Dog collars on 24/7?
 

Ok, here's my debate... Avery wears a harness when we go outside with his info and rabies tag. But, when we are inside I take it off (mainly because he makes you think he's pathetic and it's too heavy to carry).
I'm thinking about buying just a collar and putting our number on it. But, does anyone else think this is uncomfortable for their dog to sleep in? We take the harness off when no one is home, because the smallest was too big and sometimes one leg gets in the wrong hole. I'm terrified that we will have a fire in the middle of the night, while I'm at work he's stolen, etc.

I just posted something on this, recently. It got a Lot of responses.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ar-collar.html

Our boys pretty much feel the same way. It took some time, but they now know just to sit when the door is open. That being said, we dont wear collars of any sorts inside. They are micro-chipped as well, not that this is a garuntee by any means. We also have a sign on our door that says we have a dog inside, specifically for the fire dept....right next to the sign that says "protected by a 40. Cal".
They happen to be protected by a 40. cal, but the sign does all the work... they don't necessarily have to be...
on another note, our dogs sleep in a crate. we know just where to get them and we dont worry about them getting into things while we are asleep.

I think there is no way you can 100% guaranty that your baby will never get out the front door, so I think they should always have a collar with id on it. My babies are microchipped, but I still worry someone wouldn't think to scan them and I know not all places have scanners. I just try to find the lightest collars I can. I don't think it would necessary be uncomfortable, either. I know I've slept comfortably with necklaces on, so I imagine it would be the same for our pups.

Jackson's almost always got a collar on, except at night I do take it off, for comfort reasons.

But we're not the only people living here, so God forbid, he got out when I wasn't home - I'd want him to be collared.

I think unless they are microchipped they should be wearing at least a small collar with contact info. I don't have a yorkie but my beagle is 13 and he still has the ability to run off. His energy level and health is that of legit a puppy so he is always wearing a collar unless he is in his crate in which case his harness and collar come off. We are so cautious about making sure he doesn't get away and making sure he has his tags on. There have only been two dogs I have ever known who could stay in there yard and never leave it unless told to. My neighbors trained their dogs so well that unless you were around them you wouldn't believe it. I just think its so important to make sure that someone can contact you if they get away. A cat not too far from me just got reunited three years later with her owner because the cat was microchipped.

Tootsie always wears a thin lightweight collar with small bell on it so I can no where she just incase she getting in trouble with the other dogs

There area a number of opinions about his subject. I have had long haired dogs for many years and usually only put on the collar when going out because of the damage a collar can do to a full coated breed. When Gracie was a puppy she decided to try to get out the door at every opportunity. She escaped a couple of times and we had to chase her all over the place trying to catch her. She then managed to sneak out the door when the cable guy was working on our internet modem. It was only by the grace of God that when he was on his way off the property he spotted her up by the road and brought her back. She is micro chipped but I decided that since she is such an effective escape artist I would put a collar on her with an ID tag so that if by any chance she ever escaped again I would at least stand a chance of getting her back quickly.

I would never leave a harness on a dog at all times. It would be harsh on the coat and I would imagine it to be uncomfortable to the dog. Some people use the break away cat collars on their dogs. I use a regular collar that is just loose enough to slip over her head if she ever got it caught on something but tight enough that she cannot get her feet or mouth caught in it. She is never outside except on a harness and leash so I'm not real concerned about outside accidents.
She also has a bell on her collar as she can also disappear inside at times. I just can't take anymore scares from this little one!

I believe this is the one thing about your dogs life you can garuntee. My dog will not get out the door while im here, and if im not, it would take someone breaking in from the outside....in that case, a collar and tag will make little difference.

wow! Totally missed that thread! I think I'm going get him a cat collar and buy him an adorable leather pet tag on Etsy with a bell! So many people in our complex love him and I'm sorry, but people love Yorkies and I just don't trust anyone! He listens very well, but maintenance comes in, etc.

Our Dexter seems to wind up with the tags from the collar in his mouth. We had to cut the last collar off. he was crying once the tags were caught up.
we use an interlock system. The outside door is only opened if the hallway inside door is shut.

I think if he got loose I would never see him again. He goes potty in a pen out side in the back. We have only walked him around the neighborhood a couple of times. He eats too much crap and gets sick.

He will eat anything he gets hold of.

I make sure to buy collars that would be comfortable to Callie they are as small as I can get them width wise and I make sure they are soft and with no hard edges or anything. I prefer to get the fabric ones made on etsy because they are so soft. I also keep Callie's a bit loser then normal because she is not interested in chewing on it. I don't think she finds it uncomfortable because if I leave it where she can reach it after I take it off and give her a bath she will bring it to me to put it on. I feel like wearing a harness all the time would be like wearing a bra all the time lol. You never know when there could be a tornado or anything happen at your home when no ones is home and they could be out and a bout with no info.

Dogs still have instincts that even the best trained dogs will sometimes chose over training and having the collar and tags on them helps them get back to you if they get out of the door and out of your sight. Also what if there is a tornado while no one is at home and your house gets destroyed or at least enough where the dogs get out?

Ralph has a teacup collar, which means it is made in a very soft fabric and then it is a super small width and it has tags on it, and then he has his harness which is on for walks and that has his tags as well, but the harness is only on during the walks and comes off after. I know that may sound crazy but I never want him to get lost.

I live in Scotland. It is illegal here for a dog not to have a collar and tag with owner info even if microchipped. The fine if your dog is found without is up to £ 5000.00. My dogs all wear collars day and night. The pups had them on from when I chose them from the litter. This also identified the pup as mine when others came to choose. I used a cat collar firstly now have a xs puppy collar with a bell so I know where they are and can avoid stepping on little ones. They don't even notice the collars any more. During the day they also wear their BB so I can leash them quickly to take out to toilet. This works for us.