I was looking at the Knot-a-Collar as well as the matching Knot-a-Leash lead.

Was just wondering if anyone had used any of their products before.

Thank in advance.
b.

I do not have experience with the specific products you are looking at, but I do have experience with ruffwear. Mixie and Soshanna both have the Ruffwear Palisades pack. We bought from REI. They have lasted a number of hikes that have tested their durability. I've been very happy with the nearly 200 that two packs cost me.

I own all the RW collar and leashes, along with most of their other products, so...

Knot-a-leash is great and sturdy, but is only 4' and also is very rough on your hands if you have to grab your dogs leash lower to pull them back or hold them closer (if your dog is a puller and you like to reel them in or heel them often, your hands will not appreciate this leash). I much prefer the flat out leash- it has a traffic handle at the bottom, the fabric comfortable, I feel as secure with the clasp on it as the carabiner on the Knot-a, and it is a bit longer. Also awesome to wear as a belt leash (though much shorter than the roamer leash) and convenient for if you ever need to hook them to something.

Knot-a-collar is great if you are planning on just using it for tags and not walking- it's what my dogs wear. It hangs nicely and upholds wear relatively good, though not as well as their top rope. However, you can't exactly "fit" this collar on your dog to where it is snug enough to walk on it since how you adjust it is sort of a PITA and you can't really adjust it easily once it is on the dog (so it has to be able to slip over their head). If you are wanting it just for a nice looking tag-holder, sure, but if you want to use it with a leash, I don't recommend it at all. If you're looking for a collar to walk on, go with the top rope.

Also, your dog will not be able to fit in the knot-a-collar for a while. It only comes in a medium at the smallest. I have a medium for my female, who is a petite husky at 29lbs, and the collar is EXTREMELY loose on her at the tightest setting (https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/390349_4983233986917_141004495_n.jpg this is her in a medium, and I can stick both my hands inbetween her and the collar and slip it over her head with no effort). Your dog will not be able to fit in a medium until full grown, and if she ends up on the smaller side, not at all. It's not an issue with it being about 2 inches too big on my female since I have it loose hanging on both my dogs anyways and I use it purely to hold their tags incase they ever were to get loose and it hanging low is nicer since mine grab eachother's necks, so they're not going to get it stuck in their mouth hanging so low.

Heather,
I am sure I am just permanently biased by my experience, but I would be super nervous to have so much slack on a collar. I almost lost one dog, and the other is permanently damaged, from a collar getting loose, and my dogs liking to play by biting at the neck. Oddly, I just relived it today, telling the story, and then you posted this. I'm probably just a worrier about it because the 1 in a million freak accident happened to my dogs, but still..

I looked at both of these for Freya, but like Eric, I'm not a fan of collars.

I'm a harness girl myself. I prefer the security of a harness, having multiple buckles and securing around a larger portion of the body.

I too have had a dog slip his collar and if he werent old and overweight he would have gotten away from me. It was a scary event, one I wish to never experience again.

Also, I worry about pulling nad doing damage to their necks. I've got a anti-pull harness that corrects Freya's pulling.
She walked well as a small puppy on a regular harness, but once she got some bulk behind her she began to pull. Every time I took her for a walk my shoulders would ache for days.

She now has a sporn halter http://sporn.com/training/sporn-halter/ and walks like a perfect little angel on it.

You know, it wasn't even a slipped collar..
Mixie got her lower jaw between the collar and neck of Soshanna, and they managed to twist so that one loop of collar was strangling Soshanna, and one was cutting up Mixies mouth.
A sharp knife saved my dogs life.
They only wear collars on walks now.

OMG, I am seeing a mental image of this. How awful. Thank goodness for quick thinking.

For me it's collars on walks that freaks me out. They scare me. I feel I have more control if they're wearing a harness. I'm considering a belt that her lead can attach to so I have both hands free if anything happens on a walk.
Freya's lead is made of bungee cord so it has an extra pull resistant feature to it as well.

