Hello everyone,
   
  I have two Huskies [we will introduce ourselves formally in time, rather I will introduce us as their paws are too big for typing...though they can spell ]

Anyway, I have a problem with my girl slipping her collar, she has done it twice (as well as a harness once - a "no pull" harness...it was donated to the Humane society that day). My boy has also slipped his collar however it only happened once.

The plan was at first to get another martingale collar for her. This is what came with her from the SPCA, it worked well but I didn't like that it pulled tight (I did not, at the time..realize how they worked) so I abandoned it in favour of a very expensive think leather collar in a nice shade of blue. However this has stretch and given way - the buckle holes stretch into a big one - and, as a result, she can now slip her collar fairly easily...especially if she gets scared.

I also have had to move into a new house which does not have a secure backyard, so as a result my dogs have to be on a tie out when they go out to the bathroom etc. I tried with a leash but they like to roam around.

I was not sure on the martingale for a tie out (Note: I never leave them alone on it ever...its just so they have the freedom to, well..poop wherever they feel they need to.

So they plan then became Get a harness, which I did I purchased two webmaster harnesses from ruffwear - which work out well...though my boy needed a big harness which highlights his stealing food from my girl and getting chubby problem - but that is another story/problem. I had him first and never adjusted or checked how they ate after I got my girl, and apparently i didn't notice his weight gain, and as a result i feel foolish and now we are working on that problem.

However, back to the collar.

I purchased the harnesses for them thinking I would get them each a knot-a-collar, as I think they would look good on them - if you can see it on my woolly boy that is..and use them for holding their id/lic. etc only (not to be used to secure a leash). and use the harness for anytime they needed to be tethered, be it leash or tie-out. However I have found sometimes they just don't want to get into the harnesses quickly and so bathroom breaks turn into quite the chore.

So I went out and bought two top rope collars, also from ruffwear.
These seemed great, however I put them on and they immediately seemed to be bothered by them, it looked to me like the big metal clasp being up tight against their necks was causing them discomfort. It is neither too loose, nor too tight in my opinion, it passes the two finger rule. Now I am wondering if anyone else's dogs reacted poorly to these collars? Am I just being overly concerned about it pushing against their necks? Both have the buckled type now which is significantly smaller than the large metal clasp on the top rope - and the buckle leather is all they have known, so I guess it may be possible that it's just new to them and they would get used to it?

Another question..
I also, was thinking - after seeing a couple of mastiffs in the dog they had two collars on at the store today, both were wearing two collars - a knot-a-rope for id/tags etc (like I was thinking) and martingales (silverfoot was they brand they told me - and both were gorgeous - and the website has some beautiful designs) is having two collars on at once ok? I never did ask if they took them off when they were not walking them.


I guess the questions boiled down to it are:

1. The opinion of people on the buckle/clasp of the top rope collars - My dogs do not seem to like it and it is a lot of metal pushing on their throats...Am i over-reacting/will they get used to it? But neither of my dogs seemed to like it, but i only had them on for approx. 3 mins before i took them off as they didn't like them..at least that's how it seemed.

2. Are martingales an effective collar for them to be put on a tie-out (always watched) so they can do their business - and possibly the occasional quick walk when I don't use their harness.

3. What are peoples opinions regarding having two collars...one for Id/tags and the other for walks/tie outs..martingale/top rope etc...) Is it best if using two like this to remove the walking/tie-out collar when not in use or can they wear two at once?

4. Is there something (product etc.) that I am missing or should look at in regards to collars?

I may seem possibly a little bit over zealous in regards to collars, but my girl who was a rescue dog has a history of getting away and I don't want to lose her...so ultimately the harness is the best idea...but when they gotta go...they sometimes really gotta go...



Thanks everyone who reads this - for indulging me and my dogs.

Ron, Brenin and Akira

I have had really good luck with a limited slip collar, specifically an Alaskan collar from Nordkyn.
http://www.nordkyn.com
Adjusted correctly, the dog can't slip out.
My dog has gotten out of when he comes back from the groomer, who puts it back on way too loose after bathing my dog. Now I check and tighten the collar before I leave.

I love whitepine collars.

http://www.whitepineoutfitters.com/catalog_category.cfm?queries_index=index6&title_bar=Soft%20Web%20Collars&ProductCode=1

I literally leave them on my dogs at all times as tag collars. We use slip leads for walking in which I don't want them to pull.

I too use the White Pine limited slip collars. Great for discouraging pulling and I've never had one slip their collar. I use mine all the time for walking them, though I do not keep them on in the dog yard as I find with the 12 they tend to get chewed off. I personally do not use anti-pull harnesses as I do work my dogs in harness and I want zero confusion between expectations. Collars mean no pull nice walk time, harness means pull business time.

I use Tope Rope Collars on my dogs 24/7 and they have never had issues with them, and they're also outside on tie outs with those one, so no slipping issues either.

Jennet&Embry wrote:

I use Tope Rope Collars on my dogs 24/7 and they have never had issues with them, and they're also outside on tie outs with those one, so no slipping issues either.

In the picture of your dogs it appears, at least to me, that the metal clasp is not in the front part of the dogs throat but possibly to the side? It's just that, and i tried again i can feel the collar pushing on my girls throat...and it bugs her, at least seems to, but again i guess it could just be because it is new to her...she didn't like the webmaster harness either...put it on and she proceeded to lie down and look at me and not move....my woolly doesn't seem to mind it but looks funny with the poofs of hair sticking out everywhere...

UrbanHusky wrote:

Jennet&Embry wrote:

I use Tope Rope Collars on my dogs 24/7 and they have never had issues with them, and they're also outside on tie outs with those one, so no slipping issues either.

In the picture of your dogs it appears, at least to me, that the metal clasp is not in the front part of the dogs throat but possibly to the side? It's just that, and i tried again i can feel the collar pushing on my girls throat...and it bugs her, at least seems to, but again i guess it could just be because it is new to her...she didn't like the webmaster harness either...put it on and she proceeded to lie down and look at me and not move....my woolly doesn't seem to mind it but looks funny with the poofs of  hair sticking out everywhere...

When he has his tie out on, it doesn't sit on his throat, but when he's just laying around the house without a leash or anything attached it always lays on his throat, but honestly we don't stick to the 2 finger rule, mine wear their collars very loose otherwise they mat really bad on their necks.