-2005, 12:24 PM

I just wanted to make sure i wasn't hurting him. He acted like he was sick last night. he wouldn't run or play or anything...it was actually a nice change. Any advise on how to make sure it's fitting them correctly?

LIL MIS' MAGIC · 07-20-2005, 12:27 PM

Sounds just like my Sailor...she HATED wearing her harness...she would pout for hours with it on...we soon learned that she was to little at the time and that it was to big for her (we had the extra small from Petsmart)...as she got bigger and the longer it stopped bugging her and she didn't mind it anymore!!! Give him time and he will get used to it...but I won't force anything on them, let them do when they are ready!!!

eroar2 · 07-20-2005, 12:34 PM

If its hurting him, don't worry you'll know

He will squeal or make some sort of noise...

He is probably just pouting. He probably doesn't like having it on, and is trying to get you to take it off by just being a little "baby"

Just show him who's boss

pixiepooh · 07-20-2005, 01:15 PM

Pickles hates her collar! It itches and she tries to rub it down against the floor. I want her to get used to it at least but I'm just scared she'll have scabs from rubbing it in the floor too much.

JCarlson2004 · 07-20-2005, 01:19 PM

Try leaving the harness (not leash) on her while she's in the house to help her get use to wearing it.

RowdysMom · 07-20-2005, 03:32 PM

Rowdy did the same thing at first - but we were on vacation and he had to be on the leash so he just had to get over it - which he did fairly quickly (he was 4 months old). He actually acted worse when we put a sweater on him. We were in the mountains and he was freezing, shivering, acting very cold. So, we went to town and bought him a sweater and he acted like he was paralyzed with it on - wouldn't move at all. When we'd take it off, he'd dash around like a madman. We didn't try the sweater again, but I am sure, just like the harness, he would have eventually gotten used to it. I just carried him around in a fleece blanket whenever he was cold

It's not like he's spoiled or anything!!!

Latuya · 07-20-2005, 10:58 PM

Gus hated his harness. What I did was keep it on him for a whole day. He would try and bite it and get his lower jaw stuck. But a few times of doing this he got used to it. He didn't care too much for his t-shirts at first but didn't protest too much. The one thing he hates up to this day is his PJ's. He sees them and will run and hide.

07-20-2005, 11:25 AM	#1
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	Help! He hates his collar/harness I need advise on how to get him to wear his collar/harness. Everytime we put his harness on he lays flat on the ground and refuses to walk, but if we take it off he runs around like normal. I have a step-in adjustable harness that i got at petsmart. I wasn't real worried about because he only has to wear it when we go on trips to the ball diamond or my mom's house, but now he's starting to take off when we let him out to potty. So I thought the collar might be better so we can clip the leash on quickly just so he can't take off. But when we put it on him last night he rubbed and rolled and then went to sleep and he just wasn't himself all night and he wouldn't potty with it on. And he won't potty with his harness or a t-shirt on. Just wondering if this is normal and if anyone has any advise on how to get him over this. Thanks. P.S. He is 10 wks old & 4 lbs I also know all the reasons why you shouldn't use a collar. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

07-20-2005, 11:30 AM	#2
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	When I first put a harness on my dogs they would do this inside the house. As soon as I took them outside on a walk they walked though so you might wanna try that. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

07-20-2005, 11:34 AM	#3
Sydney'sMom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 517	Hmmm....I'd say that you are just going to have to get him used to it. My method is collar all the time with id tag on it...and harness only for walking. So if I were you I would just put the collar on him and let him pout about it for awhile. He'll get over it. Just make sure that it's comfortable (not too tight, and made out of a soft material). As far as the harness...does he enjoy walks? If he does, then take him out with the harness on, and if he fusses...bring him in. If he wants to walk...he'll get used to it. I think you are just going to have to use some "tough love" on this one __________________ Holly & Sydney visit me on Dogster: http://www.dogster.com/?160307

07-20-2005, 11:38 AM	#4
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	We don't really go on actual walks yet, but he loves to be outside and sniff around and such. I'll take the tag off the collar and see if that helps. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

