Do not risk your dog’s life.
Do not put pressure or force on a dog’s throat.
Ways dog collars pose risks to a dog’s life.
- Collars can catch on crates, fence wires, wooden decks, and other dogs’ teeth.
- Any dog that wears a collar may be strangled by it.
- Dogs suffocate when hanging from the collar. They risk dying from a lack of oxygen.
- Certain dog breeds have pre-existing problems, which make them more likely to get chronic bronchitis or a collapsing trachea.
- Yanking on a collar jeopardizes dogs’ lives.
- Small dogs and toy breeds are most likely to suffer a collapsing trachea, but they are not the only dogs which do.
Four things to avoid when a dog is wearing a collar.
- Never yank on the collar.
- Never chain or tie out a dog by a collar.
- Never leave a dog’s collar on when he is alone.
- Do not let a dog pull against his collar.
Other Health Risks From Collars
- Injury to the muscles in a dog’s neck
- Fractures to the bones of a dog’s spine
- Damage to a dog’s vocal cords
Dog training and the use of collars
Visit Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue
They advocate the use of quick release collars vs. buckle collars. They urge you to prevent choking and accidents to dogs with quick release collars and remind you, “Always remove your dog’s collar before you leave.”
Need help choosing collar options for your dog?
Visit Boxer World on Different Types Of Collars. This webpage displays good photos and explanations of different collars and harnesses “The best type of collar is no collar. Many trainers feel that the best training collar is no collar at all. If you start training on a collar, the dog may learn that it has to obey *only* when the collar is on. Collars are, at best, training tools – and at worst, crutches.” Julie Michaels http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/view_different-types-of-collars.htm
Dog Training And The Use Of Collars
Kirsten Frisch is a dog trainer in Northern Carolina. She dubs her work with dogs as falling into the category of being hands off or force free. She is an Alaskan Husky lover and a sled dog trainer.“Collars: No matter how strong or thick-headed your dog is, don’t let him pull you by his collar. He needs a harness. He can really hurt his neck and spine by pulling you and your bike via his collar.” Find Kirsten’s blog The Gentle Canine at http://www.gentlecanine.com/
Dog Sports Enthusiasts Beware When Biking Or Sledding With Your Dog
Visit Kirsten Frisch’s Alaskan Husky blog to view a proper pulling harness.http://www.alaskan-husky-behavior.com/bikejoring.html
I strongly suggest that you protect your dog’s health by using a harness or head leaders while walking your dog on a leash. And yes, we trained our dog Sydney not to pull on a leash, to heel, and to walk comfortably with us. For his safety and health, we never hook a leash to his collar.
For ID purposes, Microchips are best because if your dog gets lost without his collar and dog tags, you will get a call from the nearest animal shelter. My dog came already Microchipped to the shelter that rescued him. I know if Sydney ever gets lost and is turned into animal control or a shelter, I will get a phone call indicating where I can pick him up.
PETLVR COMMUNITY Alog and Forum Dog Collar Dangers http://petlvr.com/blog/2009/05/19/dog-collar-dangers and http://petlvr.com/blog/2009/05/19/dog-collar-dangers/http://www.ygrr.org/doginfo/safety-collars.html
What do I use? A collar or harness on my dog?
I use a harness on my dog, Sydney. He gets excited, so a harness is the safest way I found to keep him from impulsively jerking on a collar.
Sydney is also an escape artist, flexible, and foxy. Here is a fun post on another dog escape artist. He kept getting out of his collars, so his parents got him a harness.
Cynthia Eliason says
When you want your dog to pull, have him wear a pulling harness. If you don’t want your dog to pull, TRAIN HIM to walk on a loose leash attached to a collar. Training collars used properly are not dangerous to dogs. The greatest danger dogs face is lack of training.
dogleadermysteries says
Cynthia, thanks for your comment. Yes, dogs need training. Walking on a loose leash makes walking safer and more enjoyable for the dog and his person.
I disagree with the statement “the greatest danger to dogs is lack of training.” I’ve seen dogs fall from the back of pickup beds and hit pavement. I worry for anxious dogs tied to trees by collars, staked out in public with no shelter or water. Each time I see people yanking their dogs necks, I feel sad.
