I was wondering what type of collar to use, not in the show ring, but just generally. I have to keep a collar on Flower so that I can grab her when I need to, there is no chance of her coming to me with 5 other dogs running around the place, I am only interesting when I have food or she wants a cuddle.

I was thinking about the wide soft material greyhound/whippet type, as an ordinary webbing ones may damage the coat on the neck.

thanks

Ann

Hi Ann
We used to use normal webbing collars until we had an incident with Xena getting her teeth stuck in the collar of Bree. Bree was screaming and I thought Xena was attacking her as it was in the dark. Anyway after that I haven't used collars on our hounds around the house. I use choke chains for walking (soon to be changed to new Martingales when they arrive) and normal clip collars which have their council tags on.

Yes, a soft material or even a fleece lined greyhound type collar is ideal. Alternatively, if you're still getting some coat damage we use very narrow rolled leather collars which seem to avoid coat damage. If however, you're needing a bit more control we exchange the rolled leather collar for a combi collar which is basically the same leather collar but with a 1/3 of it as metal links. I find these useful especially when I need the dog on a lead and under more control as then I can place the combi collar high up directly behind the ears which is a more sensitive area and thus enables more control. I do know though that people use haltis successfully (see post from Lurch) and perhaps that's an idea for a pulling dog in certain situations.

What are Martingale collars? I've just heard that term for horse tack in the uk. Shows my lack of knowledge! They do sound potentially useful.

I use two inch wide martingales on all of my girls. A martingale is a wide collar that extends around most of the neck, but has two large rings which are connected by a nylon loop which has a smalleer ring that attaches to a lead. It works like a choke chain in that they can't pull out of it and by being wide it won't injure their neck/windpipe. you get pretty good control. My girls all have big prey drive so we've/they've had to learn when not to go crazy when on an outing. I would not use a chjoke chain oar narrow collars when the dogs are on a lead for the possibility of injuries to their neck. Those sort of injuries are hard to detect, so it's better not to take a chance. If you go to www.sighthoundgear.com you can see some of the martingale collars. There are several sights that have them but sight hound gear in my estimation have the best. There is one sight that makes Tartan collars that look good [I have several in my Tartan], but they don't haave the fleece padding that the others have. in the pic youcan see one on Aeriss, my lurcher.

Thanks Terry
Martingale collars look good. Now realised they are the same as what I describe as a combi but with nylon between the rings rather than a metal link chain. Your point about narrow collars is interesting. It's something we'll bear in mind now and look to changing our collars potentially.
Thought your lurcher looked lovely too. Elise

if anyone wants a posh leather hound collar, see Emmabeth - she makes them

Skoll has a posh one that's black leather with a silver lozenge (can't think how to describe it lol) and celtic design stamped in, with a red suede lining - I call it his Prince of Darkness collar, pmsl

Leah's is more refined, being burgundy leather with celtic stamping, and beige suede lining (tho she is preferring her bandana at the mo)

Just waiting for Bea's now Em!!!!

have tried webbing collars in the past, and yes when they neck-wrestle they do sometimes catch their teeth in them, had to extract Skye the lurcher from one of the collars and boy was she screaming!! So ours tend to wear leather ones round the house, and I have a selection of half chokes and harnesses...haven't tried a martingale yet, will take a gander.....

The leather collars sound nice. Do you have some pictures of them?

Ouch - kick recieved!

I do indeeeeeedy make some leather collars - sliiiiightly snowed under at the moment though... (but do prod me when im not, and they have been sent allll over the world before now also!).

Kel currently wears a half check fabric collar.. because shes FAR too norty to have a nice leather one (Liz... that OTT pink job she had for WELKS... with the swarovski... she ate it.Grr.)

We quite like the OTT kind of thing here

As well as the more sensible stuff of course!

That is an impressive collar! You should put a picture of that and your contact details in the directory for future site users to find (its free, let me know if you need help listing). Although if you have too much work, maybe best not to advertise!
Rob

Hi - have just joined the forum having got a lovely deerhound about a month ago - have started training classes and the trainer suggested getting one of these rolled leather collars with half-check chain but I cannot find anyone who stocks them in the Edinburgh area! - could you pass on the contact details to me - that would be so good and then I can start hopefully getting some control!! thanks Cathy

Hi, you can have a look at my website www.canis-equus.co.uk, the contact details are on there (so as to avoid spambots emailing me)... drop me an email to the email addy on there and we can discuss what you want

cathode wrote:


Hi and welcome cathode

We use 2 inch wide collars on both hounds. We got them from a website called
Kitsch Collars (www.kitschcollars.com). They do normal and martingale in fantastic designs.
Spring

Love your hounds Spot
I have been on the kitsch collar website and they really do have some fab collars. I shall be ordering one each for Murray and Smokey and a baby one for new D/H puppy

I've been told I should have put a better picture on, one that doesn't make Fergal
look like the village idiot
Spring

thanks so much for your welcome - I am sure I will gain so much knowledge about these lovely dogs and am so glad to have found the site!

It is a great site - has a good feel to it and I have learnt a lot from all the knowledgable people on here

Cathy, if you're in the Edinburgh area, come along to the Caledonian Canine Club show at Ingliston on the 31st. Deerhounds have classes - we should be on about lunch time - and there are usually trade stands where you can have a look at collars. Best leave the new puppy at home though - it's a big show and a youngster could be overwhelmed.

Nice photographs of Callie and Fergal, by the way.