My pomeranian/yorkshire terrier dog - Baby (whom I rescued, as she was beaten & kept in a cage all of her life!) sometimes & somehow, slips out of the collar, & it is very frightening for me, (because 4 yrs.later, I still "work" with her 24hrs.a day, & there is a chance that at that moment she may not listen if I tell her to stay, as sometimes she becomes very confused and scared, and then could run into the road! So,. are there any collars (non-cruel types) suggestions appreciated! (Please do not tell me to make it tighter as then she starts to gag!) Each time I put on her collar to go out, she is terrified, starts to cower etc. and so I must reassure her, etc.etc.. . so obviously she has had some "bad "collar experiences" in the past. (When I finally got her out of that house she was wearing a horrible collar,very tight....and they used to leave her in the cage and go away 5 days at a time! so....) I have "heard" that there is a type of "kind" collar that prevents them from somehow escaping... I was wondering if there is a specific name? THANKS

I'm sure they have some advice that can help you. As a dog lover myself, I congratulate and thank you for getting Baby out of the horrible situation she was in. I hope her former owners were charged w/ animal abuse...

I know there are collard out there that kind of look like a chain - I can't put my finger on it (anyone know what I'm referring to?) But call your local vet. Or any pet store and I'm sure they can help you. They can probalby give you advice on how to train her, too, so she won't be scared, etc.

Good luck, and thanks again for rescuing Baby! I'm sure she'll have a good home!

What type of a collar are you using? I have tried some of the newer fabric types and had poor luck with them. I don't reject anything new, just what doesn't work. Some come unbuckled, and the adjustable ones, adjust to where they come off. I have gone back to the traditional leather ones. The fabric ones aren't made like the leather ones. I have fairly good luck getting the collar small enough that it won't go over the dogs head, but I can still a couple of fingers under it making sure the dog can breathe. Of course, Labs have very big heads for the size of their neck. I keep a leather collar on my dogs at all times with their ID and rabies tag. When I take them for a walk, I add a metal slip collar. They are very secure for walking a dog, but require training the dog not to pull and choke itself. You also should never let the dog run in one because it is too easy to strangle itself. Perhaps you should look at a fabric restricted slip collar. They have a fabric loop at one end with a metal ring holding the other end in the loop, allowing it to slid back a forth. Find one, or adjust one to where it will go on over the puppies head, but will not tighten up past a snug fit around the neck. Put it on the same way as the metal slip collar. The service dog school my Pepper went to uses them on all their dogs, puppies and working dogs, except where they must use a head collar. I think these collars are what some people call a Nightingale collar.

Head collars, Haltie, Promise, or Gentle Leader work extremely well with dogs that pull. I don't think that is your problem, and Baby might not be comfortable with the second loop around her nose.

My Pepper recently finished service dog school, but I don't have the details on where she went and what she is actually trained to do. In November, my Lab/Golden cross, Sheba goes to dog guide school, and I hope to get another puppy from the service dog school.

Hi!
Thank you for Baby!
I think you will warm her dog's heart.
As regards a collar I had the same situation with my lap-dog Jusha, who was very nervous because her first owners kept her in little kitchen. I used the chain which was made especially for Yorks. It was the nice light chain. It was like that on the picture. But this is for bigger dogs.
Ask about such chains in the shops or on dog-shows.

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Hi Violet. A big thank you from me too for taking in Baby. Have you considered a harness? My vet doesn't like them as he thinks they encourage pulling, but in your case is she pulling? If she's a tiny dog, for me anyway just stopping in your tracks a few times as she pulls could discourage her from it if she is. I mean, at least you wouldn't lose her! I haven't read all the advice on the thread yet but hope someone is more helpful than I.

Hello everybody, I just found a neat site for all animals, to include humor and health.. try it out.

http://www.sniksnak.com/

There is a new harness out, halti harness, it's just great and prevents pulling!

Found it! I'll check it out later. Thanks!

