I tried a collar on Princess when I first got her but she was such a maniac on the leash, choking herself and not caring so she could get her next sniff, that I got her a harness. Then I learned about collapsed trachea & vowed to never use a collar. I put her tags on her harness and can hear her little jingle, which without I prob would've turned around and stepped on her. A lot of people on here say they only use a harness for walking, outings, etc....why is that? fashion or are they thought to be uncomfortable? And as far as break-away collars I understand they would be great if a dog got caught up on something, but isn't that an easy way to lose the I.D. on the pup, too?

Sooo many questions! The more I learn, the more I need to know!

I cant answer for every one but I only use a harness for walking or whenever the leash is going to be hooked to her because if he harness was left on all the time it doesn't seem it would be that comfy (almost like a women wearing a bra all of the time) and she would get a rash. Normally the breakaway collar would end up breaking away in your house or yard and you could easily find it and put it back on but if for some reason you couldnt find it id tags really aren't that expensive and can be replaced.

HAHA! I thought about them losing their tags too. I've been using breakaways on Kaji for about.... 6 months now. In that time, Kaji has lost his collar twice in that time. He wears it 24/7, so it stays on really well. The only time he's without a collar is when he's getting a bath. :)

...about the break-aways i just meant more if the dog got loose, lost it's collar & tags...then what? if your dogs not chipped & someone finds it with no i.d. i just think someone might be more inclined to keep it...not judging anyone that uses it, just wondered if that causes worry.

I wondered about that...even the break always for safety...Elvis came to me (well he was less than ideally cared for by his condition) but anyways he wore a collar that was obviously well used...his hair around his neck still grows in strangely around what is obviously the ring of the collar-I took it off his the day I got him it's been over a year, he's been shaved there twice and I try to retrain the hair...he was two when I got him...

I'd assume no irritation of the skin or people wouldn't do it but I meant hair irritation...not to offend anyone I know some people have a hard time with harnesses and also want ID tags on their dogs all the time...but I have wondered about hair "irritation" also-Yorkie's don't have coarse fur they have hair...

I noticed a few people pointed out what I have always thought too, I mean great ppl r u using break away collars...but for tags what about when they break away if they out :eek:

I don't leave a harness on him all day because it seems more uncomfortable. A collar is a lot smaller and around the neck whereas a harness goes around the body and it just seems like it'd be a lot more uncomfortable to keep on all day long...

I personally don't like breakaways for the reason you stated. I've heard they pop off pretty easily and I think that kind of defeats the purpose of a collar with id tags if they fall off, they are useless. But I also have a bigger guy (16lbs) so I just wouldn't feel comfortable using a breakaway.

So what type of material do you look for in a collar - leather, nylon, rolled leather? Kody will be getting his last set of vaccinations really soon - and then we can begin to take walks, I can't wait. I need to get him a collar for his tags though.

Any suggestions?

material: solid air...color: clear invisible...:thumbup: :confused:

I always just get a nylon and/or fabric collar. Collarmania.com has good stuff, etsy.com has a ton of collar makers!! Love it! I've gotten quite a few from Petsmart I've been happy with too. I get 3/4" width usually for Jackson... he's 16lbs and has an 11" neck. I do the 5/8" width sometimes too which is only a little smaller than 3/4". I think the 1/2" width is for smaller pups but I think it's too skinny for my boy.

I used the example of my pup in my home because that's where he uses it all of the time. He hasn't gotten out yet. (edited to add he hasn't gotten out yet with his breakaway on, he's gotten out with a reg dog collar on) In theory, yes it would fall off if he got caught in something. I would much rather his trachea be safe. But, out door cats wear these collars successfully everyday and some back home with them still on. I think the odds of a cat getting caught in something are higher than a dog since they climb and are up in trees, etc. The way I see it, the odds of him being returned within he hour of getting out are higher with a collar on. He got out once while in the care on an old roommate, and he was found by a neighbor within 30 mins. Not much room for him to be getting in trouble if you ask me. Oh, and he got out in the middle of the day when most people are working. I just feel like the odds are in my favor.

This is why I dont use the breakaways

Thanks Britster - Kody measures 8-9" neck. I'll check out collarmania.com.

I dont think I understand what do you mean by irritation of the hair? I keep Callie in a puppy cut because she very much loves to be outside and would get things many things stuck in her hair if she wasnt kept short. I have had Callie sense she was a puppy and will be 4 in may collared at all times besides baths and after I bathe her and either blow her dry or let her air dry you could never tell she had a collar on her hole life. Of course I leave Callies collar decently lose and the width is a thin as I could find.

the ones I buy are nylon I try to get the mostly comfy ones I can sense they will be sleeping in it and wearing it all the time.

Thanks.

I need a better camera to get a clear pic...right now I only have my lil Kodak zoom vid cam or whatever it is kids broke the HP that takes decent pics...

Well in Elvis' case...literally his hair grows up in one direction and down in the other and where the collar used to obviously be his haired literally has a bend in it at the root and then grows down...he had a pup cut when I got him...well it was more of a hack job...but I think he as always kept long before that. Maybe it was because it was on Elvis too tight...

I hear with Miniature Schnauzers they say not to use a collar for long periods...it causes the under coat to thin the wire coat to grow upward instead of flat and can cause black heads or pimples...

I couldn't say other than he came to me with this nasty well worn collar one among many other things that were indicative of sub-par care...none of my dogs wear collars ever.

I'd assume if it was loose enough maybe its not an issue but my groomer also told me she gets so irritated when people bring in long haired dogs with a collar on it irritates their hair...my groomer is a vet technician...but I didn't ask what she meant other than telling her I never have mine in collars, and can she fix Elvis' hair (when I first got him the first time I took him to her)...so we shaved it down and are trying to retrain it...