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The doghouse

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Original poster

if you use a crate for your pups….

26 replies

lifestooshortandsoami · 12/10/2021 07:06

This prob sounds a stupid question but if you use a crate for your pup what do you do about their collar? Do you leave it on or always take it off? I’m worried about pup getting the collar stuck but am not sure with toilet training during the night that I could get his collar on and get him outside in time (he’s 9 weeks, very bitey and takes a bit of bribing to get his collar fastened)
If I don’t put a collar on Im worried about not getting him back in easily during the night/ whereas with his collar and lead I know I can manage much better.
Hope that all makes sense!

OP posts:
mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 12/10/2021 07:09

I used to leave my pup's collar off at night but she's small enough that when I took her for a wee in the night I literally scooped her straight back up again and placed her back in the crate. Even if your pup is bigger, they tend to follow you back inside at that age anyway.

Polmuggle · 12/10/2021 07:23

We always just left his collar on. The bars on the crate were quite bog and no ends to snag on, so not sure how he's have gotten caught.

Dontknowwhatsnext · 12/10/2021 07:27

We always take their collar off in the house, so it's off, during the time in their crate. But I think you need to assess it yourself.

Does the collar have a big tag on it? Is any particular part of it, big enough that it can be trapped between the bars. And asses the situation.

To be fair, I never took mine out at night on a lead, so we never needed it on at night.

CMOTDibbler · 12/10/2021 07:33

I pop a slip lead on at night

Original poster
lifestooshortandsoami · 12/10/2021 08:21

@mynameisnotmichaelcaine

I used to leave my pup's collar off at night but she's small enough that when I took her for a wee in the night I literally scooped her straight back up again and placed her back in the crate. Even if your pup is bigger, they tend to follow you back inside at that age anyway.
He was fine when we first got him and id just scoop him up etc but now he’s more confident he does try to bomb off sometimes! So I don’t want to be chasing him round the garden in the night as he’ll just think it’s play time Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
lifestooshortandsoami · 12/10/2021 08:23

@Dontknowwhatsnext

We always take their collar off in the house, so it's off, during the time in their crate. But I think you need to assess it yourself.

Does the collar have a big tag on it? Is any particular part of it, big enough that it can be trapped between the bars. And asses the situation.

To be fair, I never took mine out at night on a lead, so we never needed it on at night.

Yeah I think I need to assess it properly - the collie doesn’t have any parts that stick out and we haven’t put a tag on him yet (will do when he’s allowed out properly!) The bars ha quite big gaps so I don’t think it could get stuck on them (fingers crossed)
OP posts:
Original poster
lifestooshortandsoami · 12/10/2021 08:23

@CMOTDibbler

I pop a slip lead on at night
This is a really good idea and not sure why it didn’t enter my head. It would mean ive got something there if he does try to bomb off and play but I’m not having to mess with the collar
OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 12/10/2021 08:25

Take it off! I accidentally left our pup’s on and he got his tag stuck on one of the bars at 5am. I heard him moving around and doing little woofs but thought he was dreaming or chewing his bed so I didn’t go down for about 10 minutes. Luckily he wouldn’t have choked but he was really upset. It took me ages to calm him down and he had to limp around the kitchen! He only wears his collar to go for a walk now.

sunglassesonthetable · 12/10/2021 08:37

We have always left collar on. Only comes off for a bath.

Brownlongearedbat · 12/10/2021 18:38

I would never leave a collar on a young dog while it's unattended. I read a story, on here , about a young dog jumping up at kitchen cabinets, getting it's collar caught and strangling itself. My dogs never wear collars at all. They are both very small breeds and wear harness and name tag when out

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 12/10/2021 18:45

Slip lead here too, collar only goes on when she goes out for a proper walk, same for our adult dogs.

icedcoffees · 12/10/2021 19:46

No collars at all in the house, it only takes seconds for them to get it caught on something and get into a panic.

I'm a dog walker too and I won't leave collars on clients' dogs when I drop them home unless the client is there too. Not worth the risk.

