Kodi has nearly outgrown his "starter" puppy collar and it's time to move up to the next size. I am wanting to get the Lupine Combo (Martingale) collar based on feedback I have seen on this forum. He does have a tendency to pull (sled-dog mode) any time we leave the yard. In the yard, he is fine.

For those of your who have the Lupine Combo, do you take the collar off when not on leash (i.e. in the crate or playing around the house)? Should I be looking to get a separate collar for tags?

SInce he only really pulls on walks out of the yard, the other option is to get a basic flat collar for the yard (and tags) and to start using one of the front-load harnesses during walks. I am planning to do some bikjoring when he's old enough, so was thinking to not confuse with the two different types of harnesses. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

I have the martingale combo collars and use them when I don't feel like putting their harnesses on. I do not use it as a basic collar, but that is because I have two dogs who wrestle and pull eachother's necks a lot, and I had an experience at Koda's first daycare with a dog getting stuff on his collar which had no buckle and it was a nightmare. It wouldn't be that big of a deal for you since you only have Kodi. You can also look into getting a mendota lead and walking with that- I know Kristina primarily walks them with mendotas and I will walk mine with that as well if I am too lazy to get the leash and collar.. yeah, I'm really, really lazy.

But generally, I walk my dogs in the omnijore harness I use for biking, hiking, snowshoeing, etc, and they still know it's NOT time to pull and they actually walk nicer for me in harness than just a collar (they walk fine both ways, but Rogue doesn't do her zipzagging in harness when we first start our walk like she does with a collar).

I wouldn't recommend keeping it on, as he could possibly get caught on something an accidentally choke himself when it constricts. I love the combo collar for walks though!

I may get one to try out for his walks. I've been wanting to get one of the Ruffwear collars for his tags -- now that he's big enough to wear the skull name tags. My 17.4lb ferocious puppy!

I'd wait til he is 6+ months to order a Ruffwear collar. The dog's neck has to be like a minimum of I think 14" to fit in a medium. I had Rogue in a small til she was 8 months! But she's also tiny so a small didn't look weird on her ever being so thin.

Heather! wrote:

The dog's neck has to be like a minimum of I think 14" to fit in a medium.

He's already up to a 12" length on his first collar. At the rate he's growing, he will be in a 14" before long.