View Full Version : Dog collar help
zing_deleted
02-03-2009, 10:57
Right some of you know I have a 18 month old Staffie Bitch. She has never like wearing a collar but the vet informed me she has to wear a tag by law. She is microchipped but apparently there has to be contact details.
I tried her with a leather collar and she hated it so for about the last year she has been wearing a material one. She has been scratching at it pretty much on and off since she has been wearing it (not constantly obviously but periodically) I thought every now and again it was fleas so I treat her regularly and the areas most likely for them to bed. I checked her yesterday and the collar has rubbed quite low around the bottom of her neck and it does look quite sore so ive left the collar off.
How tight or not should a collar be? any advice on a type that wont rub?
when I take her for walks she wears a harness but she cant wear one of them 24/7 . I have thought about just putting the collar on when she is out in the garden so far she has not escaped or even tried as long as the gate is shut she knows the boundary. Do I just leave it off and hope to remember to put it one when she is in the garden or I take her out in case she pegs it? what do the rest of you dog owners do ? do you leave the collar on all the time? is it something ive done wrong thats leaving it rubbing?
TIA :)
We tend to leave the collars on 24/7...mainly as the damn things have learned how to open up the front door!!! Fitment of a collar normally means you can put 2 finger easily under the collar. A lot of dogs just don't like them though..and the ONLY thing you can do to help is to try to find a collar suitable...For both of ours they have a synthetic collar which has a breathable sponge padding sewn onto the inside.. No matter though how much they reject the collar you must leave it on otherwise they'll just learn that a bit of scratching/head rubbing and you'll take it off for them..
zing_deleted
02-03-2009, 11:09
I guess ive just tried the wrong type of collar then will have to go find one with the cushioning :)
Not saying it'll work, but some dogs tend to react to hard collars... We've had one of these collars on Timber (40Kg white GSD) and he's not exactly gentle the way he treats it...but he's never shown any reaction to it.....You got a decent petshop or petsmart (PetsAtHome) near you??
---------- Post added at 11:16 ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 ----------
If you wish I can take some pics of this one later (off out now) so you can see what I mean about the padding..
zing_deleted
02-03-2009, 11:17
we do have a pets at home. You know how the staffs are the neck just gets wider till it becomes the shoulders I think even with the 2 fingers it just slips down and then rubs. obviously I do not want her to be sore but I also dont want the fines or costs if she does do a runner
Yes please to the pics
AndyCambs
02-03-2009, 13:21
As promised some pics...
You made your poor dog strip naked just for some photos??
WHISTLED
02-03-2009, 13:23
Firstly if they only need a tag when in a public place so whats stopping you attaching the tag to the harness?
Your dog is also exemopt if used for vermin capture or controll, as this could never be proven the law is a nonsense.
If you want her to wear a collar you should be able to get fingers under and all the way round with the collar on. Staffs have a small sloped head (in comparison with body and braod shoulders) so they are not actually suited for a collar, they tend to slip off with the appropriate gap and rub without it.
He volunteered until he found out I wanted pictures of the collar and not of him!!!! :p:
zing_deleted
02-03-2009, 13:47
As promised some pics...
Cheers thats very similar to what she has thats rubiing :( its not got the paddying on the inside though. I will try one of them and see failing that I might get a chain collar would that be a good idea?
LondonRoad
02-03-2009, 13:50
I thought Zing had a vocational call to the church when I saw the thread title. ;)
zing_deleted
02-03-2009, 13:51
can find any chain collars anyway must have dreamt it lol
edit what about somethign like this? https://www.pettreatsnottingham.co.uk/image.asp?image=/images/812/1.jpg
superbiatch
02-03-2009, 14:14
Hi Zing, our Zack wears a part material, part chain only when he goes out. He sees it as his 'coat' so is excited about wearing it as it means walkies.
You need to play the doggy shrink here and make it a fun game for her. Reward her for putting it on and take her mind off it. If she hasn't always worn one, its alien to her so who can blame her for not being happy about it.
Its just like this one Zing http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DOG-COLLAR-Semi-half-check-choke-chain-12-18-Black_W0QQitemZ400028821097QQihZ027QQcategoryZ2074 6QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem?refid=store
I have found a few specialist staffie shops which may have what your looking for, possibly a harness may be better.
http://www.aecollars.co.uk/
http://www.amstaff-breed.com/store/
http://www.stafbul.com/staffordshire-bull-terriers-collars-and-leads.html
Hi Zing, our Zack wears a part material, part chain only when he goes out. He sees it as his 'coat' so is excited about wearing it as it means walkies.
You need to play the doggy shrink here and make it a fun game for her. Reward her for putting it on and take her mind off it. If she hasn't always worn one, its alien to her so who can blame her for not being happy about it.
Its just like this one Zing http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DOG-COLLAR-Semi-half-check-choke-chain-12-18-Black_W0QQitemZ400028821097QQihZ027QQcategoryZ2074 6QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem?refid=store
I was under the impression a half check chain should only be used when training , :erm: , the thinner the collar the more likely it is to cause harm on the neck of the dog, especially on a staffy as they can have a tendancy to pull towards people , anyway i have had 2 collars from
www.aecollars.co.uk
excellent site , Don't worry Zing , i'm sure the more she wears it the more she will get used to it , Zak used to get a redish patch under his neck from wearing a collar , but no more :). Zak also only wears his collar when he goes out.
AndyCambs
02-03-2009, 15:59
Firstly if they only need a tag when in a public place so whats stopping you attaching the tag to the harness?
Your dog is also exemopt if used for vermin capture or controll, as this could never be proven the law is a nonsense.
If you want her to wear a collar you should be able to get fingers under and all the way round with the collar on. Staffs have a small sloped head (in comparison with body and braod shoulders) so they are not actually suited for a collar, they tend to slip off with the appropriate gap and rub without it.
The Control of Dogs Order 1992 specifically states that "every dog while in a highway or in a place of public resort shall wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to it."
Collar - not harness.
superbiatch
02-03-2009, 16:00
I was under the impression a half check chain should only be used when training , :erm: , the thinner the collar the more likely it is to cause harm on the neck of the dog, especially on a staffy as they can have a tendancy to pull towards people , anyway i have had 2 collars from
www.aecollars.co.uk (http://www.aecollars.co.uk)
As he's getting on a bit (11) he tends not to pull so much these days so maybe you've got a point there. Personally i prefer his leather harness but people tend to look at him like he's a brute but he's just my little boy :(
WHISTLED
02-03-2009, 16:08
Collar - not harness. I can safely say that a harness would be considered a collar, service the same purpose and in fact being much more secure
zing_deleted
02-03-2009, 16:16
she has a harness on for a walk I would not want her to wear that all the time though
she has a harness on for a walk I would not want her to wear that all the time though
Zak had a harness for a while and we found that it was far worse for 'rubbing' bout would not be around the neck , it was more likely under the front legs. As said by superbiatch though , the big leather harness can make the dog look a little menacing but imo i like them unfortunately they just don't suit Zak.
I went for the nice 1 1/2 black leather from ae collars , they are quite hard at first but the more worn they are the more supple they become , last time i worked the collar with my hands for a while to soften it up , i believe also you can have suede inside to the collar so it is softer on the neck , the only drawback being that it doesn't last as long.
A few pics of her would be nice :)
does she have a tendancy to 'bolt' if you open the door ?
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