Is it me? Poor Quality of Dog Stuff

[mcguiregirl2248]

I highly recommend a martingale collar or slip type collar for a sheltie outside. Sheltie (and collie) necks are bigger than their heads and they can back out of a buckle collar very easily. Even my well trained, bomb proof collie got spooked one day and managed to jump and back out of his flat collar while we were walking along the road. A horrible horrible feeling to stand by helplessly and watch your dog get hit by a car

I use a rolled leather collar for the obedience ring but always a martingale when we're out.

And an aside, it's so disappointing to buy a really stylish collar only to have it disappear under all that fur I always swear I'm just going to buy a plain ol' collar but then get sucked into getting a cute one!

Good point about the Martingale collar. I do have those as well for my girls when we are out on walks. For everyday collars with their tags, they wear the rolled leather ones. If they ever got out and didn't have a collar on with tags I would never forgive myself.

 

[Aztec]

I highly recommend a martingale collar or slip type collar for a sheltie outside. Sheltie (and collie) necks are bigger than their heads and they can back out of a buckle collar very easily. Even my well trained, bomb proof collie got spooked one day and managed to jump and back out of his flat collar while we were walking along the road. A horrible horrible feeling to stand by helplessly and watch your dog get hit by a car

I agree! Aztec backs out of his all the time, unless he is on a slip or martigale type. He backs out and sit though...so it generally isn't a problem. He has never slipped out on purpose. I hate to think if he decided he liked to slip out - I would never be able to have him on a flat collar!

 

[Ann]

I've never tried a martingale (I think it's quite possibly the ONLY kind of dog equipment or paraphernalia that I *don't* own) but will have to check them out. I had a canine chiropractor tell me years ago that it wasn't good for dogs' necks and spines to walk them with collars, especially if they pull. He said we should use a harness. Over the years in using harnesses (which I love) I found that Shelties can also pull out of those!! So I finally discovered a step-in harness that they can't easily pull out of and that's what I've used. But my breeder tells me that there is hardly any harness they can't pull out of if they're scared or spooked, so perhaps the martingale is the way to go.

I do keep collars with their ID tags on them for everyday and yes, I too buy those cute little patterns and even have "seasonal" collars. They have summer collars, fall collars and Christmas collars! Of course as someone pointed out, who can SEE them under all that fur???

 

[Chris]

I do keep collars with their ID tags on them for everyday and yes, I too buy those cute little patterns and even have "seasonal" collars. They have summer collars, fall collars and Christmas collars! Of course as someone pointed out, who can SEE them under all that fur???

Somehow, they seem to know -- Layla is so proud of her pink collar with the grey squirrels on it!

 

[BarbV]

Oh dear! You've just opened the break water for me to jump in with my favourite topic! To all of you who have endured my "love-affair" with my custom martingales in previous threads, I apologize in advance!

I love these beauties. They can be custom made to be as a narrow or as thick that you need. On a Sheltie, the narrow ones settle into the ruff and you can barely tell they are there! On Cadbury, you can certainly go for a larger weave, or even the rolled leather with buckle option. Note: these collars are not for a "lean" pocket book. But they will last for years, so the cost seemed worth it to me. You just need to wait until your pup is full size.

http://www.leashesbydesign.com/Martingale Collar.html

My guys collars look similar to no. 8 and no. 13. (Then I found braided turquoise leather leads to match at my local pet store - imported from Germany - perfect length, light-weight, yet strong).

Also if you google on martingales, you'll find lots of other websites. I had one bookmarked that made some pretty exotic, satin collars (meant for short haired dogs), but I can't find it anymore

 

[Caro]

I had a canine chiropractor tell me years ago that it wasn't good for dogs' necks and spines to walk them with collars, especially if they pull. He said we should use a harness. Over the years in using harnesses (which I love) I found that Shelties can also pull out of those!! So I finally discovered a step-in harness that they can't easily pull out of and that's what I've used. But my breeder tells me that there is hardly any harness they can't pull out of if they're scared or spooked, so perhaps the martingale is the way to go.

