Please take care with collars

Three weeks ago I purchased new collars for our Utonagan dogs, mum and dad plus their two 7 month old pups.

We had a terrible accident happen to our male pup and if possible I would like you to warn other dog owners what can occur.

Both of the adults have normally had thick leather collars, but on this occasion (three weeks ago) I purchased the new type of woven, padded material type with a snap clasp.   

These retail between £3.50 and £6, and are available at most pet stores.

Last Monday they were playing ball at the top of our garden when I heard Hopi (dad) bark, I new it was him because if he sees the next door neighbours cat her garden he this is what he does, but the cat was in the house as I later found out.

I did not take any notice of this, about 10 mins later my husband came back from our son and daughter in laws house and he went up to play with them.

He then came back into the house and told me that something terrible had happened to Damian (male pup) and that he was dead, I could not believe it and asked him how.

This must have been about the time Hopi (dad) was trying to warn me.

Tala (f. pup) and Damian had been playing as usual and Tala had got hold of Damian's collar, but her teeth then got caught in the close knit weave.

She could not free herself, and Damian had struggled to try and free himself by twisting around.

This resulted in the collar tightening around Tala's mouth and also Damians neck, the awful consequences were then that he broke his neck and strangled himself.

Tala was still trapped by the collar and if we had not been in she also would either have sustained a broken jaw or worse, her mouth was bruised and cut and she is only just able to chew properly. 

My husband tried to revive Damain but it was too late, also when we realised that his neck was broken it was obvious that nothing could be done.

The collar had had to be cut off as the clasp was jammed.

I have emailed the company concerned and enclose their reply, I have omitted their name and address, but if legally it is alright for you to have the same I will fax it to you.

All I asked them to do was to put some kind of warning, perhaps saying do not use on playful pups unless under supervision or only use when out for walks.

This type of accident might never happen again, but one is too many.

So sorry to read about this, I have read these kind of reports many times before and it always saddens me.  Unfortunately it can happen with almost any collar - usually the dogs are playing, and a tooth gets caught in the buckle somehow with the result you've seen.  Also, this is only the second puppy death I've read about - it is usually adult dogs, I've even read of an Anatolian Shepherd dying from strangulation from this accident.

Check out traininglines.org.uk - they sell safety collars, called KeepSafe Breakaway collars - like cat collars, they have a safety catch that comes apart if the collar is pulled sharply, like in play.  They also have two d-rings so you can attach a leash and not worry about it pulling the collar off.  I'm buying two for my dogs when my next paycheque comes through.  They're expensive, but worth it IMO.

My condolences for you having to go through this and the loss of your lovely pup.  Hopefully your post will alert others to the risks.

What a horrific accident :( :( So sorry for your loss.

I try to remember to take my dogs collars off after a walk etc but, admittedly, sometimes I forget. I will definitely try to be more vigilent in future.

Thank you very much for replying, and your kind words
Cheryl

I'm so sorry about your experiance.  We have had a similar thing happen, luckily nothing bad happend only alot of shock.  Ours where wearinghalf checks and now only where collars while out of the house. :(

Again sorry about damian.

So sorry to hear about your tragic experience. We try to remember not to leave the dogs' collars on in the house or garden - but presumably dogs who go to boarding kennels have to wear their collars? So how is the risk managed there?

That is very tragic , i'm sorry.

This is the reason why i stick with break away tag collars and slip leads. I don't think emailing them asking to add warnings will help ,who reads the package anyways? Anyone with more then 1 dog should always remove unsafe collars.

Hi Cher,

I'm very sorry to read about your youngster :(  I never have collars on my own dogs at home because sadly I've heard of similar tragedies before but it does no harm to remind folks just how dangerous collars can be.

Sorry again for your loss.  Best wishes, Teri 

I'm so sorry to hear about your baby.  I also ensure that when my dogs are in the home that I take the collars off.

Hope your girl is soon feeling much better.

Thank you all so much, the company that these collars were from stated in their letter to me that in 34 yrs of being in business they had never experienced a case where a dog had been killed while wearing a collar at play. It just shows that they do not read reviews. Thanks again

So sorry for your loss cher. :-( I have heard lots of similar stories, i'm afraid to say. So i also make sure that Tyson only wears his collar when we take him out. He never has it on in the house.

My thoughts are with you at this very sad time. xx

i am very sorry to hear of your experience and sorry for the loss of your dog

this can happen with any collar, it happened to a friend whose dog was wearing a half check - i never let my dogs play wearing collars or leave collars on when i let them off lead just incase


hopefully your post can save this happening to someone else

I'm really sorry. :( The same ting happened to me and I only just got there in time. One of my dogs was being strangled because another was caught up in the collar by the mouth. The one caught in the mouth was bleeding badly. Of course both were panicking so badly it was really difficult to get to them -had I not had 2 teenagers here to help I could never have done it. I've never had collars on them at home since.

Marianne

Forgot to say -it really doesn't matter WHAT kind of collar it is. My Arnie simply had his sister's collar stuck in his lower jaw behind his teeth, and the more he twisted the more stuck he got. It would be the same whether it was fabric or leather.

Marianne

I have never put collars on my Sibes. They play conatantly and they always grab each others throats.
So so sad to hear this bet you were all devastated.

It is terrible, one reason my dogs do not wear collars except when on a lead and I am with them.

Am so very sorry about your dog Sending (((((((big hugs))))))))) to you and the family.

So very sorry to hear of your tragic loss sending you all hugs and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I remove my dogs collars as soon as they are back in the garden and after reading your msg i am going to warn all my doggy friends

Terribly sorry - you must have been numb when you saw what had happened.     Afraid our dogs only wear collars when benched at shows, and even then I hate the things.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Really sorry mine got tangled whilst on half checks and have never worn a collar since!
I don't even know where one dogs collar is i havent seen it in that long!

So sorry to hear about your pup.
Mine only wear a collar while on lead, they don't wear them any other time because they pull and chew each others, never would have though anything like this could happen, will tell all my friends with dogs.
Again, so sorry for your loss :( but thank you for the warning :)

Dear Cher,

So sorry for your loss but thank you for taking the time to share your story.  For what it's worth it has acted as a timely warning to me.  Both my dogs wear these collars and the little one (StaffyX) grabs the big one (GSD) by his and drags him round when they play. All in good fun so far but, thanks to you, that's the end of that particular game. 

Many thanks and sincere condolences, Linda

Sorry to hear your heartbreaking experience. I can begin to imagine how you feel as something similar happened with my own dogs out walking, only they were wearing rolled leather buckle collars.  I was lucky being close and as soon as I got to the dogs thankfully they both relaxed and I was able to free them both.  Even before that incident my own dogs have never worn collars in the house and now even if I see them starting to play fight when they're out walking I remove their collars (I know its illegal but we walk in a relatively safe environment - the risks have been thought through and weighed up time and again).

Once again - I'm so sorry

Ours stopped wearing collars because the puppy eats them, but perhaps it's just as well. Sorry to hear of such a tragic loss for you. :-(