Grey Hound Question?

[FizzGiggs_Mommy]

I was just curious Why do they use the wide collars on them and the Whippet? Is it for extra support on there necks for when the pull? I have always wondered. They are so beautiful and colorful.

[Kfamr]

I've actually been wondering this myself.
I've seen them on other breeds as well.

[Diane FG]

Martingale collars are very important. Greyhounds heads are smaller than their necks, and if they back up they can back right out of a regular collar. A martingale collar tightens if this happens, but doesn't hurt them. :)

edited to add a better, more descriptive answer :)

Martingale Collars

A martingale is a type of "limited choke" collar, which is made to slip on over the dog's head (there are no fasteners). Once around the dog's neck, the collar can lie flat, like a buckle collar, or, with a leash attached, it will constrict to the size of the dog's throat. Adjusted correctly, it will not constrict to a size smaller than the dog's throat. In other words, it won't continue to tighten, or "choke" the dog. It does, however, prevent the dog from squirming out of his collar. In it's tightened position, it will not come back off over the dog's head.

We use this type of collar for flyball training. The dog, in his excitement, can not wriggle free of his collar, and the loop gives you and instant "handle" which disappears as soon as you let go. The other flyball collars I have seen, have "built-in" handles, which I would fear could get caught on something, or have a dog put a paw through them while jumping, resulting in potential serious injury.

These collars are also dandy for agility. The loop eliminates the need for a "tag line" (for those that use them), and it allows for control without danger of choking.

We also use these collars for sled dog racing. There is another type of "limited choke" collar used by the majority of sled dog enthusiasts, but it's probably because they haven't discovered the martingale type, yet. Racing rules require that the dogs not be run on choke collars (for safety purposes). But they get so excited to go that they often slip out of the buckle collars. A limited choke collar answers both problems.

[FizzGiggs_Mommy]

Thank you...I think that was the fastest answer I have ever gotten here at PT less the 1min WOW

If my Bichon keeps getting rounder and Rounder I am going to have to get him one of them he is becoming quite the little round ham;)

[Diane FG]

:D Do I get a star???? lol

[FizzGiggs_Mommy]

Yes you do! I like the idea of that collar sounds very humane. I think I will try to find one for my Boxer maybe 1inch wide

[greysandmoregreys]

As far as the width of the collar I think the reason that the greys and other site hound people use the 1 1/2" and 2" collars is how it looks on the hound.

I don't tend to keep collars on my crew when were at home but went we go out my big boy 90lb wears a 2" and the girls either wear a 1 1/2" or 1". I like the smaller ones on my girls to show off there nice long necks :)

Heather & the hounds

[Denyce]

Oh I am so glad this question was asked and answered so quickly. We adopted a very beautiful husky this summer and have a leather collar on her. I don't like that it has to be kept so snug (I can still get 2 fingers in) so that she doesn't pull out. I will have to find one of these martingale collars as they sound like a perfect solution! Our Sequoia tends to be quite the puller and until we can save up the money for the obedience training will probably remain so.

Thanks so very much!!

Denyce

[Diane FG]

Hi Heather! :)

I don't keep collars on in the house anymore either. Fudgie got hooked on a chair one day and totally flipped out! Thankfully I was home to unhook him or he could have really hurt himself :(

Originally posted by greysandmoregreys
As far as the width of the collar I think the reason that the greys and other site hound people use the 1 1/2" and 2" collars is how it looks on the hound.

I don't tend to keep collars on my crew when were at home but went we go out my big boy 90lb wears a 2" and the girls either wear a 1 1/2" or 1". I like the smaller ones on my girls to show off there nice long necks :)

Heather & the hounds [/QUOTE]

[MomoftheFuzzy]

My boys often go naked too while indoors. They run around like they are gleefully streaking me when they are sans collars. But I will buy any width usually for my boys, although I find I prefer the 1.5" ones the best.

Diane did a great job of summing up the need behind the martingale collars. I am thankful there are so many great collar designers out there, dedicated to making some beautiful martingale collars -- non-greyhound-owners should check out some of the sites since the collars will work on your pooches too. If you want the recommendation of some great sites, PM me (I don't know how much free advertising I'm allowed to do here!) :)

[bckrazy]

Gonzo has a martingale :D I love them. they are so much more humane than an open choke chain... we have a nylon martingale, but they also have a chain variety.

