Hi notsure if this has happen to anyone or know of anyone else. my friend has told me that he had litter puppies, and they were only few hours old when he heard puppie crying when he went straight away to see and to his horror 1 puppie had got it's head stuck between the bitches collar just hanging there! horror & very upsetting . removed pup ( pup is ok) the collar of the bitch had become loose due to the bitch losing weight . so please check collars havn't become loose or even remove them .

I would have thought it standard practise to remove the collar (quite some time before whelping) - I'm amazed your friend would have left it on!

They were very lucky to save the pup

My adult dogs don't even wear collars in the house/garden due to two of them almost choking to death after the split pins on their name tags became intertwined, if I hadn't been in the house at the time I dread to think what might have happened.

Now they only wear collars when leaving the property, and they also now have collars with ID details embroidered on them rather than tags.

Last year a woman in our villages dog died after her two dogs got tangled up, one was wearing a choke chain and the other dog got it's leg caught in it :-(

> and they were only few hours old

I'm a bit shocked that anyone would have a bitch actually wearing a collar for whelping.  And still wearing it when pups are a few hours old.  This is definitely not an experienced dog person.

My dogs don't routinely wear collars in the house (although I fully understand with a strong, large breed, you may leave a collar on for better control.)  But  pregnant bitch?   What a danger!  And how irresponsible.

I would have thought common sense tells you to remove the collar. 

I NEVER leave a collar on a bitch in the whelping box, for the reason stated, or when around the pups until weaned.

My dogs normally always wear collars 24/7 as in my risk assessment the dangers are more from not wearing them (live on busy road with bus route, only small hall, easy for someone to not shut a door and open the front door etc, or with this number for someone to sneak past.

My dogs do not normally wear collars unless going off my property.

Removing a collar from one who is in whelp is a must - common sense really.  Just relieved this 'breeder' was on hand to stop a tragedy.

My dogs never wear a collar in my grounds, too many have been killed by jumping onto kitchen units and getting strangled on the door knobs etc.

So glad that your friend was there to rescue the pup in time.

Not my dogs of course !

Wouldn't dream of having a collar on a mum with litter.  Mine don't wear a collar unless leaving our house, had a fright many many years ago with a young Boxer and a half check collar, since then all collars removed.  Hope this girl's collar has since been removed.

> due to two of them almost choking to death after the split pins on their name tags became intertwined

I have had problems with the split rings on name tags too as my dad doesn't see very well and keeps attaching the lead to the split ring instead of the collar. I've now replaced the split rings with small cable ties and its worked a treat with no chance of them getting entangled either.

Youve just solved a problem for me!My daughter took Jess a walk,and attached the lead to the split ring,luckily didnt lose the name tag. as well!Cant see anyone mistaking a cable tie for the collar ring!Thanks,Dakkobear!

Mine haven't worn collars in the house since my now 6 year old bitch arrived as a puppy, after the 2nd time I got home to find a chewed collar in the dog bed I realised that it was (a) too expensive to keep replacing even cheap collars, and (b) only a matter of time before she strangled the other dogs instead of just ripping the collars off their heads!

The breeder i got my frenchie from lost a Dogue in a collar accident and none of hers wear them any more in the house. Mine havent for a while but used to for safety, in-case door was left open. But they dont try to escape at every opportunity anyway. Also since having had my furminator and the coat being free from dead hair i found that the chain my dog wears really cut into his fur (not even that heavy just thicker than most) and really messes the hair up round the neck so none wear them in the house now. I only use chains as i had a leather one lose its pin and the collar came off. No wear and tear either so they have one collar for adult life.

I must be the odd one out here as mine wear collars all the time.  I don't breed though so can't comment on that aspect.

I have collars on mine for control incase a scrap breaks out, to pull the big one away from the fence when kitty cats are teasing him, incase they get out the house so they can be identified or if the house gets broken into at least someone has a chance of catching them if they are wearing collars.

Thankfully I have never had any collar mishaps but they aren't left together when I am out so no chance of any play mishaps when not supervised.

Your not alone, only time they don't have one on is when they have pups or have a bath.

Mine don't wear collars except when we are out. I have just looked after a 5 month old Labrador and already she has a truly horrid collar mark deeply imprinted on her neck, and no, the collar isn't tight. It is so ugly and will probably be with her for life. I can't see why you would do that.

>Mine don't wear collars except when we are out. I have just looked after a 5 month old Labrador and already she has a truly horrid collar mark deeply imprinted on her neck, and no, the collar isn't tight. It is so ugly and will probably be with her for life. I can't see why you would do that.

Because safety is more important than vanity.

Thanks Dakkobear.  Simple and effective!  Great idea.

>my dad doesn't see very well and keeps attaching the lead to the split ring instead of the collar

My mother in law does the exact same thing and then we lose name tags

>I've now replaced the split rings with small cable ties

What a great idea - thanks

> already she has a truly horrid collar mark deeply imprinted on her neck, and no, the collar isn't tight. It is so ugly and will probably be with her for life. I can't see why you would do that.

Mine wear round leather half check collars to minimise any wear.

>already she has a truly horrid collar mark deeply imprinted on her neck, and no, the collar isn't tight.

What sort of a collar does she wear? When we used a flat leather collar the same thing happened to our dog (and no, it never went). Since we started using rolled leather collars we haven't had the problem. But even so ours don't wear collars in the house to prevent accidents and damage.

Yes, back when mine did wear collars I always used the rolled leather ones, not cheap but worth it for me as I show them. Now they only wear collars on walks, I just buy cheap stuff, they don't tend to pull hard enough to break, though of course I check them regularly for signs of wear! :-p

I had a horrible experience some years ago with Spud and his mum Celeste, they were playing in the park, Spud had a habit of grabbing his mum's collar and pulling her, it was a flat buckle collar, this time though he some how managed to get the collar twisted round his lower jaw and was strangling Celeste, the collar was pulled so tight I couldn't undo the buckle and Celeste's tongue was now turning blue !, luckily I always have a pen knife with me on my key ring and I was able to cut the collar, I never use soft flat collars now.

Ours have never worn a collar unless going out, with the size of their delap never thought it fair unless out on lead. Fortunately they have never fought and if when playing things have got a little too rough, have stoped when asked to. Back garden is walled with two gates to get through and the latter always locked unless we are with them, do keep two slip leads by the front door just in case.

There are risks with everything and we have to make our own risk assessments versus benefits.

Mine wear collars all the time - having lost one dog overnight due to a firework going off just as the door was opened and the finder ringing me the next day using the details on his ID tags I wouldn't want to risk losing one with no ID on at all. Our dogs are microchipped but dog tags are far quicker and easier for a finder to see contact details.

Oh yes, mine ahve quality ID tags, adn their chip tags also on their collars at all times.  they are chipped and tattooed, so go about with 3 forms of ID..

Mine doesn't wear a collar usually until we take her outside. Usually just because I forget to put it back on after her bath :)