This is why I write for dog and animal welfare.
Jarrett says
Your post, No More Death By Collar | Dog Leader Mysteries, is really well written and insightful. Glad I found your website, warm regards from Jarrett!
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks, Jarrett, for reading and liking this post. I hope you will share it with others to save their dogs’ lives.
carolyndewrance says
Thank you for this blog, I also love dogs, and have written a whole book about my life with them on my blog. maybe one day you will get time to take a look at it. Some funny times and some sad times but all completely true stories.
dogleadermysteries says
Oh, Carol, thanks for visiting and letting me know about your blog. I look forward to reading it.
Tara Gamblen says
What you’ve said is so true. I made the mistake of leaving a collar on my 2 GSD’s when they were about a year old and one nearly broke her jaw when it got caught under the other dog’s collar when they were playing. If we hadn’t been right there, I shudder to think what horrible injuries she could have suffered. Since then I’ve told all my friends and people that ask me that they should microchip their dogs for identification in case they get out of yards, but never leave a collar on 24 hrs a day. When we walk them, they do have collars with tags for quick ID in case they accidentally get lose, but use harnesses to control them.
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks for sharing your story, Tara. Glad to hear that you did not lose your dog to a collar accident. The more stories we share on this topic, the more dogs we will spare from suffering from choking or a broken neck.
Brooke says
The first time I walked my GSD on a harness, I took her down to the creek on a long line. After a long time exploring the woods, we went down to the creek so she could get some water. While perched on a rock and bending down to drink, she slipped and soon had her whole front half underwater. I was so grateful for her harness that day, that I could pull her out without worrying about scaring or hurting her more. I dread to think what damage pulling her out by her neck would have done – she’s not small – 75 pounds, at least. I love harnesses so much!
A few years later, we welcomed a Catahoula into our home. They get along swimmingly, but used to both wear collars, until they got tangled up and the Catahoula nearly got strangled when the GSDs jaw got caught on her collar. They are now “naked dogs” who only wear harnesses on walks. We do have collars for them, for ID if we go somewhere special, but they might as well not have a d-ring for the leash.
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks for sharing your frightening experience with my readers. I am glad you could pull your dog out. We had a similar experience with Sydney, when he misjudged a steep cement pond edge and slide under deep water. He dislikes getting wet, so we know he fell in, not jumped in.
I am collecting stories to add to this page and theme for 2013. If you would like this story included, reply here, so I may send you my email address.
Kristina Stanley says
I am a BIG, BIG, BIG believer in harnesses for dogs instead of collars. Most pest stores allow you to bring you dog into the store. I bring Farley, my 4 year-old wheaten terrier, with me when I buy him a new harness. I try them on in the store to make sure I get the best fit. There are different shapes and sizes. I use one type for running with him. It holds the leash away from his body. I used another type for sailing. It’s connected with metal and not plastic, so tougher if he gets launched while attached to his tether. Great article. Thanks for posting.
Brooke says
If you want to include my stories, feel free! 🙂
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks, I will. If you have any photographs of your dogs, even newer dogs in your life, I did love to be able to add them to your story.
ianmooremorrans says
First of all, thanks for liking our post in which we are blogging a children’s chapter book entitled: “Jake, Little Jimmy and Big Louie.” We hope you will continue to follow the story. Secondly, we enjoyed visiting your blog and will check back again. This post about harnesses and collars is timely for us. We (both seniors) have a fairly new adopted senior Shihpoo named Misty, 20 pounds, who has not been able to go for walks with us the last six weeks as Gayle has had a hip replacement and Ian has severe neuopathy in his feet. Luckily, Misty has a nice fenced-in back yard to run around in. Gayle hopes to get back to walking with Misty but is anxious because Misty likes to pull in her harness and go faster than Gayle is able to. Some friends are recommending a choke collar but we are reluctant to get one. Misty is 11 years old and has never had training so just wants to run when she gets out for a walk. Any suggestions on how we can control her walking speed?
