MeadowCat

I cannot decide what frightens me more - the chance of an accident where a collar causes strangulation, or the chance of my dogs getting loose and not having tags. They are microchipped, but that isn't necessarily foolproof, especially if they are picked up by an average person who isn't going to have access to a scanner.

So...do your dogs wear collars/tags at all times, or do they stay naked at home?

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sam&macksmom

My dogs are naked at home and in our fenced in yard. Once we leave the premise, they are collared. They aren't left alone in the yard. I'm always out with them.

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akturbo

Same.

Rosemary

Collared and tagged at all times. When I have them on a leash, I use a seperate collar to attach the leash to. Training sessions and in the ring are the only exception to the collar rule. Years ago, Lucky got lost for 6 hours in Anaheim, CA without his collar. He wasn't chipped at the time, because I couldn't afford to get his shots and the chip both. Luckily, he lived up to his name, and was found. He's been chipped since then.

Actually, all my cats, with the exception of Trouble, wear collars and tags, also. They are also all chipped except for Fiesty and Trouble. I wasn't planning on keeping Fiesty, so I didn't get one for him. When they go in for their annual rabies shots, I'll have them chipped, also.

ETA When I took Leontine to the vet, we both forgot to check her for a chip. I had to take her back a couple of days later to be scanned. She doesn't appear to have a chip. So, it just goes to show that even people who should KNOW to check for a chip can forget.

melbrod

Mine are naked at home and in their little potty yard. If I am expecting company, or a repairman, or an installation guy, I usually put them in a little nylon collar (no tags) just so I can control where they go (NOT to the plumber to sniff his...well, you know, or to the painter to check out the paint, or to help the installation guy check the wires, etc--I'd rather not have to worry about their behavior when the house atmosphere is disturbed.)

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-----------Dragon Slaying Dobermans, Incorporated------------

---------------------------------Member #15-----------------------------------

Beaumont67

Yes - my dogs live with a nylon collar on...the one I have linked below:
- and it includes a permanent ID tag, with my name, address, phone #, reward given and NO dogs name
(had the same tag for 30 years)
Spectra® Nylon Adjustable Collars (3/4" wide) with Metal Buckles:
Spectra® Nylon Adjustable Collars with Metal Buckles: ThePetStoreOnline.com

During the period we OB train, dobe also has a choke chain on, with the nylon collar.
- as the dog gets older, the choke chain is put away

My dogs have never been micro chipped, just a puppy tattoo...that isn't readable.
I use scrap 14 gauge cooper wire to affix the ID tag permantly to the "D" ring of the collar...twist the wire tight, with electrical plyers.

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------------Kelly & (Amy - RIP @ 11.7 y/o)

Luvbirds

I keep a thin collar with my cell phone number on Monty at all times.

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PatchworkRobot

I had this same internal debate and decided that the scarier thing for me was him getting lose with no identification.

Dreizehn is supervised while in the yard and he's never shown signs of jumping the fence but it's only 4ft chain link and, if for any reason something caught his attention, he could clear it in a second. Yes, Dreizehn's tag holder/clip could get caught in his crate but with the slightest bit of pulling it would break and free him. I don't trust anybody in this town to be dog savvy enough to take Dreizehn to get scanned for his chip... so I"d rather he always have tags on.

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Tollers-n-Dobes

I'm torn on this. Currently my dogs generally go naked in the house and have for quite a few years (at least five). They play a lot together on the yard and I worry they'll get caught in a collar or something (especially if I'm not the one supervising if I'm at work). But at the same time, should they ever get loose for whatever reason, I'd prefer they be wearing ID tags. Dance is chipped and tattooed, and the Dobes have tattoos, but I still worry. Visible collars with tags seem to be a better way of getting a dog back home.

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Hank

Naked at night. Collar goes on before breakfast.
If hes home alone he's in his plastic kennel so I'm not worried about strangulation, more worried about my house burning down.

Hank only wore a collar when we left the house or it rubbed all his fur off.

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KoaRad

Koa has his collar and tags on 99% of the time. Once in a while he won't have it on while in the house, but I always put it on him before he goes outside. He could also jump my fence if he wanted to, and he can be aloof around strangers (esp men) so I'd like to make it as easy as possible to get him home if the situation would arise. That being said, he's no longer crated at home either. When I crated him I took the collar of when he went in the crate and put it back on when he came out.

greenkouki

I think the chances of your dog getting loose are much greater than him accidentally strangling himself by his collar, and that's why my dog always has a collar on. I would not leave a collar on a dog who's crated though.

I'll be honest, if I see a dog running loose without a collar I usually don't stop to see if it belongs to someone. You can bet most non "dog people" are the same way too.

