What type of collar do you prefer?

erica1989

A prong is not a bad thing, as long as it is used properly - which it sounds like you are doing.

Thanks, Erica.  I wish she didn't have to wear such a scary-looking thing!  :-) And I so envy other people who have their well trained dogs that do not 'go nuts' at the smallest of things.   I had tried a Gentle Leader during her early training, as a trainer had recommended -- but even that did not work; she was just so hyper during those days that she had huge burn marks on the bridge of her nose from the Leader -- no amount of discomfort from the Leader would deter her.  She's a show dog and this just wouldn't do!  With the prong she knows there are limitations and respects that -- combine that with training, and she is finally coming along very nicely!

 Put a pretty bandana or poofy collar or collar cover over that prong, and most folks won't notice

Bean wears a buckle collar or harness, and Jewel wears a martingale or harness, most times. I do use slip leads, for convenience. Neither pulls. I've had all sorts of collars break in the oddest of places, but never on the buckle. *shrugs* Even a slip lead can snap in seconds. They go naked inside, because I have multiple dogs, all the time, and accidents happen FAST. 

jennie_c_d

 Put a pretty bandana or poofy collar or collar cover over that prong, and most folks won't notice

 

What a great idea, Jennie!  I like it!!!!

 LOL, I've been there! Try using one on an adorable, little dog in public and see the disgusted looks you get. OMG PUPPY TORTURE!

 about hiding the prong collar if you go to the Mid atlantic great dane rescue I think they sell collars that cover prong collars - I saw them at a dog event a couple of years ago

Bugsy has a ton of collars in fact just earlier I was looking at them and organizing them LOL

He has a ton of snap or quick release collars but I am afraid he can bust those open in a milli-second so we don't use them for anything but decoration. Its concerning in hindsight that I used to walk him in them all the time.

Now I will only buy buckle collars and my preference is for the rubbery type ones with the O ring in the center

Blu Bugsy is a very large dane mix - 105lbs of raw power and intensity he has broken prong collars, sigh.  If I need to ensure complete control well as complete as I will get he wears a prong AND a harness

Well do I ever feel like a wuss now.  I have two Australian Cattle Dogs and a BorderJackJack.  Abby (my first dog - ACD) used to wear buckle collars, but we'd go to the dog park and she loves to swim in the river.  Lets just say, the collars weren't as easy to clean as the dog.  And was looking for a different type.

 Then I got Cindy Lou (another ACD) who weighed near 80# and could slip a standard collar - her head was smaller than her neck.  Found the martingales and it was one she couldn't get off by pulling back.  She had a few issues and her getting loose was not a good thing.  Switched Abby to a martingale as well as it was easy to get off when we went to the DP.  CL is now down to 53# and doesn't require the martingale but the one she has is just really pretty.

Ditto the BorderJackJack came with a martingale.  I've had him a total of 5.5 days so far but it works well for him. 

 For walking, CL wears a gentle leader (she has dog aggression issues and it helps tone her behavior down), Abby wears an easy walk harness and Ditto wears a straight harness at the moment.  Abby and Ditto also do flyball.  For that Abby wears a regular harness and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Ditto.  The harness gives me something more to hold on to and an easier way to catch her.  I'm thinking Ditto might get one too...just have to run him a few times and see what happens.

HeelerLady

Ditto the BorderJackJack came with a martingale.  I've had him a total of 5.5 days so far but it works well for him. 

Where are the pic's of Ditto??!!    You can't throw that out and not show us pictures.  lol

My dogs wear whatever is appropriate for the occasion.  I like martingales for security and they wear breakaway when they are home alone.  I like the Dublin buckle collars, a lot. 

kpwlee

Blu Bugsy is a very large dane mix - 105lbs of raw power and intensity he has broken prong collars, sigh.  If I need to ensure complete control well as complete as I will get he wears a prong AND a harness

What kind of harness do you recommend?  Thx!

Having sighthounds, I only use martingales.

I have mostly snap collars, a few rolled leather buckle and a few harnesses.  I am a collar whore LOL. I should recount how many I do have. It's crazy.

I generally keep a collar on the girls all the time. THey do not wrestle play so I don't worry about entanglement.  Their tags are also in theses little leather pouches which hangs on the collar. 

Bailey is almost always nekkid in the house, so he doesnt have a collar on most of the time.

If he needs to be wearing a collar for any length of time, I use a rolled leather collar. He has really thick neck hair, so any other collar will leave a mark if its on for a long time. I just made him a slip rolled leather collar to replace his old buckle one that I had bought at the pet store that was falling apart. I also use it for quick potty walks outside, because its really easy to slip on and off.

If we are going on a walk, he will wear one of his "pretty" leather collars with his name on it.

All of the leather collars I make, and any/all the collars I use on Bailey have metal buckles. I will NEVER trust a snap buckle, for any dog.

For everyday use, both dogs wear basic flat buckle collars. For walking, I use gentle leaders or maritangle collars on them.

 My dogs have collars on all the time (what if there was a fire or a tree fell on the house and I wasn't home).  But, when they are alone, they wear breakaways or safety collars.  For everyday, I like snap collars for the girls (they have top notch recalls or I would use buckles).  And, for the hound, I like martingales, even though he is currently wearing a flat (I liked the pattern and had to have it). 

I like the Tazlab because it doesn't have to break to free the dog, so in case there's not enough force to break the dog can slip free, or you can slip him free.  I'm going to put a link on the "things dog.com should carry" thread, too.