07-20-2005, 11:40 AM	#5
Sydney'sMom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 517	Honestly they will get used to almost anything eventually. Try putting the harness on him in the house and then distracting him by playing. Before he knows it 15 minutes will have gone by and he wasn't bothered by the harness at all. __________________ Holly & Sydney visit me on Dogster: http://www.dogster.com/?160307

07-20-2005, 11:42 AM	#6
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	What kind of harness & collar do you use? __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

07-20-2005, 12:02 PM	#7
Sydney'sMom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 517	Here is the link to the one I have. It's very nice and comfortable for her. However it's a little pricey. It's worth it to me because walking is one of Sydney's favorite things in the world...so we use the harness all the time. http://www.bowsawowsa.com/product_in...851a0fa9b55323 ps. I don't think that this one would fit your dog at his age anyway. Syd is abotu 5 lbs...and it barely is small enough for her. __________________ Holly & Sydney visit me on Dogster: http://www.dogster.com/?160307

07-20-2005, 12:16 PM	#8
eroar2 Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 446	You said that your baby is only 10 wks old. Don't worry... He'll get used to it. He probably just doesn't like the idea of being leashed. He just has to get used to it. Mine did it in the beginning to. Just flopped right down to the ground and wouldn't budge. You just have to train him to use a leash. Start a little every day inside the house and work your way out... He'll get the hang of it... Mine's a year old now. When I pull the harness out now she get's all excited But then when i go to put it on her I have to chase her around the apt to put it on... But once its on we're all good And on our merry way! It's a little game we play everyday! We have a step in harness now and I prefer that to the one that I had to squeeze her head through before!

07-20-2005, 12:24 PM	#9
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	I just wanted to make sure i wasn't hurting him. He acted like he was sick last night. he wouldn't run or play or anything...it was actually a nice change. Any advise on how to make sure it's fitting them correctly? __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

07-20-2005, 12:27 PM	#10
LIL MIS' MAGIC Yorkie Lover Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlothian, Texas Posts: 4,377 Blog Entries: 3	Sounds just like my Sailor...she HATED wearing her harness...she would pout for hours with it on...we soon learned that she was to little at the time and that it was to big for her (we had the extra small from Petsmart)...as she got bigger and the longer it stopped bugging her and she didn't mind it anymore!!! Give him time and he will get used to it...but I won't force anything on them, let them do when they are ready!!! __________________ Kristin, Mom to: Lil Mis Magic, Sailor and Captain

07-20-2005, 12:34 PM	#11
eroar2 Donating YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 446	If its hurting him, don't worry you'll know He will squeal or make some sort of noise... He is probably just pouting. He probably doesn't like having it on, and is trying to get you to take it off by just being a little "baby" Just show him who's boss

07-20-2005, 01:15 PM	#12
pixiepooh Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 231	Pickles hates her collar! It itches and she tries to rub it down against the floor. I want her to get used to it at least but I'm just scared she'll have scabs from rubbing it in the floor too much.

07-20-2005, 01:19 PM	#13
JCarlson2004 Mommy To 3 Poochies Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New York Posts: 8,287	Try leaving the harness (not leash) on her while she's in the house to help her get use to wearing it. __________________ Mommy Loves Codie, Tia & Baby Cali RIP My Precious Katie - I Love You

07-20-2005, 03:32 PM	#14
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,624	Rowdy did the same thing at first - but we were on vacation and he had to be on the leash so he just had to get over it - which he did fairly quickly (he was 4 months old). He actually acted worse when we put a sweater on him. We were in the mountains and he was freezing, shivering, acting very cold. So, we went to town and bought him a sweater and he acted like he was paralyzed with it on - wouldn't move at all. When we'd take it off, he'd dash around like a madman. We didn't try the sweater again, but I am sure, just like the harness, he would have eventually gotten used to it. I just carried him around in a fleece blanket whenever he was cold It's not like he's spoiled or anything!!!

07-20-2005, 10:58 PM	#15
Latuya YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Rialto CA Posts: 3,243	Gus hated his harness. What I did was keep it on him for a whole day. He would try and bite it and get his lower jaw stuck. But a few times of doing this he got used to it. He didn't care too much for his t-shirts at first but didn't protest too much. The one thing he hates up to this day is his PJ's. He sees them and will run and hide. __________________ Monica, Proud mom of Gus who is forever missed! And new mom to Leiloni Gus's Dogster page