Martingale collars are the best option for new puppies starting to walk on a leash. These collars gradually tighten as they pull on them, which ensures your pup can't slip out.
While a flat collar is best for everyday wear and for displaying ID tags, our experts agree that a harness is the safest option for going on walks and other outdoor activities or situations that might cause your puppy to pull on the leash.
In general, a flat buckle collar is the sturdiest and safest option, Lilly says. “For dogs with any tracheal collapse, airway or blood pressure problems, a collar isn't recommended at all and a harness should be fit,” she comments.
The Best Age for a Puppy to Start Wearing a Collar
So how early is that? A week after your puppy's first round of vaccinations, which happens around 7-8 weeks. That means that your puppy should be getting into a collar around that time, too.
In general, it's better to start your puppy's leash training with a harness and move on to a collar later. This is because puppies tend to pull strongly when first learning to walk on a leash. A collar might push on your puppy's trachea when they pull, possibly damaging it.
Harnesses tend to be more secure: Harnesses are generally better at preventing accidents because they fasten more securely around your dog's body. While dogs can easily slip out of their collars and potentially run into traffic or another person's yard, harnesses offer much more security and safety, says Fox.
Ten weeks old is a great age to start leash training a puppy, though you can start the process as early as four to six weeks of age. By this time, your puppy should be aware of when they need to go out to urinate or defecate. They should also understand when you're happy with their good behavior.
It's recommended that you should remove a dog collar from around their neck at the end of every day. The main reason to do it is for safety in case they catch something on their collar during the night and you're unable to help them.
In general, to protect your pup's neck, Hodges recommends rotating between a few different collars and regularly checking that they still fit well. She also recommends letting your dog sleep at night without a collar to give your pet's skin a chance to air out.
Though it may be tempting to take your pet's collar off when inside your home, it's important that your pet wears a collar both indoors and out. Accidents can happen when you least expect it and it's best to be prepared.
I recommend waiting until they're 10 weeks old.
But by getting them used to a collar and leash at 10 weeks old, they will be comfortable wearing them by 12 weeks when you can start to walk them outside.
Collars/harnesses need to be in good condition, adjusted to fit correctly and comfortable for your dog to wear. A harness is ideal for walking and training your dog as it prevents them pulling on and potentially hurting their neck.
Puppies from 8 weeks old should typically wear a collar during socialization and training sessions, but they may not need to wear it all the time.
Should Your Dog Wear a Collar in Their Crate? Dogs should ideally “go naked” in their crate. This is because dangling dog tags and even collars can get caught in crate bars, creating a strangulation hazard for dogs.
The instant you feel your puppy's teeth touch you, give a high-pitched yelp. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. If your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you, leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds.
Crate training is necessary for when your canine is a puppy—sleeping in a crate at night teaches puppies how to control their bladder and bowels since they don't like to relieve themselves in the same space that they sleep. Kennels are also excellent for the times that no one can be home to supervise your new puppy.
Guidelines for Safe Crate Training for Dogs
It is absolutely fine to lock a dog crate for shorter periods, but the idea is to have a safe, sheltered space, not to use a crate as a cage. Crates are intended to be safe, cosy spaces for a pup to decompress and relax. They must NEVER be used as a punishment!
We recommend at least having them in your bedroom with you in the beginning in either a dog bed or crate. Having your puppy in your bedroom with you will make them feel more reassured. Then, you can gradually move them to where you would like them to sleep permanently.
Show your dog the toy or food. Run away a couple of paces then call your dog's name and say "come" in a friendly, exciting tone - getting down low can also encourage them to come back. As your dog comes to you, gently hold their collar and either feed them the treat or let them play with the toy.
Modified 5-Minute Rule
One of the most popular answers to how long a puppy should exercise per day is 5 minutes for every month of age, twice a day. This means an two-month-old puppy should get 10 minutes of exercise twice a day. This is a good starting point, but not all dogs are the same.
It's not safe to take your puppy outside until they've had their second round of vaccinations. This is because they aren't immune from diseases such as parvovirus, which is a highly contagious condition that can cause lifelong heart problems and even death in young dogs.
The Slip Collar, which is similar to a Martingale Collar, is one of the gentler training collars. It tightens around your dog's neck when they pull but doesn't choke them like a choke chain collar. The martingale or slip collar is meant to be worn high on the dog's neck, just below their ears.