.... How does that have any relevance to my post and how my dogs wear their collars? I am not nervous and have no reason to be. I don't use their collars for anything but tags and as I stated specifically, the collars hang low enough to where my dogs do not have their teeth/mouth on it while mouthing each other by the neck since it rests more towards their chests, as you can see in my signature... Plus, my female's collar would slide off even given the event of my male's teeth or mouth getting stuck and tugging. I certainly know when something is safe or not with my dogs. There is no worry with how Rogue's collar sets on her. I HAVE experienced a dog getting stuck on Koda's collar around 4 years ago, which was an incredibly unpleasant situation for both dogs, and absolutely avoid anything that would ever risk such an accident from happening again, and have done successfully for 4 years. The structure of this collar in and of itself would be 100x more unlikely of getting snagged on a tooth than your normal fabric of a collar.


Regardless, this topic is about the inquired products, not what I choose to do with my dogs as I do not need advice on that, so it does not need to be discussed on this thread.


This person may very well just be looking for a tag holder rather than a leash to walk with. As I said, that collar is definitely not a recommended one for walking with how it has to be fitted, I'd definitely suggest the top rope collar over it if you want a walking collar (if your dog walks nicely) and also prefer the flat out leash to the knot a leash.

Okay, approach it like I'm criticizing you, that works, too.

Well, I suppose if I said Mixies tooth had gotten caught in the collar, I would understand why that's what you're assuming had to have happened. No, in fact, it was the collar being loose that caused the problem. There was room for Mixies Jaw to get under the collar, and the collar twisted and created a loop around Mixies whole jaw, which also became far too tight for Soshannas neck, due to the loop that was created by the loose collar twisting while Mixies jaw was stuck in it. Mixie got stitches for a torn cleft, her teeth were fine. Soshanna almost died from strangulation.

So, to answer the question of how it relates, its about dogs with loose collars, that play by biting the neck.

Do you feel that you do more to ensure the safety of your dogs, than I do mine?
Are you such a superior owner of dogs that you couldn't possibly experience an accident?
Is it so recommended that dogs wear loose collars, that it is absurd to offer anecdotal evidence of why that can also be a bad idea?

I can assure you that you don't, you aren't and it isn't, and that it is very much the attitude you come off with in that post.

Oh, and I felt it was relevant to the thread, because if that person considers a loose collar based on your testimonial, they should have access to the conflicting testimony as well.

What you do has no relevance to what I do with my dogs. Whatsoever. This thread was someone asking for reviews on products. Nowhere did I ask ANYONE to give ME advice or suggestions about collars on what to do with my dogs. I do not need it. If I wanted your advice, or anyone's, I would ask for it. I'm not approaching you like you are criticizing me, but no, I don't need you pointing out something I do and telling me to be weary.

It does not relate. As I said, I didn't ask what you thought about me having my small female wear a loose collar since that particular style doesn't offer a small. I would just letting the OP know that they would not be able to fit a young husky in a knot-a-collar if they want a proper fit. I did not say the collar is a very loose fit. I said that you can not adjust it tight enough with ease considering there is no buckle and you have to have it wide enough to slide over their head, and it is extremely difficult trying to tighten it once it is on their neck to where it's not even worth getting it if you want it to be tight enough to where it will not slip while walking. I said your dog will not fit in any of the sizes yet, as I personally have my small husky in a collar too big for her but it is not a concern to me personally because A. I don't walk her on it and B. My dog's only mouth the very top of their neck by the throat.
I said head/teeth. I originally spoke just of teeth getting snagged as I was replying on my iPad before Freya's owner and yourself made additional replies and did not read them til after.

If the OP wants to get the collar, and I assume they'd want a proper fit, the loose commentary does not even apply to her unless she wants a collar that is big and hangs low intentionally like I did with my girl.

Did I say that I do more to ensure the safety of my dogs? No, I did not. I said you need not worry about my dogs' safety, I do that myself very well. I am obviously not the most superior dog owner of all time who experiences no accidents, considering I listed that my dog had a collar incident as well and that I am very cautious about making sure that it does not happen with my two. I never said it was recommended to wear lose collars- please tell me where I said that- I said that that collar WILL NOT FIT HER DOG UNTIL IT IS OLDER, that my smaller female has a medium and it is huge on her fullgrown, and recommended a different collar to her over the knot-a-collar.


