How Young

Question:
 is too young to start putting a collar and a leash on a puppy? I have an 8 week pom and will be taking her to the vet on Saturday. I bought a small nylon collar and leash and thought it would be a good idea to start using it. My fiance says that she's too little yet to begin that. Thoughts/suggestions appreciated.
Answer:
 What you need first is a trailing leash, something very light that she can get just used to having on, so initially she can walk and trail it, with your supervision of course. Harnesses are a good idea, they don't choke so much if she pulls and are adjustable so she can grow into it :)
Answer:
 No trailing lead - too risky and if it gets snagged and the pup caught up she could panic, hurt herself and become leash afraid.... Here is how I teach leash work in my classes. and you can use the same for a harness. This is right out of my manual: "1) WALKING ON A LOOSE LEAD This is the same for both puppies and adults. If your puppy or even adult is leash shy (pulls back, fights the lead and tried to escape), do not pull, yank or anything! At the end, this issue will be discussed along with getting a puppy (or even adult dog) used to wearing a collar and lead. Leash up the dog and give a happy “Let’s Go!” and start walking. If the dog goes in one direction, you walk in the opposite direction and SAY NOTHING. You need to TURN OFF. You do not want to follow the dog as this puts him in charge of the walk and in charge of you. When you feel the lead go taught, stop and walk towards the dog. If he starts to walk away, silently go in another direction WITHOUT DRAGGING, if you feel the lead go taught again, STOP. When you come up to the dog or the dog decides to follow you and gets right where you want him TURN ON, pay attention to him, give some treats and change direction. If the dog walks with you, is next to you and not pulling, pay attention to him. The moment he starts to walk away, turn off and get boring. If the dog walks up to you or even accidentally hits the spot you want him in (like he is just walking past you), turn on, give treats, talk to him happily and get fun. When he turns away, turn off. If he walks away from you, change direction. If you feel the lead get taught, turn and walk towards the dog or stop and give the dog a chance to think about what is right. What you are doing is using the dog’s natural desire for fun things to teach him fun and good happens when he is walking next to you. When he walks away, things get boring. He has the length of the lead to decide to walk away or return to you before it gets tight (he self-corrects when he makes the wrong decision, your turning towards him gives him a chance to make a decision that will get him something good). There is no leash yanking, dragging, yelling, no prong collars, etc., this can be done on a flat buckle collar or martingale (“greyhound collar) and should be as you are not trying to correct the dog into walking with you on a loose lead but giving him incentive to learn proper leash manners. When he is good at this with limited distractions, gradually increase the distractions. Remember, the more distractions, the harder you have to work to be more interesting than the rest of the world. You are allowing the dog to learn leash manners without punitive methods. The dog learns that when he is near you, good things happen. When he is away, you shut off. No punishing, he just gets nothing. Most dogs love attention and will do what they need to in order to get it. Practice this on long leads and your regular lead (regardless of the leash length, the concept is the same). If your dog starts pulling, turn off, walk in the other direction and turn on only when he is where you want him. The more you practice, the better the dog will become. Do several short sessions a day and even when out and doing fun walk, use these techniques (even if it means your whole walk is spent going in circles, if you do not teach that proper manners apply at all walks, the dog will not learn good leash manners). Again, you are using the dog’s natural desire for fun and attention as a reward (or punishment when you turn off and grow instantly boring) in order to teach that loose leashes are FUN! REWARDING NOTE: Make sure you give the treat ONLY when the dog is next to you and make sure you reward the dog where you want him to be. Do not get lazy and start giving the treat in front on you. This will encourage the dog to swerve in front of you and you could trip and hurt the dog or even yourself. Remember, dogs will do what we show them is correct. If we show them wrong, they will learn it wrong. PUPPY NOTES: Puppies may bounce and jump (even some adult dogs may do this). When this happens. Do not yell at the pup to get off, push it down, knee or anything. Simply stop, turn off and wait for the pup to get all four on the floor (or ground). Now, softly and calmly start again. If you rev up too much, the pup may get out of control. If you are too calm, the pup may get bored and start to pull away. Reward the pup only when walking with all four on the floor. PULLING BACK/LEASH RESISTANCE: If the puppy or even adult dog has a fear of the lead and starts balking and yanking back as soon as it is on STOP. Give the pup a moment to relax and make a game. Lead the pup with treats and toys and make the lead seem fun. Make him forget the lead is even there. If the owner pulls against the lead, drags the pup or dog, or generally increasing anxiety is counter-productive he may create a dog that really hates leashes. Leashes are needed for safety and the law in many communities. Make the lead fun and the pup will begin to accept it. COLLAR DISLIKES: Puppies are not born accepting collars. However, they will learn that if they dig or scratch at it enough or act up that human will take it off. We can inadvertently encourage collar aversions. So, use a soft collar, flat buckle, and as soon as it is on the pup start to distract the pup. Get him to forget about the collar. Every time you see him start to go after the new thing on his neck, distract him and have him forget about the collar. "