Fitting & Using A Canny Collar

step 1

Fasten the Canny Collar around your dog's neck, ensuring the buckle is positioned just behind his ears at the back. Fold any excess collar and tuck it under the lip of the buckle. The Canny Collar should fit higher up the neck than a conventional collar, as shown.

step 2

A snug fit is essential with any dog head collar to ensure that it cannot come off your dog whilst walking. Test the Canny Collar by trying to pull it off your dog's head whilst facing him - if fitted correctly, this should not be possible.

step 3

Pull each end of the thin nose band behind your dog's head and attach your lead to both 'D' rings at each end.

step 4

Pull the nose band through the small yellow plastic guider at the front of the Canny Collar and place over your dog's snout. With some breeds, it may be easier to do this before attaching the lead. Take care not to twist the nose band before placing it over your dog's snout.

step 5

Ensure you leave the plastic guider under your dog's chin. This is absolutely vital. If this plastic guider is not kept under the chin, the Canny Collar will not function correctly.

step 6

When your dog starts pulling on the lead, apply gentle backward pressure. Instant release of the pressure occurs when he stops pulling. This pressure and release system is the key to using your Canny Collar correctly as your dog trains himself to stop pulling.

step 7

When letting your dog off lead, the Canny Collar can be left on him by removing the nose band from his snout and pulling it out fully. Cross the nose band behind his head and drop it either side of his head as shown.

step 8

Bring the D rings together to meet underneath his chin and use one or two of the optional carabiner clips to secure the D rings together. Never fasten your lead to the carabiners.

When walking your dog, your lead should be kept short but loose so you can control him quickly and easily. An extendable lead, or similar dog training equipment, is not recommended for use with the Canny Collar as the nose band may not remain in place on your dog's snout.

Walking with a Canny Collar

Put the Canny Collar on and go for a walk immediately. Keep your lead short but loose when walking and aim to have your dog in the 'heel' position. Using a shorter lead will make this easier, around 120cm length is ideal. Give him plenty of vocal praise when he begins walking well.

The first time you put the nose band over your dog's nose, he may resist it and try to paw it off his face. Any head collar will cause this reaction for some dogs. It is similar to the feeling we have when wearing a wristwatch for the first time - some dogs are simply not used to it. If your dog reacts this way, try desensitising him first by introducing the collar slowly, then building up to going for a walk.

You should continue walking so that your dog focuses on the walk rather than on the Canny Collar, lifting your lead when he paws at it and verbally encouraging him to follow you.

When you first start walking with the Canny Collar and getting your dog used to wearing it, you will have to pay attention to him during the first few minutes to make sure he is keeping his head upright, that the Canny Collar is loose around the mouth area and that the lead is long enough to be loose but short enough so that the nose band does not move towards the front of his nose and fall off.

These first couple of minutes are an opportunity to connect with your dog and be focused on training him to walk well. The first five or ten minutes are the most important part of the walk for both of you and if you can get your dog walking well in this time, the rest of the walk will be a breeze.

Keep your lead loose when walking

Once your dog is walking, instantly lower the lead to release the pressure on the Canny Collar (you should also let him have some more lead here) and give him plenty of vocal praise whilst keeping walking. He needs to know that at some point in the walk, the pressure will be released; otherwise he may just continue to pull against it.

Repeat this action if again he tries to remove the Canny Collar. Because the lead is connected behind his head, he will not be able to get a paw over it and bring the walk to a stop. Nor will he get the Canny Collar off his head if the lead is kept in the correct position. Sometimes you may need to let the lead out if he drops behind you, bringing it back in again once he catches up.

Once any initial resistance to the Canny Collar has stopped, continue walking your dog for a short distance and then stop and give him plenty of praise.

Use treats or clicker training if your dog responds well to these to accustom him to the Canny Collar.