Collar Warning - Personal Experience

[Jessika]

I can understand not wanting your dogs to wear collars. I don't put collars on my cats after a misfortunate accident that took the life of my Zasper. However if your dogs are not microchipped please make sure to do so! Microchipping is very important especially if you decide not to keep collars and tags on your dog.

Even with microchipping though you should still have tags on your dogs, because different brands of microchips can only be read by specific 'wands', and most shelters aren't equipped with a 'wand' that is able to read every frequency of microchips out there, so it may come up as not having a microchip at all, when you do. So microchops are NOT a replacement for having tags.

I do agree that microchipping is very important, though, and I plan on getting my pups microchipped at the next vet visit.

[Uabassoon]

So microchops are NOT a replacement for having tags.

No matter what you are going to have some people that don't put collars on their dogs, in fact several people here just stated that they don't for safety issues. I wasn't saying microchips should be a replacement. But rather saying that if a person makes the choice not to keep a collar on their dog they should at least make sure their dog has some other form of identification.

[Jessika]

No matter what you are going to have some people that don't put collars on their dogs, in fact several people here just stated that they don't for safety issues. I wasn't saying microchips should be a replacement. But rather saying that if a person makes the choice not to keep a collar on their dog they should at least make sure their dog has some other form of identification.

Oh no I know its better to be microchipped without a collar than have no identification at all, but people often overlook the fact and think that BECAUSE their dog is microchipped that means they don't have to provide proper ID tags, which they should anyway. And I know YOU weren't saying they should be a replacement, but just wanted to get that thought out to the general public to raise a little awareness, I suppose. Because all too often have I heard stories about owners who microchipped their pets and thought they didn't have to have ID tags, the dog got loose and guess what, they never got it back. My neighbor actually adopted a dog from the pound and she DID have ID tags on her, she got loose and they didn't see her for a couple of weeks.. weeks go by and a lady at some shelter calls them and asked if they knew that their dog was microchipped and rightfully belonged to another woman. So they didn't get their dog back, because whatever shelter they adopted her from didn't pick up on that particular microchips frequency.

[AllAmericanPUP]

yea there are collars designed to un clip if something like this was to happen
http://www.keepsafecollar.com/

[shutterbug0303]

yea there are collars designed to un clip if something like this was to happen
http://www.keepsafecollar.com/

hhmm...seems like an interesting design. I've always steered away from collars with plastic clips because they break so easily with strong dogs like the danes. But I like the fact that the metal rings on either side of the clip can be used for a leash.

Something to look into.....

[dukedogsmom]

I'm glad neither of them were hurt seriously. It kind of sounds like a freak accident. I don't have to worry about Duke because he's by himself. Microchipping is a great idea, though. I don't know if I'd be crazy about the collars with plastic clips, either.

[sammy101]

wow glad they werent injured!
If your kids have their collars on,just think of how much fast you'd get your dog back if someone were to find/catch them.They woud have your number on their tag,so that person would be able to call right away,instead of having to take them to a shelter or to a vet.Just a thought .Mine always have their collars on,i get very paranoid when they dont have them on.

[Shelteez2]

I too have witnessed two dogs playing and one getting it's mouth stuck under the other's collar. Not a fun situation at all.

I choose to not have collars on my dogs. They do not bolt and are not prone to running away. In fact I don't even know where my dogs collars are, they jut never wear them.

[wolfsoul]

That exact same thing happened to some people I know. They were upstairs, and heard the dogs playing downstairs. The next thing they knew, there was some growling. When they went downstairs, they saw that Cayenne's tooth was caught on Cutter's collar, and it twisted the collar tight. When they cut the collar off, Cutter was dead -- they had to revive him.

Visa only wears her collar when she is supervised or outside. I worry about the gate unlatching and her getting out, so I always put it on her before she goes outside, just incase. She has a tattoo, but it's on her belly so someone might not see it, and she isn't microchipped because they don't check for microchips here. Collars are the best way to identify a dog here.

I'm glad that neither dog was hurt badly.

[Vette]

Yeeks!
Glad to hear both dogs are okay though.

[lv4dogs]

Wow that sure is scary.

My dogs never wear their collars if I am not present, end even then they rarely wear them unless we are outside. And when they do wear their collars and we are at home I put them on loose enough so that they slip over their heads if need be & I also only buy the quick relese collars (with the clip instead of the buckle).

Years ago Nanook got his tags stuck in the heater vent & he was frantically trying to get free. What if I was not there, worse yet what if the heat was on? It took me a good 5-10 minutes (seemed like forever) and some struggling to get him free.

They are all chipped (well Kaige isn't yet, he's getting chipped next month when he gets neutered.. boy how time flies), they don't wander far from me either & have good recalls too.

Glad everything is ok now!

[gemini9961]

I am so glad they are okay. Yikes.

[bckrazy]

Oh no I know its better to be microchipped without a collar than have no identification at all, but people often overlook the fact and think that BECAUSE their dog is microchipped that means they don't have to provide proper ID tags, which they should anyway.

that's DEFINITELY a valid point, however, collars with tags are not fool-proof either! One of my closest friends had a Goldenx who was wearing his collar and tags in the yard while her Mom was home... he slipped through a hole under the fence, and his collar was snagged on the fence. He was hit by a car on a nearby street before her Mom even realized he was gone. They later found out that AC had picked him up, and because he was badly injured and had no tags or a microchip they euthanized him on the spot. Collars CAN slip off, and tags CAN be broken from key rings. Microchips are permanent, and if you get a chip from a company such as Avid or Home Again that provides free scanners to any shelter or vet, you're very very likely to get your dog back even if the collar is gone.

Gonzo wears his collar with tags most of the time, except for at night, and it's a safety release collar so it would hopefully break off in an emergency. I'll definitely reconsider collars all the time when we get another dog and something like that can happen Poor Sahara and Skye! I'm sooo glad they're ok.