Dog people, a collar question

divinemsbee

I recently bought a Martingale collar and was wondering if any of you guys have used one or have any tips. They were originally designed for greyhounds because they have heads that are smaller than their necks and can slip out of a regular collar easily. We've had the same problem with Archie because he has a little terrier head on a big Corgi neck/upper shoulder area. So, when he needed a new collar (growing up so fast, *tear*) I decided to go with one of these. The problem is that I'm not sure how loose to leave it when he wears it regularly, thoughts? 

Here's a link to the kind of collar I'm talking about. 

http://www.collargirl.com/how_martingale_work.htm

His is padded on the side next to his neck and nylon webbing (in a festive Celtic pattern) on the outside. It also works with the material and not a chain. 

AmandaSC1988

When it is pulled tight... it should be the exact size of the dog's neck, then the collar should loosen the correct amount when relaxed.

I used a fairly similar lead for some of my show dogs that did not respond to the regular choke collars.

Sammy0709

We have a Martingale style collar for both dogs, the Dobie Mix came with hers and I recently got one for our GSD because she was breaking the buckles on other collars.  I have them both at regular collar tightness (where I can fit a few fingers between the collar and their neck).

ETA:  I only put collars on the dogs when I take them out.  We have always done that though because DH can't stand the jingling of the tags lol.

divinemsbee

Thanks, and I'm so happy that other people have used them because I did a little research, but had no idea what they were until a few days ago. 

Do you guys have any tips for making sure that it goes back to the regular size without me fiddling with it? He wore it around the house and when we went out, and it was fine, but the lead part doesn't retract unless I pull it back into regular collar shape. Do I maybe have it too loose or tight? 

Sammy0709

I don't generally use the choke function for the GSD because she doesn't need it. I only got it to avoid buying a new collar once a month. Our dobie's collar is pretty well broken in. I'm not sure if that may have something to do with it but hers goes back pretty easily. Maybe Amanda has better insight on that.

crownsuperstar

I don't use one but I wanted to add I get all of Roxie's and Gunner's collars from this place and I love them! They have such cute designs.

AmandaSC1988

I would say that it is a design problem in the collar.  The loops aren't big enough for the fabric.... eventually it will get worn in and it will relax like it should.

calindi

I put a harness on mine so it doesn't slip off - is that an option?  It works well for us, and she loves it - when we take it off, she'll pick it up and carry it to us, like, "Put this back on me, please!"  Though she does the same thing with bandanas, her tshirts, her collar... that dog loves accessories!

Sammy0709

The harness could be a good idea.  It has been suggested to me before because collars like that are hard on dog's necks.  Plus our dobie likes to wear the doggy back packs which are harness-like.

crownsuperstar

The harness is a good idea.  Roxie some how figured out how to get out of hers.  I have now clue how so I have gone to a gentel leader with her.  It keeps her from pulling and slipping out. Here is a picture of it in use.  (not Roxie) She is not bothered by it at all. 

AmandaSC1988

Harnesses encourage pulling from the dog. i hardly ever recomend those, unless the dog is well behaved (which none of my dogs are). You have no control over the dog and they have 100% control.  I really like the gentle leaders! They work great and don't hurt the dogs.

amh04

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_dog-people-a-collar-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:76e4f771-23d5-40d9-b3c1-cbe1693ebd1dPost:f252ca5b-ab23-4514-8f1d-fa665d3879e5">Re: Dog people, a collar question</a>:
[QUOTE]Harnesses encourage pulling from the dog. i hardly ever recomend those, unless the dog is well behaved (which none of my dogs are). You have no control over the dog and they have 100% control.  I really like the gentle leaders! They work great and don't hurt the dogs.
Posted by AmandaSC1988[/QUOTE]

The Easy Walk Harnesses do not encourage pulling on the dog. We use that on our GSD which our tranier recommended, we have fantastic control over her. The difference with this harness is the fast the leash clips on on the front, rather than the back and if you had to do a quick turn and your dog is pulling you - they don't have a choice in the matter at all. They have to turn with you or they'll fall. The harness also tightens when she starts to pull me and it makes her listen to stop. She loves it and we do too. We used to have a pinch collar on her, and it did nothing for us. We only use the harness when we are on a walk, other than that she either has her normal pink collar on or no collar on at all.

