Collar Safety Tips

• Remove collars when crating or boarding. ALWAYS take the collar OFF before placing your dog in a crate.
   

• Check daycare, and kennel facility policies. They should NOT be putting your dog in a crate or kennel with a collar on, either of these are dangerous practices with deadly consequences.   
   

• Make sure dog groomers are NOT leaving your dogs tethered to walls, or kenneling with collars/leashes.  Also, make sure they do NOT leave your dogs on the grooming table unattended (EVER)
   

• Look for opportunities to live and "play naked" (without collars). 

  • Remove the collar when your dog is home alone unattended to prevent entanglement, hanging, or strangulation.

  • Remove the collar when you kennel/crate your dog to prevent hanging or strangulation.

  • Remove the collar when you leave the house. Don't leave your dog in the backyard with a standard collar - they can jump and get hooked on the fence causing hanging, or get caught in deck slats, bushes, etc.

  • Remove collars during play - - this is the most COMMON dog collar strangulation accident.  When dogs are playing - their jaw can get hooked (especially if they're play biters) - it happens quickly.  One dog dies of strangulation and the other sustains injuries, jaw damage, edemas, and even death from breaking their neck.​  We know several people who have lost both dogs to collar strangulation.

  • Good Rule of Thumb - No collars when your dog is left unattended - ever.  Play naked (or) use breakaway collars.​
     

• Your dog doesn't need to wear their collar inside the house when you are not home. This is especially important if you have more than one dog. Play biting is the top-reported collar accident.  Dogs can also hang themselves on kitchen knobs, door knobs, furniture, bed springs, etc.  Dogs can also get their tags stuck in heater vents.
   

• Choose collars wisely. 

  • It is important to understand the different collar options available to you. Not all collars fit all situations.

  • Consider quick-release or breakaway collars, or opt for a harness.

  • Avoid chain "training" collars.  (You need bolt cutters to remove these in an emergency).
     

• Supervise your dogs so that if they get into trouble, you can help them.  Many times, people have sadly watched their dog(s) die in front of them and were not able to save one or both dogs when entanglement/strangulation happens.
   

• Keep an emergency tool kit handy with tested tools to cut off any collar. 

  • The tool kit should include a bolt cutter and industrial-strength scissors.
     

• Microchip your dog. 

  • Collar or no collar, this will increase your chances of being reunited if they are lost or stolen.

 

Note Worthy

Make it your business to understand the difference between a quick-release collar and a breakaway collar. Many consumers confuse the two collar types. 

 

A breakaway collar will break away under pressure and fall off your dog.  This is the safest collar option when one is needed.

 

A quick-release collar requires a human to release the buckle. We have heard story after story where the quick-release buckle jams under pressure and will not release necessitating it to be cut off to avoid strangulation. Beware. 

 

Collars that are worn loosely around the neck (think chain, martingale) have a greater chance of getting caught on something, or another dog's jaw which results in collar entanglement and is almost always deadly for one, or both dogs. Tags and dog collar charms are also a culprits. They get caught in deck slats, and many other things in, and around the house.  

 

Again, beware of the dangers that lurk.