To require collar or no collar... this is the question

[ketters12]

My husband thinks we need to start making tobey wear a collar with his tags on it in case he gets lost. But he HATES it on. I just put his harness on for walks which he is fine with because it comes off when we get back home. Opinions? I mean if he did get out the door, he would be a totally unlabeled pup. maybe getting him microchipped would help? Also, i don't know if i want the jingling sound around the house.... hmm

[mistyinca]

Definitely get the collar and tags. Chloe wears hers 24/7. Microchipping is great in addition to tags, but your tag is going to be the first thing someone looks for if your dog gets out.

[MyFairLacy]

I would definitely get him microchipped. Collars and tags can come off but a microchip is permanent. I think your baby would eventually get used to a collar. It just takes a little time to get them used to it.

[Gracie2006]

I personally don't think it is safe to leave a Yorkie unattended with a collar on. Gracie only wears hers with tags on it when we go out for a walk. She also uses a harness for her leash. She is micro chipped. There are little tag silencers that you can buy to stop the tag noise. I have so many tags on Gracie that she does not jingle at all!

[ketters12]

Yeah, maybe I should clarify...When he's in the house, he is naked in a sense, nothing on except fur. When we go out, he has his harness on. the worry my husband has is if he would accidently get out the front door sometime, he'd have nothing on. but i don't know if i should make him wear one all the time "just in case" I think if he were a bigger dog, i'd feel different. but when we first got him we had him wear a collar for two weeks and he did nothing but scratch at it and try to bite it.

[Akhong]

I would suggest using a very thin collar for him. My Tobi hated his collar at first, but it's grown on him. The collar we currently use for him isn't meant for when we put him on a leash..so we also use a harness when he goes out. Give it a try..it's super cheap too...we got ours for under $3.00

[mistyinca]

Originally Posted by ketters12

Yeah, maybe I should clarify...When he's in the house, he is naked in a sense, nothing on except fur. When we go out, he has his harness on. the worry my husband has is if he would accidently get out the front door sometime, he'd have nothing on. but i don't know if i should make him wear one all the time "just in case" I think if he were a bigger dog, i'd feel different. but when we first got him we had him wear a collar for two weeks and he did nothing but scratch at it and try to bite it.

If the collar is put on properly, there is no danger. It should be put on so that there is no more than two fingers (laying flat) space between the collar and the neck.

Not all vets or shelters have scanners. I think of a microchip as a back up plan.

[Catrina]

Princess wears a collar 24/7 and always has since she was a pup.. so shes used to it...tobey will get used to it eventually dont worry

[MomOf10]

I am sad to say I just lost a little doggie, he was trying to get out of our fenced in yard and his collar got caught on the fence and he chocked himself to death!!

[sweetr72]

My Reecey and other two dogs wear collars at all times with their name tag..not their rabies tags though as the jingle can get a bit annoying..I would suggest both and try a breakaway cat collar if your worried about safety..

Dawn

[rhiannon80]

I believe they should wear collars w/ tags plus microchipped! My Sweet Pea can wear a collar fine, My Tommy on the other hand always manages to get his collar into his mouth! Very scary! So he only wears his collar when we go outside together, to the beach, etc. Just in case he slips away! Plus make sure that if you do have tags that you keep the numbers up to date. My dogs have their vets number and our cell number!

[FirstYorkie]

As you can see, this is a tough one. There are arguments both for and against keeping a collar on him.

When Joey was a puppy, I considered the risk of him getting out/lost to be greater than the risk of him choking. He is micro-chipped, but sometimes people who find dogs don't go to the trouble of having them scanned.

Now that he's older and doesn't run out of the door or fence when they are accidentally left open, I don't keep a collar on him.

You gotta weigh the risks for your puppy and your situation.

[ladyj]

Originally Posted by ketters12

My husband thinks we need to start making tobey wear a collar with his tags on it in case he gets lost. But he HATES it on. I just put his harness on for walks which he is fine with because it comes off when we get back home. Opinions? I mean if he did get out the door, he would be a totally unlabeled pup. maybe getting him microchipped would help? Also, i don't know if i want the jingling sound around the house.... hmm

Yes, do get him microchipped. That's permanent. Both of my dogs are microchipped and wear their collars when I'm home, but I remove them when I'm gone. The chances of them getting out are nil when I'm gone, but the chance exists when I'm home and might go in and out. I also keep an x-pen in a semi-circle around the front door so you can go in and out without them getting to the door. You can get a break-away collar that will come off if it gets caught on something. They will custom make collars, too, I believe. http://www.breakawaycollar.com/ I don't have the break-away collars, but think they are a great idea. Lacy and Cosmo are Bichons and they wear rolled leather (round) collars that don't break their hair/fur. They wear harnesses for going outside. I never attach a leash to their collars. I think a harness might be best if you want to leave it on all the time. Even if a harness got caught on something, it wouldn't choke the dog. My granddaughter's Yorkie has a pink harness that she wears all the time. She's a real cutie!

[ellie81]

Of course the best answer is having him microchipped and wear a collar when going out. But, the dilemma here is if she should have him wearing the collar 24/7 in case he gets out of the door by accident. Some people have their dogs wearing collars all days, other say it is dangerous. I think it is most dangerous when you leave the dog with collar in a crate, but I'm not sure what are other things that might be a possible hazard. Anybody has more ideas?

[Shadow's mommy]

I have Shadow's tags on his harness. He wears it all the time in and out of the house except when it's bed time. This way, if he does get out, he has his tags already on his harness and if it does get caught on something, he won't choke. Just my opinion cus I don't like collars. It works for us!