Sturdy Dog Collar?

[pts]

I am in need of a good sturdy dog collar for Hudson. We have found strangely enough that he walks much better on just a collar than on a gentle leader or newtrix leader, but our collar can't take the wear (when he pulls he can almost get it off!!). So, we are looking for just a plain old collar. One that snaps on/off would be nice since we take it off in the house, but I know those are less sturdy.

Oh, for those who are not familiar with my "boy"- he is a 70 lb border collie/German Shep cross, so it really needs to be fairly indestructable. He also loves getting wet, so one that will stand up over time with swimming.

Any reviews?

[Jo-Jo]

C-Moss has a collar and leash from Canine Equipment.
She's had this collar and leash since she was one (she's now eight

She loves the water too...

[graciousgoat]

We use a martingale collar for our beasts and it works well. Also had good results with the senseible harness...

[Jo-Jo]

We use a martingale collar for our beasts and it works well. Also had good results with the senseible harness...

I too endorse the martingale collar. Actually the one C-Moss has from Canine Equipment is a martingale. For those who wonder what this is...the one C-Moss has is fabric with a "piece" of chain link. It is the sound of the chain that you use to give "correction" ...i.e. it is not a choke or prong collar.

I started using a martingale when it was obvious that a haltie or gentle leader was not the right thing for C-Moss. Using those she became compliant to the point of acting depressed on her walks.

For a dog who does not always have the best manners she is excellent on leash...I can walk her with a "loose leash" much of the time. I credit the martingale for helping out in this area

[Doonst]

We just got a big package from Backcountry K-9. Including running leashes and cycling attachments, and backpack. Your number one source for doggy gatorade!

[Jo-Jo]

We just got a big package from Backcountry K-9. Including running leashes and cycling attachments, and backpack. Your number one source for doggy gatorade!

I actually sent some doggie gatorade to my friend Mike for his doggies, Rex and Kona a couple years ago. (as a bit of a joke I must admit...but he said they liked it!) Haven't been able to find any since...so thanks for the link. Mike's wife just started a dog walking/adventure hiking business called Go-Dog-Go (for anyone living in Victoria, B.C. ) so I think I'll send her a little present of these soon

[klc]

We use a martingale collar for our beasts and it works well. Also had good results with the senseible harness...

I too endorse the martingale collar. Actually the one C-Moss has from Canine Equipment is a martingale. For those who wonder what this is...the one C-Moss has is fabric with a "piece" of chain link. It is the sound of the chain that you use to give "correction" ...i.e. it is not a choke or prong collar.

I started using a martingale when it was obvious that a haltie or gentle leader was not the right thing for C-Moss. Using those she became compliant to the point of acting depressed on her walks.

For a dog who does not always have the best manners she is excellent on leash...I can walk her with a "loose leash" much of the time. I credit the martingale for helping out in this area

I saw that on someone's dog in the Pets thread and wanted to ask what it was. Problem solved. Oliver is not the most well behaved on a leash, at least when I am at the other end of it. However, he seems to have some reaction to certain types of collars and it wears the fur off his neck.

[klc]

We just got a big package from Backcountry K-9. Including running leashes and cycling attachments, and backpack. Your number one source for doggy gatorade!

I actually sent some doggie gatorade to my friend Mike for his doggies, Rex and Kona a couple years ago. (as a bit of a joke I must admit...but he said they liked it!) Haven't been able to find any since...so thanks for the link. Mike's wife just started a dog walking/adventure hiking business called Go-Dog-Go (for anyone living in Victoria, B.C. ) so I think I'll send her a little present of these soon

You know, I have often wondered about doggie Gatorade. Oliver sometimes runs 5 days in a week! I am glad that I am not crazy after-all!

[runner67]

I got an adjustable collar which is a nice easy snap on (like my running belt) and a good solid leash, both made of nylon at believe it or not Superstore! Cost me less than $20 for both! Just for reference my dog is about 65lbs, he is a Golden Retriever and only about 1 1/2 years old and plenty of pup left in him so he still likes to think he is taking me for a run!!!

[VeloCarrie]

I have three of the cozy hemp dog collars from http://www.planetdog.com. They are quite durable and are real comfortable on the dog's neck. Stella has already broken her harness (which I didn't buy from Planet Dog), so I'll be ordering a new harness from them for her. I should have ordered the harness from them in the first place.

[ceileigh]

I'll add to the martingale group. I have 3 shetland sheepdogs. Biggest issue is their necks, full of fur, can be bigger then their head. The result is they can pop off a standard collar. One day my oldest did not want to get in the car (car phobia when younger). He stopped, backed up suddenly, and before I knew it was collar free. He took one look at me, one look at the car, realized he was free and was gone. Forget the training, treats, etc. He almost got hit by a car and I only caught him when he cut through someone's back yard that had deep enough snow to slow him down! No more flat collars for me ... ever! And I was a firm flat collar believer and trainer before that.

The martingale is not a choke collar which I like, but will not pop off either. It is a great training collar. My six month old walks just fine with hers and I walk all 3 together on them. It is wonderful for self correcting for dogs that pull too (walk dog on umbilical style lead, when it goes ahead of you, you turn without any notice and run - bolt - vamoose - the opposite direction ... dogs learn fast to watch you and stay beside or just behind you!)

