Collar Use - Where and when your dog should wear one
Collar Use - Where and when your dog should wear one
All too often, I am reminded of the dilemma regarding the use collars and the potential of strangulation. Normally the reminder comes in the form of a tragic loss of someone's dog due to strangulation while wearing its collar.
When should collars be used? When shouldn't they be? It's a well know fact that hundreds of dogs die to strangulation annually. There are a couple of common reasons for this. The first is due to our forgetfulness as owners. Around the home or kennel, where the dogs are reasonably docile, collars don't tend to be a huge issue. It is convenient to leave them on the dog. However, when the dog is left unattended or enters the field environment, there are countless opportunities for your dog to become entangled by their collar. Once your dog becomes snagged on a bush, branch fence etc, it begins to panic and aggressively fight the "unseen obstacle" The fit that ensues often ends in strangulation, drowning or broken bones. In the best case it causes severe fright.
Dogs and situations most vulnerable to strangulation:
- Puppies left unattended in a fenced area- Due to their enthusiasm for life and desire to run, they often seek a way over, under or through their fencing
- Know jumpers and climbers- Dogs that are suspected or known jumpers or climbers are vulnerable to getting snagged every time they attempt to leave their fenced area.
- Hunting dogs- Any breed in any environment. Whether it is heavy cover or a creek bank, snags abound. If you are lucky and your dog snags on land and makes enough fuss for you to find him, you might stand a chance. The water is another story, where the potential for drowning adds a whole new dimension to the story.
This weekend at a AKC Hunter test in Waldorf Maryland, I witnessed first hand why you should always take off your dog's collar before hunting or conducting training in water. While retreiving during a test, a lab's collar got caught up in brush only a few yards. Thankfully there were experienced people nearby and the dog was within reach.
Don't be one of the few who think it will never happen to you. Take off your dog's collar and let him or her live to hunt another day.
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