Brilloluna
New member
- Jul 20, 2014
- 28
- 2
- Country
- USA
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Cricket (2014-) Willa: (2001-2013)
Hi, everyone-
I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for me to use with Cricket. She's recently become more skittish about having a collar, harness, or anything (this includes clothes) put on her. She's never liked clothes- she just becomes dead weight when I put things on her, and then rolls around for a while, trying to get them off. She started doing the same thing with harnesses not long ago. She was never fond of collars being put on. This morning when I went to get her leash and collar for her morning walk, she went and hid under a table. She wouldn't even take a treat until we'd gotten outside and reached the end of the driveway. She was fine for the rest of the walk.. it's the initial putting-the-collar on part that she doesn't like.
It seems her dislike for collars/harnesses/clothes has escalated and she seems to be fearful of them, even though she's never been hit or anything with these things. The only thing I can think of is, she's very sensitive to sharp noises- the snapping of a plastic bag as you shake it out, and sudden noises like that. Could the sound of the collar/leash be triggering this? I don't know..
I've had her for 10 months. I rescued her from the pound at 4 months, so I don't think she has any memory of anything before then.. or does she??
How can I help her understand that collars aren't going to hurt her, and she needn't hide? (her nervousness is worse with a harness, so I really would rather wait on a harness until I can get her to be more comfortable with a collar).
I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for me to use with Cricket. She's recently become more skittish about having a collar, harness, or anything (this includes clothes) put on her. She's never liked clothes- she just becomes dead weight when I put things on her, and then rolls around for a while, trying to get them off. She started doing the same thing with harnesses not long ago. She was never fond of collars being put on. This morning when I went to get her leash and collar for her morning walk, she went and hid under a table. She wouldn't even take a treat until we'd gotten outside and reached the end of the driveway. She was fine for the rest of the walk.. it's the initial putting-the-collar on part that she doesn't like.
It seems her dislike for collars/harnesses/clothes has escalated and she seems to be fearful of them, even though she's never been hit or anything with these things. The only thing I can think of is, she's very sensitive to sharp noises- the snapping of a plastic bag as you shake it out, and sudden noises like that. Could the sound of the collar/leash be triggering this? I don't know..
I've had her for 10 months. I rescued her from the pound at 4 months, so I don't think she has any memory of anything before then.. or does she??
How can I help her understand that collars aren't going to hurt her, and she needn't hide? (her nervousness is worse with a harness, so I really would rather wait on a harness until I can get her to be more comfortable with a collar).