Places to get them include:

www.bradpattison.com (nice sturdy collars and the six legs to fitness ones have a matching hands free lead that is great for running but online orders only)

www.rcpets.com (links to stores that sell their products)

Many places make these you just have to be sure that the chain part is good enough quality not to break and that the collar overall is not too heavy or too light for your dog.

[ultraslacker]

I just use the nylon snap-on ones from any pet store. Sammy gets a new collar every year anyway (the old ones get stinky after lots of swimming and hiking and playing in mud!) so it's not a big deal.

However, we have a "wearing" collar and a "walking" collar. The "wearing" collar (the plain nylon one) stays on him all the time (except at bedtime) and has his tags on it. Then the "walking" collar is sort of like the martingale but it's the barkbusters version. It just stays attached to the leash at all times, and slips on and off his head. It does give me the extra control when I need it. We've had it three years and it hasn't broken or anything, though one time the clasp came undone (it's a buckle type, so get something more secure).

[Gear Boy]

http://www.ruffwear.com After looking for gear for Ursa (now 90+ lbs at 10 months) this stuff has held up wonderfully.

[VeloCarrie]

http://www.ruffwear.com After looking for gear for Ursa (now 90+ lbs at 10 months) this stuff has held up wonderfully.

OMG, Ursa is getting big!

[Doonst]

http://www.ruffwear.com After looking for gear for Ursa (now 90+ lbs at 10 months) this stuff has held up wonderfully.

I mentioned this site to Doonst SO and she pointed out that most of the stuff that we got from Backcountry K9 is Ruff Wear brand. But usually cheaper, and with alternatives.

[doonst SO]

For running, I use a harness and roamer leash, a leash that has an elastic core that extends to 4.5 extra feet and stretches out to about 11 feet, see http://www.backcountryK9.com. It clips around my waist and Tuzo pulls me making me run faster. You need to be careful when out on the street, if your dog doesn't run straight ahead. It has a short part that doesn't extend when you are crossing the street etc.

And for proper walking, I use a slip lead leash, made out of climbers rope, http://www.pathcom.com/~crasher/ , crashtest toys, they make good tug toys and other leashes/collar combinations. A slip lead leash is similar to a 'choke chain + leash'. I am a fan of the choke collar for proper healing walking. If Hudson wants to wander around and sniff I don't recommend the choke collar.

If Hudson is always pulling then stop walking. Wait. Make him come back to 'heal' position before you start again. Sometimes it takes along time to get to the park because Tuzo is so excited. Pull ahead, back to heal. Pull ahead, back to heal. He walks so much better on the way back home.

[Jo-Jo]

If Hudson is always pulling then stop walking. Wait. Make him come back to 'heal' position before you start again. Sometimes it takes along time to get to the park because Tuzo is so excited. Pull ahead, back to heal. Pull ahead, back to heal. He walks so much better on the way back home.

I think this is excellent advice. It's how I got my little "Beastie...C-Moss" to behave on leash

[ultraslacker]

If Hudson is always pulling then stop walking. Wait. Make him come back to 'heal' position before you start again. Sometimes it takes along time to get to the park because Tuzo is so excited. Pull ahead, back to heal. Pull ahead, back to heal. He walks so much better on the way back home.

I think this is excellent advice. It's how I got my little "Beastie...C-Moss" :wink: to behave on leash :D

I do something a little different... if Sammy keeps pulling (after gentle reminders not to pull) then I just do a 180 and walk the opposite direction, and if necessary go back and forth until he falls naturally into heel position, then continue on.

[ceileigh]

I do similar to ultraslacker - turn 180 without any notice - but when i turn I will sprint in the opposite direction and then suddenly stop. I also do 'urban agility' which is winding between obstacles. So I'll be walking along and suddenly take a nothing to circle around a fire hydrant or weave between telephone poles. Lots of fun and keeps my pups attention on me!

[ultraslacker]

I do similar to ultraslacker - turn 180 without any notice - but when i turn I will sprint in the opposite direction and then suddenly stop. I also do 'urban agility' which is winding between obstacles. So I'll be walking along and suddenly take a nothing to circle around a fire hydrant or weave between telephone poles. Lots of fun and keeps my pups attention on me!

we did a lot of random weaving and circling in the early days, when he was learning how to walk nicely. He HATED it because he has control issues, lol. (When I first got him, he FOUGHT me on every single walk. It was really frustrating!) Now he walks well *most* of the time, though he still pulls if we are in unfamiliar territory or if he's worked up about something.

[Jo-Jo]

If Hudson is always pulling then stop walking. Wait. Make him come back to 'heal' position before you start again. Sometimes it takes along time to get to the park because Tuzo is so excited. Pull ahead, back to heal. Pull ahead, back to heal. He walks so much better on the way back home.

I think this is excellent advice. It's how I got my little "Beastie...C-Moss" to behave on leash

I do something a little different... if Sammy keeps pulling (after gentle reminders not to pull) then I just do a 180 and walk the opposite direction, and if necessary go back and forth until he falls naturally into heel position, then continue on.

I also do this sometimes...if I remember correctly a dog trainer gave me this tip.