Diane, I use it for agility too! He has a tab too, but no matter how much I would shorten it he somehow gets his leg into the loop :eek: anyway, yep, good answer! and welcome to PT!

[ParNone]

Having Collies with slim heads similar to greyhounds, I use martingale collars on them too, for obedience and walking around the neighborhood. For agility or hiking though, I go ahead and use regular flat buckle collars. Too easy for their collar to get hung on something and I'd much rather in those cases for them to be able to pull their head through. I don't really worry about them running from me, so I feel like the hanging risk is higher.

Par...

[zaylagrey]

:)We use the martingales when we go out but I use a regular nylon collar for their tags. This stays on them all the time. This collar has their name and our phone number stitched on it, just in case, but it is a break away collar.

[zaylagrey]

;) By the way parnone, your puppers are cute.

[ParNone]

Aw thanks zayla! I really didn't think the long nosed breeds were all that attractive, until I got Collies. I've always been a scruffy dog person, hence my lil' Cairnys. But since falling in love with Collies, I find myself drawn to all big schnozed breeds now, including Greys.

Par...

[GreyhoundDaddy]

I think you folks will find that us GH owners are fanatical about our collars... My babydoll absolutely MUST be seen in AroundtheHounds (http://www.aroundthehounds.com) finery. She has a stash of 7 right now with 2 more on the way for Christmas.. but, shhhhhhhhhh dont tell her ;)

[MomoftheFuzzy]

Originally posted by ParNone
Aw thanks zayla! I really didn't think the long nosed breeds were all that attractive, until I got Collies. I've always been a scruffy dog person, hence my lil' Cairnys. But since falling in love with Collies, I find myself drawn to all big schnozed breeds now, including Greys.

Par...

Par, whatever are you talking about... ???

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/NYChrissy/dogpictures002.jpg

Greyhounds don't have big schnozes... that's just ridiculous... :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/NYChrissy/compr529200410715AM3139_TN.jpg

[MomoftheFuzzy]

Here's some collar shots... they are from Around the Hounds (aroundthehounds.com)...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/NYChrissy/dewey04126.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/NYChrissy/dewey04129.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/NYChrissy/pics4020.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/NYChrissy/pictures3122.jpg

:D :D :D

[LW_Aussies4me]

Well I think this has pretty much been answered; but I think that the width is just a matter of preference and what looks good on your dog.
I usually use/make 1.5" martingale's for our Lurcher, Toby; 2" collars just look to big on him...the other dogs have 'regular' collars, but I do use martingales on them occasionally too (usually when working Obedience or when we are just starting Agility, after they know the obstacles they run 'naked'), I like to us 3/4" with them when I can find it since they (Scout and Willow) are mcuh smaller than Toby.
Amanda (Am_04 on GT)

[GreyhoundDaddy]

See.. told ya we love our Aroundthehounds collars :)


http://www.hometown.aol.com/greyhounddaddy/images/all4airedout.jpg

Even in the air we love our collars :)

[galgomum]

There is another reason to use special greyhound/whippet collars.
Because of their long necks, sighthounds are very vulnerable in their neckregion and trachea.
In Europe we use mostly the fishshaped collars.
The wide part protects their trachea.
As you can see in the next picture
http://www.mypetpages.net/artists/1304/0/3fe00f12690933dac9ef95286f654985.jpg

[jcsperson]

The width of the collar has definite purpose---to spread the pressure of the collar over a wider area. Sighthounds often lunge at the sight of a squirrel or cat and can reach tremendous speeds even at the end of a 6' lead. The wide collar cushions the impact on the neck when it reaches the end of the lead.

An analogy can be made with high heels. Would you rather have your foot stepped on by a 100 lb. woman in spike heels or a 200 pound man in sneakers? The woman is putting all 100 lbs. into a 1/2 inch square area and the man's weight is spread over several square inches. She would have 400 lbs per square inch where he might have 20.

