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Should my dog wear his collar at home?
By Scotty Valadao – Canine Behaviourist - Friends of the Dog
This picture, courtesy of SA Dog Training College (www.sadtc.co.za) is not featured here to shock you – it is to show you the reality of what can, and unfortunately, often does happen.
I first saw this picture round about 2003, when I did my initial instructors courses with SA Dog Training College, and the image of the picture above has never left my mind.. Situations such as the picture above can be totally avoided, so please do share with family and friends.
The majority of owners are under the impression that collars should be worn at home all the time. The collar gives the owners a sense of security if the dog goes walk-about, needs to be restrained and also allows the owner more control over the dog. It is far better to research where can buy collars on the internet that break open if the dog gets badly snagged onto something.
In reality your dog is much safer not wearing a collar at home, and from the point of view of worrying if it does get out and go walk-about, the insertion of a simple microchip will allow all vets and shelters to find out who the dog does belong too and contact the owners immediately.
Dogs that have fear of noises, just adopted and not settled down, and professional escape artists are the dogs that are more at risk. I have worked with dogs with storm fear phobia wherein not only have they tried to go over the gate/wall, they have gone straight through windows to escape the perceived threat. Another incidence that can occur is that if two dogs are playing in the garden with the collars on and collar is snagged gets snagged on an eye tooth or a tree for example.
It is not only dogs such as above that are at risk. I had always kept my own dogs in collars at home, prior to learning about the dangers of collars. Years ago I added a new puppy to my existing 2 dogs, and one of the first things I did was get the pup used to wearing a collar. in a positive manner, by desensitization.
A few months later he was playing outside, and somehow managed to get the collar caught in the foot of a cast iron table. This ensued in total panic from the pup, with the other two dogs rushing in to attack, as the whole table went flying, almost crushing the pup. I have never since had a dog that wore a collar at home as a safeguard.
If you are engaged in behaviour modification or had just taken on a new dog, by all means, have the collar on when you are at home if it is needed, but not when you are not there to supervise.
Anyway, look at the picture, draw your own conclusions and please do pass on the possible dangers involved. There is also another article on collars below which gives you more information on other problems and health concerns that can occur.
The majority of owners are under the impression that collars should be worn at home all the time. The collar gives the owners a sense of security if the dog goes walk-about, needs to be restrained and also allows the owner more control over the dog. It is far better to research where can buy collars on the internet that break open if the dog gets badly snagged onto something.
In reality your dog is much safer not wearing a collar at home, and from the point of view of worrying if it does get out and go walk-about, the insertion of a simple microchip will allow all vets and shelters to find out who the dog does belong too and contact the owners immediately.
Dogs that have fear of noises, just adopted and not settled down, and professional escape artists are the dogs that are more at risk. I have worked with dogs with storm fear phobia wherein not only have they tried to go over the gate/wall, they have gone straight through windows to escape the perceived threat. Another incidence that can occur is that if two dogs are playing in the garden with the collars on and collar is snagged gets snagged on an eye tooth or a tree for example.
It is not only dogs such as above that are at risk. I had always kept my own dogs in collars at home, prior to learning about the dangers of collars. Years ago I added a new puppy to my existing 2 dogs, and one of the first things I did was get the pup used to wearing a collar. in a positive manner, by desensitization.
A few months later he was playing outside, and somehow managed to get the collar caught in the foot of a cast iron table. This ensued in total panic from the pup, with the other two dogs rushing in to attack, as the whole table went flying, almost crushing the pup. I have never since had a dog that wore a collar at home as a safeguard.
If you are engaged in behaviour modification or had just taken on a new dog, by all means, have the collar on when you are at home if it is needed, but not when you are not there to supervise.
Anyway, look at the picture, draw your own conclusions and please do pass on the possible dangers involved. There is also another article on collars below which gives you more information on other problems and health concerns that can occur.
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