PollyRoullson · 12/10/2021 20:41

@Brownlongearedbat

I would never leave a collar on a young dog while it's unattended. I read a story, on here , about a young dog jumping up at kitchen cabinets, getting it's collar caught and strangling itself. My dogs never wear collars at all. They are both very small breeds and wear harness and name tag when out
Unfortunately your dog has to legally wear a collar and name tag on it when in a public place. It is illegal if the tag is on the harness.
bingohandjob · 12/10/2021 20:47

Collar off in the crate and generally around the house. I was paranoid about him getting caught when tiny. We did have his collar on and off a lot in the house for first few months just so he was comfortable with it being whipped on and off and didn't always associate it with leaving the house.

On related note, he also seemed to hate his jangling name tag so can highly recommend flat slide on tags if your dog is the same!

Simonjt · 12/10/2021 20:48

No collars here, harness instead, we don’t leave his harness on unless he is being supervised, too risky as he could get caught on things.

Brownlongearedbat · 12/10/2021 22:00

@PollyRoulson - the law is an ass. My dogs will continue to wear their tags on their harnesses. As I live in a rural area and generally don't see other people on my walks I really don't see who is going to object anyway.

Original poster
lifestooshortandsoami · 12/10/2021 22:01

Thanks everyone!

At present am going with the no collar in the crate or left alone in the house (which isn’t often now anyway as he’s so young) I’m going to try and get a slip lead so am not worrying about him zooming off during the night time wees

OP posts:
sunglassesonthetable · 13/10/2021 11:32

Wow! Are the collar off people referring to tiny dogs?

As I said We have only taken our dogs collar off for baths! He's 2 now. Never even thought twice about it.

icedcoffees · 13/10/2021 11:48

@sunglassesonthetable

Wow! Are the collar off people referring to tiny dogs?

As I said We have only taken our dogs collar off for baths! He's 2 now. Never even thought twice about it.

No - mine is a beagle and weighs 18kg. Collars are a strangulation risk - there's a reason the law makes an exception for working dogs and doesn't require them to wear collars.
thecapitalsunited · 13/10/2021 12:10

I used to take my boy’s collar off in the crate and pop it back on when we went for a pee. I used to leave the lead attached to the collar to make it quicker. Now I use a breakaway collar which will come apart if too much force is applied. There are d rings either side of the breakaway part so you just put the lead through both of them to make sure it can’t snap apart while you are on a walk.

PollyRoullson · 13/10/2021 12:29

[quote Brownlongearedbat]@PollyRoulson - the law is an ass. My dogs will continue to wear their tags on their harnesses. As I live in a rural area and generally don't see other people on my walks I really don't see who is going to object anyway.[/quote]
Totally agree with you - the law is an ass. I can get away with no collars as mine are working dogs and are exempt. (although not always technically working!)

Though to be honest I think it is just that the law has not caught up with the amount of harness wearing if it included collar or harness it would be fine.

Dontknowwhatsnext · 13/10/2021 18:19

@sunglassesonthetable

Wow! Are the collar off people referring to tiny dogs?

As I said We have only taken our dogs collar off for baths! He's 2 now. Never even thought twice about it.

A working cocker, a working x show cocker and some sort of poodle mix who is only 20 weeks old and is currently 5kg.

Non are what I would call tiny.

BrisbaneandGone · 13/10/2021 19:34

Our lab only wears her collar when on a walk, don't see the point of wearing it all time...I wouldn't want something round my next constantly so why should she

GuyFawkesDay · 13/10/2021 20:26

Re: tags can I heartily recommend the ones which slide onto collar (or would slide onto harness straps too.

Called Flexitags, they're super. Can't catch on things anywhere nearly as easily in the house or outside.

frenchiemummy92 · 15/10/2021 04:49

I leave my girls collar on all the time and didn't worry about her been in her cage with it on as a puppy but I recently got another who is very snorty so he only has his collar on when it's time to go for a walk and straight off when we get home.

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