Tuesday Training Byte: Dangers of collars
While it is important to have the right equipment for training your dog, there are risks to consider. For ID purposes, all of my dogs are micro-chipped and the registration kept up-to-date with multiple organizations. Except for training and leaving our property, my dogs remain "naked", meaning not wearing any type of collar or harness. Whether your dog wears a slip collar or a flat buckle collar, there is a risk of entrapment that could result in strangulation. The hanging "O" ring or any tags can get caught in floor vents in your home or entangled in the wire crates. As the dog panics and pulls, the collar become too tight to undo and may have to be cut off. Another problem is that with more than one dog, as they play and mouth each other, one dog can get his lower jaw caught in the other's collar, breaking his own jaw and strangling the other dog to death. Again, you have to actually be right there to see it happen and be able to cut the collar off before the dog suffocates. These are gruesome and needless injuries that can be avoided by removing any collar. Once a dog is in panic mode and not getting enough air, it is very hard to hold them still enough to cut off the collar. Harnesses similarly have "D" rings that could get caught or another dog might get his jaw caught. One person whose dog got tangled while laying outside of but up against its crate was barely freed in time. The owner reports the dog is still too traumatized to even go in that room. Be sure your home is puppy proofed and your fenced yard is safe, and additionally remove the collar. Training your dog to have a solid recall and stay commands will help as you go through gates and doors. Buckling your dog in your car or having him crated during transport can prevent him slipping away as soon as the door is opened and give you time to put on his collar and lead. One trainer mentioned that 15% of her clients had reported their dog getting entrapped by their collar. Many vets and groomers have the policy that no dogs are ever put in a kennel or crate while wearing a collar. Prevention is the key.
Comments