AmandaSC1988

Oh, you are right, I have heard of the easy-walk. Those can work, but general harnesses you don't have control over the dog. little dogs can get away with using them, but as soon as you start using them on a large dog like a Lab (and they misbehave) there is no way you would be able to control the dog.

I used three different collar types for my dogs and it is funny because my smart dog knew what each collar meant.  A thin choke chain was used for dog shows. He knew that THAT collar mean they were going into the show ring and would gait all pretty and stand pretty when I would stop. A thick choke chaine was used for obedienace. he knew he was going to be doing obediance and would follow my heel and sit when I stopped. A buckle collar was used for agility. He would get so excited because he loved to run the agility course. I had a smartttt dog.. haha!

But it all comes down to, if your dog is well-behaved then it doesn't matter which you use.

calindi

That's true, Amanda.  My dog is 12 pounds, I could tie a string to her and have control. 

Amanda, I'd love to hear some agility training ideas!  We're going to try to get Sasha into that this summer/fall.  I have to get her a bit better on "come" and "stay" first.

AmandaSC1988

Agility is probably the most fun you will have with your dog... a good base of obedienace is key..and many places will either perform a test to make sure your dog knows how to obey or they will require you to go to obedieance classes first. Also most places will not allow puppies to do agility because the jumping is notgood for dogs under 6 mo. I can't remember how old you said sasha was...but just keep that in mind!

I would get her a little familar before you go to classes. Making a make shift jump is always a good idea (that is normally the first obsticale that dog learns. Two chairs and a broom handle. Put the broom on the floor and with your dog on leash walk them over thebroom telling them to go "over" (you don't walk over you walk on the outside of the chair.) just keep doing it until she learns that "over" means go between the chairs and over the broom handle. You can raise it if you want..but no higher than her shoulders.

You can also buy a child's play tunnel (2 feet diameter is good size) it will be perfect for training the tunnel...get it as small lengthwise as it can get... then you need to start out with two people. Get FI hold her at one end, and then you RUN to the other side of the tunnel (as FI holds her at the start), bend down and show her you are at the other end of the tunnel, then in the most obnoxious voice call her "Sasha! Tunnel!" Make sure she runs through the tunnel. Eventuallywhen FI is holding her and you are running away she will want to run through the tunnel before you even get to the end.  When she gets to that point you can do away with FI and lead her up to the tunnel and she will run through it.
 
it is hard to explain, but I can try to find some videos when I get home.

divinemsbee

I love dog talk. Archie does have a harness, we used it for walks before we got this collar, and before he ate part of it (it's still usable, just half eaten). He's totally a puller, and I've notice that its actually better just in the couple of times I've taken him out with this one on. Since we don't have a yard (my only complaint with this place) we go out multiple times a day in addition to his walk, and lots of times if he sees other dogs (or cats, or birds, or people, or leaves) he would pull so hard that I though he was going to pull the leash away from me. 

I'm hoping this wears in the more he wears it. I don't mind straightening it when he comes in, but it's kind of a pain when we're out and he's not pulling but it won't retract.

amh04

Amanda - your 100% right, we had the normal one (harness) and it really did give her control of us and herself. (She's 70 lbs) The easy walk is amazing and if you have a puller, I'd recommend it hands down. But if your dog is well behaved, it really doesn't matter.

The agility sounds interesting, and definitely something we might look further into once our dog is more obident.

divinemsbee

Also, I have a question if anyone reads this: Archie likes to put my fingers in his mouth. He doesn't bite or snap, but sometimes when we're playing, or even when I go to pet his, he'll follow my hand with his nose and then open his mouth and try to put my hands in it. He's a huge chewer (he has many many chewy toys), and I wondered if that's something to do with it. He never bites down, just puts hands in his mouth. I'm wondering if it's a dominance thing? And how do I break it?

AmandaSC1988

Dominace, pure dominace. How to react to It depends on how sensative your dog is. You can either:

1. thump him on the nose and tell him "NO" (for the hard headed dogs)
2. Take your hand out and scream like it hurts. (a really sensative dog will get worried and stop doing it.)
3. Take your hand out and put a toy in his mouth.

Whichever way you handle it (and your dog responds best at) completely remove yourself from the situation, stop petting him and totally ignore him for a couple of minutes.