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks for writing to me. Please never use a choke collar, you would injury your dog.
Before walking a high energy dog, play inside with toys, reinforce all training with bean sized healthy treats (cut up sweet peas, pieces of leftover chicken). Play hide and go seek, I have explained that under my games category. If you have stairs your dog can climb do that too, not too fast.
Then settle down and read your dog a story. This calming time brings heart rate down.
Be sure your dog knows you have more yummy treats as you get her ready to walk on a leash. Always reward for looking at you when you say her name or when she sits on the leash inside. Then take her outside for short 5 or 10 minute training. Only let her run fast in a safe and fenced yard, dog park, etc.
Let me know how this works for the next few weeks, okay?
ianmooremorrans says
Thanks for this advice. I, Gayle, am now up to walking Misty, albeit not too fast. I have taken along treats and am trying to teach her the word “slowly” so that she will slow down when she wants to speed up and tries to pull me along. I stop and hold her harness tightly when she tries to speed up and then release it to start and reinforce “slowly” so that she will walk along nicely at my pace, then praise and reward her when she does. It seems to be working but so far needs a lot of reinforcement. We’ll keep at it and I’m sure she’ll learn to keep pace with me. Your advice is appreciated.
dogleadermysteries says
Excellent.
Yes, when you hold her and let her settle, letting her feel how firm;y you lead her, Misty is beginning to look to you more and more for guidance, bonding and food treats. Keep up the good work!
Deborah
PS. I love it that you wrote to me a second time.
karmaquinta says
Do you have any tips on how to encourage a dog to walk on a harness + lead? We have adopted two strays . . . they are never on leads, but for the long term they need to learn this skill. One of them, when I put a harness and lead on him, he just sits down and will not move. He is very small. Any suggestions – I have tried treats, cuddles, praise etc., but he just sits there. Many thanks for your help.
dogleadermysteries says
Oh, I had a dog like that. She would do everything I ask, but the instant I put on her leash, she sat down!
I suggest you try clicker training with tiny tasty treats.Be sure he loves those treats. First watch a Youtube load the clicker video, there is one on this blog. Once the clicker has your dog going ape to please you, sit, down, stay, etc. then add a harness on the floor, get him to stand in or on it. Click and treat. Move on to click when he sniffs or touches the harness, then do the same with the leash.
Write again when he loves his walking gear. Thanks for asking a GREAT question.
cdog5 says
So glad to read this important post! I to always remove our dogs’ collars when they’re at home, in the house, and this is a good reminder why that should be done. Thank you for this important message!
dogleadermysteries says
Thanks for reading this Debra!
I believe in halters. Too often I see dogs being hauled off or lifted, choking by collar. I plan to write more about this issue and set up a simple Google survey to gather the numbers of dog lovers who have seem this type of abuse .
Plus I want first hand observations of those who saw a family pet begin strangling or choking on a collar. I have, and have NEVER forgotten my guts churning in horror.
CJ scherrman says
Just lost my boy Floyd yesterday to a collar n chain hanging on wooden fence he had gotten the chain loose real heart broken wish I hd seen this before…
Deborah Taylor-French says
How upseting and tragic.
I am so sorry you lost your dog to a collar and chain incident. If you want to share a photograph or some thoughts or feelings about your dog, I will share them here. Sometimes, it helps if we focus on the happy times before we lost a pet.
I hope you will share this post and this life saving information with other dog lovers to spare them this heartbreak.
Gine Oquendo says
Three years ago I used dog collars. But no more, not since my beloved Tagger died because there was an accident in the park. Now I never put collars on my pets. I don’t want to feel the grieving process and the pain as at his cremation. That was my first time to experience to pet loss. Please refer to this link: https://thepetlosscenter.com/our-locations/seattle/
Deborah Taylor-French says
Oh, Gine, so sad to hear of the loss of your beloved Tagger. Glad you use harnesses now on all your pets. I do hope you will share this danger of collars with other pet lovers. Thanks for leaving a note. Sorry for getting back to you so late, left town for a while and did not check my blog.