This is the internet. You can read what I write with as much attitude as you like. Anyone on here can tell you it won't bother me. I really don't care what attitude you think I come off with within my post, and you should really take a look at your own attitude before worrying about mine. You worry about how you come across on here, I'll worry about myself. I'm not on here to impress you or anybody else with my glistening personality. I approached a topic and answered the question asked since I have those products, and then affirmed that I am NOT the one asking for advice so it does not need to be given to me when someone expressed concern. I do not come on here for advice for my dogs, never has been my purpose of being on here- I post to keep in contact with people I have met and occasionally answer questions I feel like I can contribute to.
And, obviously, cure myself of boredom at 4AM by wasting my time with people I don't need to explain myself to whatsoever. Keep in mind, I am not getting offended or defensive. I just have nothing better to do right now.

I will say again, this topic is NOT about me and really didn't need to turn into a personal argument with me, so if you feel the need to write more, feel free to send it in a PM I will not read. I am really sorry to the OP for this and I will already warn myself for my bad behavior.

Lady, I don't give two fxcks what you do with your dogs. I wouldn't offer advice to you. I never once voiced my concern for your dogs, only that I would be nervous to let my dogs collars be loose, which I am nervous about, and don't do. I didn't tell you to be weary, because, as we covered, I don't give two fxcks about what you do with your dogs. The only reason I said heather, was because it was in relation to something that you said.

The point of the anecdotal evidence was to provide a reason why someone wouldn't want to let a collar be loose, which, since this collar is too big for the OP's young husky, it would be loose, if the OP still chose to get that collar or a similar design. If you can't see relevance in that for a dog owner that isn't even sure what leash and collar to get, that's on you. I had already commented that I like the brand Ruffwear. I just wanted the issue with loose collars addressed. If it prevents an injury, its worth it to mention.

No need to hate on someone for helping, period.

Quote :

This thread was someone asking for reviews on products.

THIS!!!!!!!

Can we get back on point and helping the OP instead of an epeen contest?

Quote :

Lady, I don't give two fxcks what you do with your dogs. I wouldn't offer advice to you.

Watch your tone. Again this WAS to be an informative and helpful thread for someone asking a simple question. Though this got out of hand very quickly, for a topic it never should have mind you, replies like this offer nothing constructive AT ALL.

Again get back on point please.

~Chris`

Okay, let me try this again with perfect clarity, and a load of false charm.

Bryan and Julia,
I have some experience with Ruffwear, and, while I do not have direct experience with that particular leash and collar, I thoroughly enjoy the products I do have by them, which are two of the Palisades dog packs.

Heather's post seems to have very detailed info about that particular product, so hopefully you will find more information there.

One thing to be cautious of, wether it is a walking collar, or a tag collar, is leaving the collar loose. While it works great for some people, and their dogs never experience any problems, loose collars can cause a ton of problems. One loose collar almost killed one of my dogs, and caused permanent damage to one of my dogs, in one single incident.

A walking collar should be fairly snug. The rule I was always taught is that the collar should be just loose enough to slide two fingers, stacked, between the neck and collar. It should slide under easily, without slack, or choking the dog.

Ruffwear has many collar options, the top rope collar suggested by Heather is an excellent collar, so long as it is available in a fitting size.

I can't say anything to Ruff Wear's particular collars, but overall their products are great and very sturdy. The only reason I haven't tried out one of their collars is because they aren't as pretty as some of the collars I've gotten off Etsy

Your pup is adorable, by the way!

Thank you,

Discussions and difference of opinions are going to happen. It is the nature of the beast. As long as the opposing views are articulated well, well thought out, and presented in a calm and clear manner there is never a problem and we encourage it.


When it degrades into a pissing contest and the tone changes from an informative stand point to one of confrontation and, for lack of a better term, a personal argument it no longer helps the OP. In cases like this take it to PMs or chat and leave it out of the forums is all we ask. Let's help people when they ask simple questions....


That being said :

K9_Eric wrote:

Okay, let me try this again with perfect clarity, and a load of false charm.