I use harnesses on Deska, esp in winter because it ruins his coat less and for the slipping out reason. With his car chasing I don't dare put him in any sort of collar. He can back out of anything - including martingales and slip collars (he loves doing it at agility). He can back out of a harness but it takes a lot of work so I can always stop him in time.

 

[Ann]

Oh dear! You've just opened the break water for me to jump in with my favourite topic! To all of you who have endured my "love-affair" with my custom martingales in previous threads, I apologize in advance!

I love these beauties. They can be custom made to be as a narrow or as thick that you need. On a Sheltie, the narrow ones settle into the ruff and you can barely tell they are there! On Cadbury, you can certainly go for a larger weave, or even the rolled leather with buckle option. Note: these collars are not for a "lean" pocket book. But they will last for years, so the cost seemed worth it to me. You just need to wait until your pup is full size.

http://www.leashesbydesign.com/Martingale Collar.html

My guys collars look similar to no. 8 and no. 13. (Then I found braided turquoise leather leads to match at my local pet store - imported from Germany - perfect length, light-weight, yet strong).

Also if you google on martingales, you'll find lots of other websites. I had one bookmarked that made some pretty exotic, satin collars (meant for short haired dogs), but I can't find it anymore

Those are really nice, Barb, but I don't see any prices. Usually that means they are uber expensive...true? They're awfully nice looking though....

Yes, Chris...my Scruffy was obsessed with cows (we have alot of them around where we live) and she had a collar with cows on it. I swear she KNEW that collar was her "cow collar"! Everyone here gets very excited when their Christmas collars come out...except The Husband, who scoffs at it all of course.

 

[BarbV]

Nope, you get a price quote when you place your order. I paid about $45 each US - give or take.

Definitely not for anyone on a strict budget, but well worth the investment for me. I see these collars will last a lifetime.

 

[labgirl]

Thanks Everyone!

A sheltie should be easy for you train after training Cadbury!

lol, that would be nice! Cadbury as a first dog has been a steep learning curve! And yes it is tiring to have constant tension on the lead, though he is improving slowly.

I highly recommend a martingale collar or slip type collar for a sheltie outside.

I must admit I was wondering about them slipping collars, having seen other small dogs just suddenly emerge from their collars and be running away I would hate to be walking my pup and for that to happen. Would you use the martingales which are all cloth? As opposed to half-check which is part chain (and which I would imagine could get tangled in the coat?).

BarbV - those are nice collars. Would you use them from a puppy or only when they are full grown? $45 isn't bad depending on the exchange rate, it will just depend on shipping costs. I've noticed people have an ordinary collar on their dog and then a martingale which attaches to the lead. The tags are on one but the dog's lead is attached to the other which seems to work.

I use harnesses on Deska, esp in winter because it ruins his coat less and for the slipping out reason.

I'm wondering about a harness for my sheltie because when it goes in the car I will use one of those car seatbelt attachments (my car is not big enough for a crate especially with Cadders in the boot!). So it will need a harness for that.

Hmm, lots to think about. Thanks everyone, I'm starting to collect all this information in a folder as I just know I'll forget all this and be panicking when the time comes!

 

[RetiredProf]

After reading about collars on another thread on the forum, I bought Gus a rolled leather collar at Petco for about $14.00. This is the one I keep on all the time and have his tags (we're up to four!) on. I'm deathly afraid that he's going to get loose one day, and here in DE, a collar with tags is mandatory.

But... I purchased a slip collar as well and keep it attached to his lead. This I use for walking about--I just slip it on over his head in addition to the rolled leather one. So he has all his tags and a "back-up" collar in case he ever does manage to get away from me while we're out.

I'm lovin' those custom-made martingales and definitely will buy one when Gus is finished growing (he's just 5ths now). But I'll still used the rolled leather around the house and yard. And even now, you can hardly see it--settles nicely in the fur.