To Wear a Collar or Not To Wear a Collar

[LIL MIS' MAGIC]

I do not keep anything on the girls when I am not around...too many things can happen to them (hanging, getting stuck)...so they have tags on their harnesses and we are going to soon get them microchipped!! I figure if I am not around, there is no way anything can happen to them for them to get out....but that is my opinion....I say you should do what makes you comfortable!!!

[Brutus'mama]

I never use a collar. Brutus doesn't go out much but when he does I use a harness. His neck is so small that I get scared he'll hurt himself with a collar.

[klogan]

My big boy Stomper always has a collar on (except at bed time!). Since he has access to the backyard (doggy door) during the day when I am at work...I would hate to find out he got out and did not have a collar on! Therefore, he always wears one during the day.

When I take him on a walk, I put a harness on instead.

[jenefor]

Gidget ALWAYS has her collar on.....I have had to chase her down the streets several times and have been glad that she does have her collar on incase I didnt catch up with her......she plays outside and in the bushes and has never had a problem...it has a tag with her name and # on it and then the reg tag from the city....I don't know how other citys are but in ours if the pup doesnt have its tags on even in its own yard you get tickets

[tartisst]

I have collars with tags for both of my dogs. However, when Coty escaped from our yard he was not wearing one. I am so heartsick and beat myself up everyday, because if he had it on, all of my information was on it and perhaps it would have made it more difficult for the thief that picked him up to keep him.

Without saying, Tyson now wears his collar all the time when he goes out the door-- no exceptions! In the house he doesn't wear one. I've just read about too many horror stories about small dogs hanging themselves. Remember poor Mocha?

[Rex'z momma]

i always have his harness with his rabies n identifiction tags on

[shelbysmom]

Originally Posted by Saragp

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, have their tag on them!!! You just NEVER know what could happen. You could open the door, the dog could run out and be gone! ALL my dogs have tags, big & small. And if someone or something were to let your dog out when you weren't home, at least they have a tag on. They do make safety collars for dogs that will release when pulled on. I would rather have an unhappy ALIVE dog with a tag, then a missing dog who can't find it's way back. You can even get their/your name & number embroiderred on the collar instead. But PLEASE put some type of ID on your puppy.

where do you get such a thing? i have searched for this and can't find any that will fit a small dog. even the ones for cats don't fit.

I think the reason most people don't put a collar on is they prefer an alive lost dog vs. a dead one.

I have been trying to do what is best since getting Shelby and I am still confused! Right now I keep a step-in harness on her all the time with ID except for when she is home alone in her pen. then she is naked.

[jwash]

I'm ashamed to admit it, I do not put collars/tags on mine because they are in my arms, a doggie carrier and I don't have to walk them because they have a fenced in 1/4 acre dog park all their own. However, someone recently posted they were ticketed in NY right by their home because their dog did not have tags on. A large sum as I recall. Mine are microchipped as well. I doubt Lacey could have tags around her neck, she is very tiny around the face/neck and small boned too. But I am thinking about putting their tags on their harnesses when I go out with them, just to be safe.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Both Hefner and Chai wear releasing breakaway cat collars with bells so I know where they are in the house at all times. I use a harness for when we leave the house and neither of them is ever let outside without someone with them. Ava is too little for a collar.

[Erin]

Loki wears a collar with his tags all the time. When we go on walks he wears his easywalk harness AND his collar (both fit in different places). He is microchipped but this is the fastest way to identify him if he got loose. Plus, my neighbors have told me that our cops give tickets for not having the rabies tag and it's silly to put his collar on every time i take him out (on a leash) to potty. Loki is 7 pounds so he's not a "tiny" and we can treat him more like a big dog. If we are home and he is in his cage I leave it on him because his wire crate has such big holes he could not easily get caught. He is always in his crate when we are gone so he can't really get into any trouble, but i take it off then just so I don't worry. He sleeps in his collar but he sleeps with us so there's no issue there. It truly doesn't bother him. He even gets excited when I put his harness on because it means we are going for a walk or to obedience class!

The only thing he has EVER caught his tags on was the a/c vent on the floor and he got himself free. I was right there and he was not hurt in any way, just confused!

One question though, can't they have a smaller rabies tag for small dogs? I'd pay a little more. His tag is HUGE and has two holes??

[txshopper73]

I do not put a collar on my babies. If we're going out, I use a harness but to me, their necks are too delicate for a collar.

[mybirdys2003]

I am really on the edge about this one. I don't put a collar or harness on Snoodles except when we go for a walk. When we go camping, I put both her collar and harness on, as both have identification and one has a phone number and the other has her rabies and Id #. I know she should have identification on her, but I am afraid she would get hurt. By the way, her collar is a cloth cat collar that you can put on and put the little catch on any place. She doesn't leave my sight ever! She is too attached---won't let me out of her sight! But, there is always the chance that someone could come in the gate and leave it open! EEK! However, she is never out without me. In the morning, she goes out alone, but I stand by the door until she is finished, and she runs right back in. Personally, I think they should have ID's on them, but I don't do it. She is microchipped, and I hope that would do it if ever the worst should happen. It is a hard decision. One I haven't come to grips with myself yet.
Pat

[Joy]

I started out with some really cute collars but then I started reading some pretty scary stories. So I stopped using collars and started using harnesses. but only when they can be watched.

[fourdez]

I once had a little Maltese (He has since past away) and one Saturday morning, we were all still in bed and I get a call from the Vets office saying that a neighbor 4 or 5 streets away had our Puffy. To this day, we have not been able to figure out how he got out of the house, but, had it not been for his tag,who knows, I may have not gotten him back. I do, however, take off Desi's collar if we are all going to be away from the house and she will be here alone.

[TeddyBear]

Originally Posted by klogan

My big boy Stomper always has a collar on (except at bed time!). Since he has access to the backyard (doggy door) during the day when I am at work...I would hate to find out he got out and did not have a collar on! Therefore, he always wears one during the day.

When I take him on a walk, I put a harness on instead.

Ditto here except Starsky does wear it at bedtime. He sleeps with us, so it is easy to keep track of him. He has his rabies and name tag on his collar and he has his AKC tag on his harness. I am always scared he will dart out the front door when guest arrive. He is a little over 8 lbs so he is pretty hardy!