Eric,

There is no reason to use a snarky or sarcastic phrasing, or even go out of your way to get the last word on this. You could have said a lot more by simply letting the topic correct itself with no further input and conceded the pointless bickering.

Show some maturity and dignity in future posts and leave the attitude at the door. It has no place on a forum devoted to dog behavior, health, and training.

I'm leaving it at that.

~Chris~

I have gotten ruff wear leashes the flat out leash and roamer leash I like these.

I make my owne collars is why I have tried the collars. I like the looks of the Knot-a-collar an leash was trying to figues out how to make one like it

I am also curious if anyone else uses the Knot-a-collar for their dogs. I came across this site a few days ago and I really liked the looks of this collar. I only use their collars for their tags, not to walk them. If anyone has this collar I would be interested on how well they liked it.

I am also looking at their leashes. I liked the knot-a-leash because it matches and I like the clasp on it, it seems more secure than others. However I think I prefer the Flat Out leash because I heard the it is more comfortable, plus it has the traffic lead on it. Any reviews on that would be great!

Thanks

I have these for my two:
http://www.backcountryk9.com/279/0/Products.aspx

However, I do not attach a leash to this collar.

When I need to leash my two, I use a martingale collar:
http://www.amazon.com/Premier-Pet-Collar-Medium-1-Inch/dp/B000JD1PUW/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1356103016&sr=1-3&keywords=martingale+dog+collar

I prefer the martigale because it slips over their head, and when walking on a loose lead, it wears loose. If they pull, the collar will cinch to prevent them from slipping out or backing out.

Ok, so, from what I gather, the collar is great for tags/show, but not for walking. The leash is too short. But, overall, Ruffwear makes some pretty bad@$$ shiz!! Awesome. Good to know. Thank you for the information everyone, the good and bad.

I love all that is RW cant go wrong and its last for a long time so worth the $

The only product I would say to steer clear from in the RuffWear catalog is the basic boots. Their basic pair of 4 is far nicer than what is even practical and costs 70 bucks.. If you get boots, go to a sledding outfitter. Alpine Outfitters is my boot supplier, and I get 100 basic, sturdy booties for 200 bucks, and a pack of 4 is only $10.

Even then, I suppose when you only have to shoe 4 feet, you might find it worthwhile to buy the Vibrams of the dog footwear world, which is what they are.

Have you seen the AKC brand collars? I believe they have them at Petsmart.. The color choice is all a little "fancy", but they are very well made, and very comfortable. Those are what I started buying for the more trustworthy of my dogs. I prefer them to anything by RW, though RW is still a great product to choose

Someone mentioned a martingale collar, as well. I keep a Martingale on Panzer. I have a few different kinds. The all cloth one is great, and I use it on Panzer with great success, as she still startles easily, and tries to flee the scene. If you're dealing with a stubborn dog, the cloth collars with the chain cinch are a nice way to go, since they wont feel as bad as a choke chain, but you still get a nice quick correction, with a chain pulling sound.

We have a number of products from Ruffwear, including the knot-a-leash and knot-a-collar.

Like Heather, we just use the collar for tags and let harneses do the work on hikes, runs, and walks. I am very happy with the durability of the collar, and I really like how it looks on Brewer.

In regards to the knot-a-leash, we have two of them...one of the originals and one of the updated model. We really like having the carabiner, though some owners have reported that the locking mechanism can start untwisting over time. At only 5ft the leash could stand to be a bit longer, but we haven't run into any issues to date.

We also have the top rope collar that Claudia provided a link to, and we couldn't be happier with the looks and durability. Using metal instead of plastic for the buckle is a very nice touch!

I use the knot a leash all the time and I like it a lot. I personally don't find it to be too short. I really like it because, while it can hurt your hands to grab, I like that better than grabbing a flat leash for some reason. I think that's probably just me though.

Also, the carabiner is really handy and I love it because you can quickly attach it to them.

Tika wrote:

Eric,

There is no reason to use a snarky or sarcastic phrasing,

Oh shoot does that mean we now have a King & Queen of snarky-dom.