My puppy slipped his collar today!

[kid]

I nearly had a heart attack!
I was walking him on one of our usual routes, he saw 2 dogs that we know and he was happily dragging me around on his lead chasing them.

Then, along came a staff that I have never seen before. There was no owner in sight and that worried as he was all over my puppy. Neither were growling but I was becoming increasingly anxious and my pup was pulling this way and that way on the lead trying to get away.

Then, he was off! We were right next to a road. The other owner had by now arrived and started calling his dog. I was frantically calling my dog too and they were both totally ignoring us!

The lovely lady owner of the two other dogs gave me a treat to tempt my dog back to me. After what seemed like a lifetime, the other owner managed to grab hold of his dog and march him off. My pup was still running around having the time of his life.

He eventually came when me and my DD pretended to run away from him. When he chased us, I showed him the treat. I let him get close enough to have a nibble of it in my hand then I grabbed him by the scruff and put the collar on a bit tighter. My hands were trembling so much, it was awful.

Back to puppy classes tomorrow, we really need to do some recall work. The sooner the better!

Thank goodness he didn't run into the road!

It does annoy me when dogs, sans their owners, run up to my dogs. I allow my dogs off the lead but keep them close and watch out for other dogs and people and call them back if I spot anyone.

A couple of days ago as my dogs and I were leaving the park a dog ran up to my dogs and started darting around them. One of my dogs is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the strange dog was too so when he/she started growling I was worried it might attack. Not that the breed really makes that much difference but I'd rather have to separate my Cavalier from another toy breed than two larger/stronger dogs. Anyway, I shouted "No" at the dogs and tried to shoo the strange dog away. At this point I could hear someone calling and the dog ran off.

With hindsight I should have gone and found the owner and explained what had happened but I was on the brink of tears and just wanted to get home. Good job that one of my dogs didn't slip their leads in all the excitement.

I use a harness for my puppy as he pulled his collar off. Have you tried one?

Padded harness.

If he slipped his collar it was probably not on tight enough. You should be able to get 2 fingers under it but not pull it up at all over his head. You need to keep an eye as he will be growing quickly as a pup however so make sure you adjust every few days if necessary.
So pleased he was caught ok in the end with no harm done - you must have had a big scare.

I had just loosened his collar before I walked him as I thought it was a bit too tight. After it came off, it is back to the tighter hole!
I'll have to keep checking it now as I don't want him to choke but I don't want him to run off either.

We were using a harness but dog trainer recomended a collar to stop lead piling. Plus puppy ate the clip of his harness!