Leash/Harness Training

lkclark · Jul 1, 2014

About how long/how many outings does it take for a Frenchie to be accepting of his collar/harness?
I've been putting Bear's collar on him on-and-off for the past week, and he can ignore it during playtime, but frequently sits to scratch at it.
He is also not fond of his harness during walks, and will similarly sit to scratch at that too.
It makes him look flea-bitten! Lol.

Amassre890 · Jul 1, 2014

Same issues here lol

eeturk · Jul 1, 2014

Hudson never got used to the collar. I always felt like people were eyeing me since he would itch so much. I wanted to say "I promise he doesn't have fleas!!" He just ended up liking the harness way better and doesn't mess with it much. It took him about a week, and like I said he never did get over the collar thing. Now if I throw it on to take him out really quickly he doesn't itch it (he's 7 months old).

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davidh · Jul 1, 2014

Usually takes a week or two for them to get used to them.

Daves Mum · Jul 4, 2014

Dave is 14wks today and i just put his harness on him twice before taking him out, the first time he spun round and round as if wondering what was holding him lol, but not a problem, I don't use a collar at all.

coolcat46 · Jul 4, 2014

Yes I use the easy walk harness but must say it doesnt make the walk any easier...lol My frenchy wants to do what she wants to do!!!
I have heard that a collar if they are pullers, pull a lot, can do some damage to their throat

Alice Kable · Jul 4, 2014

I start putting a harness and a collar on my babies when I get them at 8 weeks. I don't leave them on at home, but always when we go someplace. When I hitch a leash to Buster's harness he just pulls more, so I hitch to his collar.

Julie Stevenson · Jul 7, 2014

I start leash and colar training as soon as they come home. It's best to start young. Both my boys don't mind the leash or collar or harness. Both took to it within 2 days. Guess I'm super lucky or maybe it's because I have the behaviorial background training knowing how to get them walking with it. Who knows, maybe a combo?

Frenchiemom · Jul 7, 2014

I only use the soft Puppia brand harness on my frenchies. I started both of them with a harness as soon as I got them home. I only use the harnesses for walking/outings, so they know when they see it come out they are going "byebye". Neither Bonnie not Clyde will walk on a leash with it attached to their collar. My vet also advised me against using a collar for walking due to frenchies chocking. I basically only use their collars as ID tag holders and I keep them loose enough where I can comfortably fit my finger between the collar and their neck

hopefully this helps

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Cbrugs · Jul 8, 2014

Frenchiemom said:
I only use the soft Puppia brand harness on my frenchies. I started both of them with a harness as soon as I got them home. I only use the harnesses for walking/outings, so they know when they see it come out they are going "byebye". Neither Bonnie not Clyde will walk on a leash with it attached to their collar. My vet also advised me against using a collar for walking due to frenchies chocking. I basically only use their collars as ID tag holders and I keep them loose enough where I can comfortably fit my finger between the collar and their neck

hopefully this helps

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Jax only wears a collar for ID tag purposes as well and a harness for when we go on walks.

lkclark · Jul 8, 2014

Cbrugs said:
Jax only wears a collar for ID tag purposes as well and a harness for when we go on walks.

Yeah same here.

Julie Stevenson · Jul 8, 2014

Frenchiemom said:
I only use the soft Puppia brand harness on my frenchies. I started both of them with a harness as soon as I got them home. I only use the harnesses for walking/outings, so they know when they see it come out they are going "byebye". Neither Bonnie not Clyde will walk on a leash with it attached to their collar. My vet also advised me against using a collar for walking due to frenchies chocking. I basically only use their collars as ID tag holders and I keep them loose enough where I can comfortably fit my finger between the collar and their neck

hopefully this helps

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I LOVE the soft Puppia harnesses...I have one of those too. The other one I like is the Gooby harness. It's very comfortable and they make a mesh one that I use for our beach outings. I need to order one for Batty he is growing so FAST! I also don't use the leashes on the collars very often. I almost always use the harness on my boys. They do have collars for their tags and I also keep them LOOSE around the neck. I can fit 4-5 fingers under them. One finger is still to tight in my opinion. But do what works for your babies.

eeturk · Jul 8, 2014

Cbrugs said:
Jax only wears a collar for ID tag purposes as well and a harness for when we go on walks.

Same with Hudson. We also have the Puppia harnesses. Love them!

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TeresaW · Jul 8, 2014

Pierce does not care for the collar either, and scratches at it constantly. He had no problem at all with the harness. Now, if he sees it, he will do his happy dance since he knows it means a walk. I got the Petco brand mesh harness and it fits him perfectly. I got the small size for him when he was around 9 or 10 weeks old and still has plenty of room to grow seven weeks later.

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