[sherpayluvsgreys]

Oh yeah...a beautiful martingale collar is a "right of passage" for most all greys who finally make it to the couch. There are many fabulous martingale collar makers out there. Perform a google search, and that should pull up many!
Here's my heartdog, Marlin!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d737b3127cceb6eebc66208a0000001610

[ParNone]

Ah okay, a lil' nose comparison

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/NYChrissy/compr529200410715AM3139_TN.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v80/ParNone/gullynose2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v80/ParNone/gulloznose1.jpg

Hummm... Yep, the Collie nose is a lil' more impressive. But for the long and cuteness of it, we'll go ahead and let Greys into the club. ;)

Par...

[K9soul]

I have read/heard some theories that at one time collies might have been bred with borzoi and that is when their heads began to get more slender and their noses longer. I know at one time collies looked more like border collies, well maybe a bit blockier. I'm not sure if the borzoi thing is true or not.

[ParNone]

Hi k9soul!

Yeh I've also read that there's Borzoi in the Collie's background. Maybe not as noticable in the Roughs, but you can definitely see somewhat of a sighthoundish structure in the Smooths. I'm not sure if it's true either, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if Borzoi is in their ancestory.

Par...

[zaylagrey]

They do look like they might have a bit of Borzoi in them. Such pretty coloring. I too am a big fan of Around the hound collars. She also has come out with some really pretty buckle collars also. The workmanship is excellant.

[K9soul]

I know this is getting further off-topic but I was curious and did some more looking around, I found several references about borzoi possibly being bred with collies to give them a more noble appearance. This bit was particularly interesting:


Borzoi stock may have been introduced into the early rough collies to give the dog a distinctive appearance. Even today certain borzoi characteristics crop up in rough collie heads. Other sources indicate the Irish setter was used in early breeding - the collie's sable color may be the indirect result of such a cross. Smooth collies may contain a Greyhound influence - smooth collies still occasionally turn up with hound-like traits, and they are much faster than their rough counterparts.

Taken from this site: http://www.petpublishing.com/dogken/breeds/collie.shtml

[My Peanuts]

Originally posted by Diane FG
Martingale collars are very important. Greyhounds heads are smaller than their necks, and if they back up they can back right out of a regular collar. A martingale collar tightens if this happens, but doesn't hurt them. :)



Hmm, would something like that work on a Pug with a big neck and small head? I really don't like Sylvia's harness, but I'm afraid she'd get out of a collar.

[greysandmoregreys]

My mom uses the martingale collars on her Frenchies along with some of her other Frenchie friends.

Don't see why it would work.

Here is one of our friends frenchie Elmo

[micki76]

We use martingales on our terriers for the same reason that grey owners use them - small heads. Chester can pull out of a regular collar very easily.

I would love to find one small enough in circumference, but that would be a bit wider. I haven't ever seen one, though. :(

[Giselle]

The reason why we use martingales has been covered, but I just wanted to add to the collar fetish. Martingales are like Greyhounds. They come in all colors and designs and you can't have just one!!! Giselle only has 2, but hey...It's only been 4 months...I think 2"ers should be reserved for the looong necks or the slender, swan-like necks. 1 1/2"ers are the Looks good on every Grey, imo. Thankfully, for me, Giselle can gracefully sport a 2"er;)

[lovemygreys7]

Around the Hounds makes beautiful martingales (and I believe she does buckle collars as well). Another greyt source is Majestic Collars (http://www.greytgreyhounds.com/majestic/majestic.html)!

Most of our collars are 1 1/2 inches. Tag collars are always 1inch and some of our hounds have some fancy 2incher b/c they have the neck to pull it off.

Here's Hanna saying "BUY ME MORE COLLARS NOW MOM!!!!"
http://greyhoundfreaks.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album02/HannaYell.jpg

[Kfamr]

Does anyone know if they sell them in stores anywhere?
I've really never trusted buying online.. I dunno why but it's just always been a weird thing for me. But, I would like to get one for Nala as she has a fairly long neck and they are reeeally pretty!

I LOVE the polka dot ones on both sites!

[Giselle]

I doubt it. I have trouble finding regular plain 'ol martingales that slip on. Another option may be to find a Greyhound adoption group near you and ask if they sell martingales. I bought Giselle's from our group. You also help the adoption group in the process :)!

[zaylagrey]

Petsmart has them but they're just plain nylon in a solid color.