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DobieGal15

Mine wear clothes lol, thin paracord buckle at home, fancier ones away from home

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Ahalvorsen

Torque is naked unless he is leaving the property. But I am very strict about him having a collar if he leaves the property. He's such a momma's boy that unless someone actually grabbed him, he would come home. Also, I need to get him microchipped (I've been slacking and I do hate myself for it), but if he was picked up by Animal Control or turned over to them, I'm lucky because he's identifiable. The Doberman with the natural ears that is missing the tip of the right one...

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Wylde

Naked while on my property and in my truck. But anytime I think she needs out of the vehicle she gets a collar and a leash. She is microchipped as well. I also have photos of distinguishing marks so if for any reason someone says, NO thats MY dog, I have photo proof of all stages of life and anything remotely identifiable.

As Charlton Heston said about guns ~~~ Only from my cold dead hands ! ( will someone get my dog )

* she is very aloof with strangers, so I would usually never worry about someone loading her up in a vehicle *

the_discowhore

Elsie wears a collar when we go for walks/training - naked at home. She is microchipped, but I do worry about her getting out with no visual ID sometimes...

Lottie & Libby wear their collars with tags 24/7 - only removed for baths.

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Tollers-n-Dobes

Yes, except for the fact that not one of my dogs has ever gotten loose and all have impeccable door and fence manners so I don't worry about them bolting. Not saying it could never happen - it's always a possibility. But I have three dogs who all play together every single day, and so I feel that the risk of them getting stuck on another dog's collar might be more of a risk than any of them ever getting out. It would be different if I had one dog. Like I said, I am torn. And to be honest, before I joined online dog boards, my dogs wore collars 24/7. But I've heard an awful lot of strangulation horror stories now that worry me living in a multi dog home.

I do put collars on them when we have company, as then I feel there is a bigger chance somebody might leave a door open or something. But every day, with just us, they're usually without collars. and when we leave the house, they always wear a collar and tags.

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doberkim

rah and berlin are almost always naked except for when they go in the car. they rarely if ever have tags, unless we are traveling (then they have a collar with tags attached).
they are never left together with collars.

cherry wears a collar almost all the time but mostly for her own protection really - i need to be able to grab her if shes doing something that can trigger rah and i need a way to lead her through the house.

chill wears a collar rarely - he also gets led throughout the house but he has hair to help with that and honestly the dog has no desire to ever leave my side (unlike doberman bitches). i have a leash with his collar attached and i take it on and off, because it ruins his ruff.

i try to never really leave my dogs in crates with collars on.

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brw1982

My girls are naked in the house and in the yard, unless someone comes to the house. Then they wear collars so I can easily get ahold of them if needed. They also always wear collars when we leave the house and they have some form of ID. Some of their collars have their names and my cell number stitched on them and they have tags for the collars that don't have the stitched info.

Both girls are also microchipped but I don't really feel that's super reliable without some other more noticeable form of ID. In this area, lots of people will assume a dog without easily visible ID is no one's dog, or not cared about by anyone and they have no problems ignoring the dog, keeping it, or calling animal control.

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Old Drum's Crimson Crisp, "Fiona"
Old Drum's Fiery Rumors of Taliesin, "Tali"

DogsR4Life

Naked at home, collared when outside in public

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Amelia_

Mine are naked in the house and have collars and tags outside. Over here every vets has a microchip reader.

I wonder if there is a small thin elastic kind of collar for tags, like cats have? So of t got caught on something it would snap/could be wriggled out of?

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kwhite30

Diesel is naked in the house for the most part and always when we go to bed (his spike collar isn't much fun to sleep with haha) but anytime we leave the house even for something simple his tags go on. Also when people come over or we go to someone's house he has tags on. It's so easy for someone to leave a door open and although Diesel knows he is not allowed out an open door till I say so there's still that chance and I'm not willing to risk that. He hasn't been microchipped yet but he will be very soon. I think I might get him tattooed as well just to be safe incase reading the chip wasn't possible.

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doberdeer

Ruger goes without his collar occasionally at home only. I love the sleek look without one. He has 10 or so collars, so I guess I love his in them too! I never let him out without a collar on. He is chipped, but like others said...not fool proof.

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Cheryl


In our hearts forever.

MeadowCat

Those of you who worry more about your dogs getting loose, are there kids in the house? Lots of company? Our dogs don't even have access to the front door because they are gated away from it, and with just me and my husband I'm not as worried about them getting loose. They are always supervised when outside, and neither has shown any inclination to go too far from me. That's not to say I don't worry about it, but with our situation it seems less likely than in a busy household with kids.

Shanoa and Simon are left loose together when we are not home, so they don't wear collars then.

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Meldrew79

Brandy's always naked at home, but has her collar on whenever we leave the house. She is microchipped as well.

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