http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/halti-harness.php

Thanks for all of the kind words of support and encouragement with regards to saving Baby. I would like you all to know, that, although I saved her, I am so grateful that "karma" or some higher power or..? connected us, as I truly feel that she has also rescued me! :)
Regarding the halti harness, I will definitely check it out, as I am curious-thanks Becky 92029 & Melinda... (I have attempted 2 different harnesses; with one she refused to walk - the fit just was not working for her... rubbing on her legs and the other one, not sure why it keeps her from running, walking and just enjoying her walk... maybe I will try it again one day as it is a nice design)
Landrail - I appreciate the photo, wanted to know - would this type of collar not hurt her? As she loves to take off on a sudden run, but then the retractable leash that I use, has no more length left as it has come to it's end, and so it always gives her neck quite an unexpected tug-yank (OW! :eek: and how sad when she it won't let her continue,unfortuately for her :( Often, I wish someone would develop a VERY VERY LONGGGGGG - retractable leash, (for those times when I go to a huge football field with beautiful grass, and she justs takes an energetic run and then BAM, the end of the leash stops her wonderful burst of energy :( I really feel horrible whenever she goes through that YANK at the end! )... so my question to you is: would this chain collar STRANGLE HER?! YIKES!
Labman, AGAIN: BRAVO!! You are such a truly, kind and dedicated dog lover, to be able to do what you do! WOW!. HOW DO YOU DO IT?! I guess it is similar to when I rescue dogs and cats and then find them homes (which of course, must be fantastic!) where I pray they will live happily ever after! People always say "Oh, I could never do that, how do you do it!?" (Referring to how can I not get attached to them and be able to give them up for adoption!). At the moment I am using a terrible one... it is made of a shiny woven, but slippery type of synthetic fabric (DUH! ) And, again, you are right - I could NEVER use a head collar for Baby - NO WAY! Is this metal slip collar you refer to, which you refer to as the "strangling type" , anything like the photo that Landrail has sent me? I am definitely going to check out the fabric restricted type of collar you are suggesting, which may be called a "Nightingale"?. HAS ANYONE EVER HAD GOOD LUCK OR EXPERIENCES WITH THIS TYPE? Or know of a site to see one which has an explanation?

The metal collar Landrail posted the picture of is the standard collar for obedience training. It is called the choke collar or slip collar. I have used it with 15 of the 16 dogs I have had as an adult. No injuries. I used the fabric version I talked about for the 16'th puppy. It is important to put it on correctly. You want the shortest one that will go on
And off easily. If you walk with the dog on the left, pull the chain through
One loop forming a "P". Facing it, slip it over its head. The free end
Should come over the neck to the leash, and the other end should drop slack
When there is no pull on the leash. The only other precaution is, before 4 months use a conventional flat collar to protect the tender young neck.

I have never had a dog slip out of one when on lead. If allowed to run loose, they are more likely to catch on something and strangle the dog. It is best to remove it when the dog is not on lead. I leave mine on the leash. I use a flat leather collar to hold the dog's rabies and ID tag. Do you have Baby chipped? Ask you vet about it. Most vets and shelters have a scanner that instantly identifies a chipped dog insuring its return to its owner.

On my one tour of the dog guide school kennels, I noticed a bolt cutter or 2 hanging in each bay. I asked why. A slip collar is put on the dogs the day the dogs go to the school. The collar does not come off as long as the dog is at the school. Occasionally, one dog will get its mouth caught in another dogs collar. None of the dogs have been injured that way, but some trainers have been separating them.

If you are comfortable trying a slip collar with Baby, go ahead. If you give a really hard jerk on the leash with one on a small dog, you could injure it. I don't see you ever doing that to Baby. I am talking a drastic, flip the dog over correction. You love Baby too much to ever reach the point oh hurting her that way.

I find that using a harness with soft fleece lined straps offers more control and prevents a collapsed trachea, often occurring in small breeds. I feel that a halter is safer than a collar, but it might be better to ask your Vet if your dog is at risk for a collapsed trachea and go from there. I never use collars on my Chihuahuas because their necks are so delicate and if they pull hard they start hacking and coughing. But when it comes down to it it is your choice, so try a few different ones and see what your dog does best with.

Don't know if this is helpful or not, but greyhounds and other sighthounds tend to use martingale collars, since their head/neck is essentially a triangle with the nose being the smallest width. So normal collars either have to be extremely tight, or else they will slip off when the dog backs up. A martingale collar is essentially a double-loop collar, and should be sized so that when pulled tight right at the hollow behind the ears, there is space for two fingers in the flat part of the small loop. The link below explains better than I can how they work.

How a Martingale Collar Works

While I am a strong proponent of microchipping (all my pets are, and it helped my mom get her dog back after she wound up 23 miles away, a week after she ran off, in miserably cold winter weather), as the vet who put mine in reminded me: it only works if you keep your information updated. So anyone who has chipped pets: have you moved, changed phone numbers, vets, need a new back-up person to list? If you have, get that information in!

Wow... this has been quite awhile since I posted that question!! In the meantime, I did change and have been using a wonderful harness (company RC in Canada) and I think they are absolutely fantastic, better than constantly having the dog's neck pulled!! The harness is definitely the way to go and I would NEVER go back to using a collar!! Thanks for your replies everyone! :)