Danger of collars and harness
 

Hello,

I'm new here at YT and I got to tell you what happen tonight. We bought Chloe 6 weeks ago and just like any puppy, she gets into everything. A couple of weeks ago, my daughter Caitlin had let Chloe out to potty with a leash and it was hooked on to her harness. The clasp on the leash didn't hook very well and Chloe ran off. I was crying and so upset. I was driving around the neighborhood screaming Chloe, Chloe and had all my family and parents looking for her. I finally found her and she was so happy to see me. She was trying to find her way home. After that, I had a name tag made with her name, address and phone. We have always used a harness to take Chloe to potty. She would bite on her harness and we tighten it up. She would get that in her mouth and it would be tight then she would start to gag. But I wanted her to be safe by using the harness. I bought a small collar to put on her to use for her name tag. We have never had any trouble and put the collar on for a week now. Tonight, We just got home and it was raining outside, and she did her business. We brought her in and I started to blow dry her. She was fine until I went to put her down, and she had gotten the collar stuck in her mouth and the name tag was going down her throat. Mind you this collar was tight. Some how she got that collar stuck and started to freak. She couldn't breathe and I couldn't get her to calm down to help her. I started screaming....she's choked, she's choked to my husband. I told him to run and get the scissors. The collar was wrapped around her head so tight and locked into her mouth. She finally just quit moving and I thought that was it for my baby girl. We finally got the collar off and the name tag fell out of her mouth. The lord was with my little baby Chloe because this could have happened when she was in her crate when we weren't home. We breathed some air into her and now she is ok. She was so scared and so were we. She laid into my arms for over 1 hour. Please make sure your furbabies don't wear a collar of any sort and if they wear a harness, make sure it's tight and snug because they still can get that into their little mouths. I have a harness vest that attaches with velcro. I am going to use that from now on. I have 6 harness vest on order and never thought this would have happened before I could get delivered.

Thanks for listening,

Denise

Wow. I'm so sorry that happened. I'm glad she's ok now though. And thanks for the warning.

Yicks!
 

How scary! :eek: I'm so glad that everything is OK. Both mine wear a harness and I have their name tags attached to the harness.

I'm so sorry that happened. I'm sure you are all exhausted after such a scare. I read of quite a few bad things happening with the collars and tags getting caught in vents or fences, but that is the first I've read of one in that situation. We have a member here who lost her little yorkie when the collar got caught in the xpen. If I remember right, she was probably jumping up and down and the collar caught and she was found hanging that way. It just broke my heart. I'm glad you were there and acted quickly and avoided lots of heartache.

i've been concerned about this so I only put on her harness when I take her out of my residence or if there is a danger that someone might let her out of the house (i.e. a good number of people are hanging out here and most likely are inebriated).

that might have to change once she is housebroken and gets free reign over the house. the cat is not going to like that!

None of my 3 wear anything while we are home and they are in the house or the yard...(We have a wall all around) They only have harnesses and use them only on walks with us....They aren't even allowed in the yard without supervision...We do have a built-in pool and they go in and can swim about 4 feet to the steps, but never, never without one of us outside...They have fallen in the pool even with us watching them...Like I said, they swim, but sometimes they're 20 feet from the step and that's a loooooonnnggg doggie paddle....We also do a head count going in and going out...1...2...3.... ! safe;)

I am so sorry this happened but so glad that you were gone. I have a similar story with a collar when lola got her bottom teeth caught in the collar. Her mouth was wide open and she was freaking out. Great thing I was home because if not, she would have choked on the collar. Of course I no longer use the collar on her.

:yorkietal Welcome to YorkieTalk, Denise, Hubby and Chloe :yorkietal

Oh wow! What a scary experience. Thank you for sharing with us. I am so very glad that Chloe is ok.

Glad she is ok. That is so scary. Mine only wear harnesses when I take them out somewhere. which isn't that often. I let them out back in a fenced off area but I am always with them.

WOW! I am so glad you were there to help her. Mine are all micro-chipped, because you never know what may happen. And they wear harnesses when they are on a walk. I have the leather harnesses for walks and I just bought some material ones from friends here on YT. After hearing your story, I think I am going to use the material ones when we leave the house.
Thank you so much for sharing this story.
Bobbi

WOW! That is scary, I am sorry you had to go through that! I am glad she is okay.

Oh, and WELCOME TO YT!!!!!!

Dog Collar Tags
 

I prefer to use a collar tag that attaches itself to the collar around the neck.
It does not hang. It is of stainless steel and it has the best engraving I have seen. It won't scatch or fade off. I found these at Boomerang Tags. I found found these to be the best. Here is the link:

Boomerang Tags

Thanks for sharing! How scary for you and Chloe.

We only use harness' and have one of them microchipped, still need to have Bella done. Another option is to attach the tags to the D ring on their harness's. They make removeable attatchments so you can move it from one harness to another easily.

Im so glad she is ok.

We have both a collar for their tags and harness for walking BUt we Never ever leave them on them once they are home. I have heard to many bad storys on both.

What a scare! I am glad that Chloe is okay.

Wow that is so scary, I am glad you little one is okay now. Thanks for sharing and I'll be sure to be extra cautious with the harness, thanks again!

Glad to hear the little one is ok. I can only imagine the fear in you. Generally only has his harness on for going out. He has managed to chew it and I am now looking at harness vests for him.

I am glad your little one is okay. How scary! :(

I am glad to hear that everything was ok. I use a collar with a name tag on my boy. It is a break away collar for cats. So far it has been fine. One time he got it caught on some bushes and it broke right off, that was when he was about 8 months old (he is now over a year). Since then he has had the same break away collar. On his tag I have my home and cell number, and it also says "need meds" even though he doesn't. He is also microchipped. So hopefully I have everything covered, but you never know.

Not eating now
 

Hello everyone,

Chloe has not felt very good today. She will not eat. I don't know, due to the accident if her throat hurts or her jaw/mouth. I was reading on YT about regular food given to yorkies and I gave her a few tiny tiny bites of american cheese. She did eat that. She hardly will even drink water. I'm just such a worried mommy.

What do ya think?

Denise

We used a harness when we first got Maggie and she chewed it off! After reading all these stories about how unsafe they can be, I am worried about buying another one. I'm wondering if maybe a cat collar might be better, the ones with the safety feature?? Has anyone tried one of those? We've always owned large dogs and never had to worry about this.

You may need to take Chloe to the vet. Explain to the Dr. what happened and your concerns.
I would be worried about dehydration and any injury she might have sustained . I am glad you were there and were able to free Chole. :aimeeyork

Ali, I didn't see your post before I posted my question about this type of collar.. I think we will try one for Maggie and see how it goes!!!

Denise, I hope your little baby is okay.

Wow, what a horrible experience. We have a Buddy Belt harness and because of the way it goes on, Joey can't get it in her mouth, also the tags are in the back. I think you could be right, and she hurt her throat. About the water drinking, dogs don't always look like they're drinking water, but they sneak a drink now and then, so maybe when you haven't been looking she's had some, is she still peeing? Let us know how she's doing.

The bad thing about break-away collars, is that you can't use them with a leash, they break away too easily, but there good for around the house.