Secure collars for dogs with...

...little tiny ears, little tiny heads, and little tiny - no, that wouldn't
be nice. Max slipped his collar yet again yesterday and although he always
comes back, well, I would prefer it didn't happen again. But I think it's
as tight as I can make it. I believe his neck is thicker than his head.

diddy...

. Would a martingale solve this

Any ideas for a secure collar? I don't really like harnesses, but if that's
the best option I'll do that. Would a martingale solve this problem? I've

Shelly...

They truly might not have bonded to her. It suppose it does happen. I'd
give them credit for at least figuring out that they were never going to
love her, and taking steps toward finding a home that would, instead of
just letting her loose on the street or tying her in the back yard for
the rest of her life.

Shelly...

And that's what matters. He's got a good life. Whoever had him before
is missing out on a great little guy, but unfortunately, the likelihood
is that they aren't losing sleep over it.

FWIW, the people I got Harriet from contacted me after I'd had her for a
few months. The mother made a big production of how much the kids
missed "their dog." I said they were welcome to come visit her. She
wanted to know when I'd be breeding Harriet, and if they could have a
puppy. I told her Harriet had been spayed, and I never heard from them
again.

Sionnach...

If you mean a flat nylon martingale, yep. There's a good reason why the
other name for them is "greyhound collars".

When I worked as a dog walker, I *required* that my clients' dogs wear
them.

TaraG...

Just curious about what your hesitation is concerning harnesses. Is it your
dislike, or your dog's?

TaraG...

It depends on how much bigger the neck is than the head. If its a LOT
bigger, then I'm not sure it would help that much, but if its only a small
difference, then (if fitted properly) it might work for you.

sighthounds & siberians...

Also, a martingale mostly helps because it tightens so the dog can't
slip its collar. But if the dog isn't on leash when slipping the
collar, a martingale might not help that much.

Mustang Sally

diddy...

A martingale fitted PROPERLY should handle this situation.KEYWORD:
properly

never really understood them. I need expert advice, so I'm turning to

Suja...

Pan's got a bigger neck than head, and a Martingale does solve that problem.
You should be ble to try one on at the petstore to see if it is something
that will work for him.

y'all.

Thanks in advance. Gotta keep Mr Smalls under control somehow!

Paula...

We put harnesses on our little dogs. Much much easier. There is one
out now that is very easy to adjust and put on, so it isn't the PITA
that the old style was to get on the little squirmers. My dogs love
their harnesses. What is it that you don't like about harnesses?
Maybe you can find one that avoids the downsides.

ceb...

Hi Paula (and everyone),

Someone I lost the other posts without replying, I am really sorry about
that. I do appreciate everyone that replied. Part of what I don't like
about harnesses is that they're kind of hard to put on, and then I'm

Suja...

I have two different types of harnesses. One is definitely easier than the
other, and that's what I use on Khan. There is one loop that goes over the
head, and the part that goes around the body buckles from both sides. Pan's
has a buckle on one side and a loop on the other, so it requires the extra
step of putting the dog's leg though a loop, and I don't like it. Besides,
this one is harder to adjust.

always afraid I don't have them adjusted correctly. I usually keep

Suja...

It is really pretty easy to tell whether it is adjusted correctly, because
the harness won't lie on the body properly if it is not.

collars fairly loose so I'm having trouble tightening Max's correctly.

Suja...

Have you checked into fur saver collars? It works the same as a choke and
won't allow the dog to back out, but also won't mess up his coat. I have no
idea if they make them *that* small, though.

It's undoubtedly a case of anthropomorphizing, because I hate having
anything even the least bit restrictive around my neck.

I think harnesses look cute on short haired dogs but I fear it might rub
against his gorgeous coat in an unseemly fashion -- if I'm wrong, just
tell me! Wouldn't little tufts of fur stick out, making him look more
humorous then his little underbite grin already does?

Suja...

Well, there is definitely some tufting (http://tinyurl.com/ze7tp), but it
just adds character, right? Khan's hair does get matted a little when we
use it, but it gets brushed out pretty easily.

shelly...

I'm not a fan of harnesses for walking, because I've always had
larger dogs. IME harnesses tend to encourage pulling, which I do
*not* want, especially in a larger dog.

Paula...

Sammie the poodle has long hair but it doesn't look ridiculous to have
a harness on him. My guess would be that pom fur would be even more
likely to just whoosh over the harness parts and hide them instead of
letting them change the look of the hair. If you get one of the easy
adjust ones, you just put a leg in and then buckle it and you're done
so you could take it off for the most part and just have it on during
walks when slipping out of a collar would be disastrous.

There is a cat harness like our dog harness (sorry, quick search
didn't find a dog one) on petsmart.com, item number 011836. You want
that black thing on top that holds the different strands as that is
what makes it a snap to get on and off and to adjust. It also seems
to be more comfortable from the dogs' reaction to it, maybe because
the flat back part of the black thing keeps stuff in place and from
digging or twisting or binding as much.

Someone asked if he only slipped his collar when he was on a leash --
yes, that's the only time it has happened. He gets stubborn and wants to
go in an opposite direction and before I know it, he is! It's not a happy
feeling (for me). If he's not doing it on purpose, he soon will be, for
he's a smart little guy.

shelly...

In that case, a martingale might work very well for your purposes.
It self-tightens when the dog pulls against the leash, so it's very
difficult to slip.

Wouldn't the Martingale tend to slip off just during casual roughhousing,
or is it not an id collar, only a walking collar?

Suja...

I use it on Pan as both, but she's one dog I know is not going anywhere.
Due to how loose it normally fits, I don't let the dogs rough house with it
on. It's pretty easy to snag a tooth.

shelly...

A martingale is not an ID collar. Or, rather, if you do use it as
such, you shouldn't also use it to walk the dog. If you do, and the
collar breaks or is slipped, Max won't be able to be identified. I
*have* used a martingale as a temporary ID collar in the past, but
when I have, it's been loose enough that the dog *could* slip it if
the collar was caught on something. I also leave buckle ID collars
similarly loose.

Thanks everyone for your help and sorry not to reply to each of you.

the.longest.username.available...

I have recommended to people in the past that they try the limited slip
collars for dogs that find it easy to slip their collars. You want to
adjust the collar so it is very tight when the leash is pulled, but not
quite tight enough that it is choking the dog.

MauiJNP...

I use a lupine harness for Cali when she goes out potty (since we don't have
a fenced in yard). I am on my 3rd one because she chews them if I forget to
put them out of reach when she's not in it. They give free replacements so
I only paid the price once! In fact, I just ordered 2 lupine leads because
while my brother was watching the dogs for my vacation, he let them chew
their leads in about 3 or 4 peices. At least the new ones will be the last
I have to actually pay for (the leads have the same guarantee). For car
rides, both dogs get their PUPPIA harnesses. They are mesh so they are
comfortable and breathable for the car and on walks at the park. I am
really glad to have them. Neither of my dogs wear collars now that they are
bigger. While they were new and still pretty little, they had cat collars
with bells so we knew where they always were and they didn't get stepped on!