Coat
Grooming & Handling · 18 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to enjoy having a coat put on and taken off.
This plan is written for coats with front and back sleeves; however, it also works for jackets without sleeves, including life jackets.
**Puppies:** Getting your puppy happy about wearing a coat is wonderful socialization during the puppy window (around 4 to 16 weeks), when puppies learn what is safe and normal in their world. Because a young puppy usually has no fear to undo and soaks up new experiences fast, you can often run this plan in **proof mode** (proof levels 1 and 2, the harder review steps) so your puppy breezes through it faster than an adult dog might need. Keep every rep positive and let your puppy set the pace.
**Split:** If Your Dog is frightened of their coat, start the plan on the first split. It can also help to start with a new coat they do not have a negative history with.
Training steps
Pair the sight of the coat with treats at a distance
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the coat from a distance and then surprise them by tossing a generous handful of tasty treats their way so they do not have to approach it.
Success: Your Dog eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pair the sight of the coat with treats
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the coat, then surprise them with a generous handful of tasty treats. Do not approach Your Dog with it. Stay where you are and encourage them to come and get the treats so they are choosing to approach the coat themselves. Between reps, sit with Your Dog without feeding them and with the coat hidden. This contrast will have Your Dog thinking “where is that coat? I want to see it again because it makes great stuff happen!”
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put the coat on the floor and sprinkle treats around it
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, pick up the coat and put it on the floor, then sprinkle a generous handful of tasty treats onto and around it. Back away so Your Dog can get close and find the treats without any social pressure.
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure to approach the coat
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold out the coat high enough for Your Dog to walk underneath it and lure them to approach you with it. Feed them a treat, step a few feet away and repeat.
Success: Your Dog approaches the coat.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure to put their head under the coat
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold out the coat high enough for Your Dog to walk underneath it and lure them to put their head underneath one end. Feed them a treat, step a few feet away and repeat.
Success: Your Dog puts their head under the coat.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure to walk under the coat
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold out the coat high enough for Your Dog to walk underneath it. When they are directly underneath, feed them a treat, step a few feet away and repeat.
Success: Your Dog walks under the coat.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch back with the coat for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog to walk underneath the coat, feed the lure and then touch it to their back for 1 second before quickly feeding another treat.
Success: Your Dog stays still and eats the treat.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch back with the coat for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog to walk underneath the coat, feed the lure and then touch it to their back for 3 seconds, feeding treats the entire time.
Success: Your Dog stays still and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure nose into the head hole
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog's nose into the hole and feed treats continuously for 3 seconds before pulling it off.
Success: Your Dog puts their nose into the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure head into the head hole
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog's head into the hole and feed treats continuously for 3 seconds before pulling it off.
Success: Your Dog puts their head into the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Lure head through the hole
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Lure Your Dog's head through the hole and feed treats continuously for 3 seconds before pulling it away.
Success: Your Dog puts their head through the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put head into head hole
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold out the coat as if you will put it over Your Dog's head, but instead wait and see if Your Dog approaches and puts their head into the hole on their own without seeing food first. Feed through the coat opening from the other hand.
Success: Your Dog puts their nose through the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Fade the lure
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Hold out the coat as if you will put it over Your Dog's head, but instead wait and see if Your Dog approaches and puts their head through the hole on their own without seeing food first. Feed through the coat opening from the other hand.
Success: Your Dog puts their head through the hole.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on the coat with a loose fit
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Size the coat to fit loosely, then hold it out for Your Dog to put their head through the hole, and once they do, give them a treat. Then begin to put the coat all the way on, one sleeve at a time, giving treats throughout the process and again while you are taking it back off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the coat to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put on the coat
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Size the coat to fit properly, then hold it out for Your Dog to put their head through the hole, and once they do, begin to put the coat all the way on, giving a few treats throughout the process. Once the coat is on, Push to the next step to begin walking around in it.
Success: Your Dog approaches and allows the coat to be put on.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with it on, feed every 2 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the coat on Your Dog and walk around your house, feeding a treat every 2 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the coat.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with it on, feed every 4 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the coat on Your Dog and walk around your house, feeding a treat every 4 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the coat.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Walk around with it on, feed every 6 steps
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Put the coat on Your Dog and walk around your house, feeding a treat every 6 steps.
Success: Your Dog is relaxed in the coat.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Congratulations! You now have a dog who loves their coat and happily volunteers to put it on.
Use plenty of high-value treats on the first few walks and keep the positive association strong by giving Your Dog a treat every time they put it on for a few weeks.
If Your Dog starts avoiding their coat, that's completely okay! Simply Drop back to a step they're comfortable with and work through the plan again or restart the plan with proof steps. Go at Your Dog's pace and do as much training as they need.