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Strong dog collar?

5K views 16 replies 9 participants last post by  Foswick 
#1 ·
So my GSD is almost 90lb. I had him out for a short hike / walk a few days ago. Using a 6 foot leather leash and a decently hefty collar that’s been on him for a while now. The leash is a really nice one now that it’s broken in. The collar was from Pet Smart. It’s got a bit plastic buckle. I’ve had it about 6 months. The Beast is leash trained so to speak. He usually walks right next to or near me. Well about 2 miles in to the hike a squirrel ran across our path. He bolted I did not react quick enough. He loves to chase squirrels. The freaking buckle snapped. Fortunately I have done a lot of off leash stuff with him. I was able to call him off and he came right back to me. The area we where in is also frequented by horse riders. So a leash is a must. We still had about 2 more miles to go. I was going to feed the leash through the handle and use it as a make shift slip lead. All I had on me was my small cammelbak a couple snacks and dog treats. My pants fit me well and my belt was just for show so to speak. So using my knife I cut down the cheap leather belt and made it into a collar. Got me home. With all that said I realized I need to find a very strong collar. One that’s not going to break that easily. I think I’m also going to add a back up collar to my “dog kit” that will fit my two big dogs. Any recommendations for heavy duty collars? Something with metal clasps designed to take a beating. I’m also concidering a buckle type leather collar. Are the traditional style leather buckle collars stronger than a nylon with clasps / clips? That would have sucked if that happened and he ran in front of a car. I’m willing to pay a premium for something durable that’s gonna last. Anyway any recommendations would be highly appreciated.
 
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#2 ·
Oh those buckle collars don't last long, especially when they are going up against a 90lb dog. I would look for something that has metal buckle like this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Pesp-Pet-Met...id=1514483561&sr=8-13&keywords=big+dog+collar

I use this on my aussie. I think it because it's solid leather, has a nice buckle, and doesn't mat his long coat around his neck
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1109586510

The other thought would be have you thought about a harness? That takes the pressure off of his neck if he does decide to run to the edge of the leash again (distributes the pressure throughout his body) and there are many that offer a lot of coverage so he wouldn't be able to get loose.
 
#3 ·
a limited-slip martingale?

.

I like limited-slip martingales, & as U're in SC, U're not far from my favorite collar-manufacturer, Mrs Bones in Va Beach. :)

Her collars are extremely well-made, durable, & very handsome - nylon webbing covered by fabric ribbon, inside & out, with SOLID BRASS sand-cast hardware from the same supplier who provides buckles, slides, solid sand-cast D-rings, etc, to Coach handbags & luggage.
These are not bent metal, & there are no gaps, neither welded or open - solid hunks of metal, molded in a single piece.

Shop By Collar Width | Mrs. Bones

for a 90# dog of GSD size, i'd choose at least a 1.5-inch width, or even a 2-inch wide collar, in a sighthound-style martingale.

Welcome to Mrsbones - Custom Collars Handcrafted in the USA since 1989

Sighthound style collars have no buckles - the slide is adjusted to open the big loop to go over the dog's head, then it's adjusted to fit SO IT CANNOT go over the dog's head if he pulls, or goes into reverse - the collar fits his neck, not his big backskull. ;)
The smaller loop should lie flat & smooth when the collar is properly adjusted, not stand out or hang away; there should be no slack in the moving loop.

Martingales are very safe - unless he's literally suspended with feet off the ground, he can't choke or strangle, & the width keeps the collar from slipping between the cervical vertebrae, or injuring his neck or spine.

Mrs Bones used to have a lifetime warranty, but apparently like L L Bean, she's been forced to rescind that policy; I'm sure many ppl took advantage of it. // I have Mrs Bones collars that are 15 years old or more, & still look gorgeous; i throw them in the washer with my laundry, either warm or cool water, not hot, & no bleach; the collars go in a lingerie bag or pillowcase, to protect the washer from the hardware, & i hang them to dry.

TIP:
Avoid anything with satin-stitches of silver, gold, or other metallics - the metallic threads break, especially if the dog scratches an itch, & their claws shred the Lurex-wrapped core. Metallic tinsel erupting from the collar isn't a good look. :p
this is an example of satin-stitch in gold -
Holly Ecru 1.5 inch Collar

U can see how easily the dog's claws could slip between or under the stitch, & break it.


Anything tapestry woven is incredibly durable - like this:
Dancing Santas 2 inch Collar

The classic collection is her least-expensive line - not due to any difference in workmanship, but the cost of the fabric ribbons used on the exterior [her Masterpiece & Signature collections are approx double the price, with rare, custom, or limited-edition ribbons; when they're gone, they're gone].

- terry

.
 
#6 ·
Here is where I get a lot of my dog supplies.

https://www.rayallen.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5aGaiJau2AIVg7XACh0TPAc0EAAYASAAEgLzDfD_BwE

They have been around since time began. The leather stuff is first rate. The biothane is nice all weather equipment.

I have a thick 1” nylon collar on my Aussie fron the above. The same type I had on my GSD and Boxers. I also had their softer leather collars. I got away from leather leashes except for training classes. I have an industrial sewing machine so I make my own. I like an 8’ leash for general walking and a 4’ for train8ng classes.

I also use a 12” loop tab. I run the long leash through this so it is easy to grab. As noted you might like a 1” nylon harness. I use a 3/4” one as my dog is smaller. I also use a short link between the harness and collar so the dog can’t slip out easily.

Nice that you were able to call the dog back. While I have a pretty good recall it’s goes away under severe distractions. We are working on it and it’s getting better.

Byron
 
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#7 ·
.
@Bentwings ,
i looked on J&J, but couldn't find their veg-tanned rolled leather collar - only the lighter latigo. :confused:
Even a search didn't bring it up. // Have they stopped making them? I hope not.

Their veg-tanned harness leather leashes are my favorite - they last forever; even salt water doesn't faze them, i rinse 'em with fresh, & hang them to dry.
- terry

.
 
#9 ·
I do IPO, and need good equipment.
in 2017, knocked out a tooth, when the metal buckle snapped.
whatever you purchase, remember the collar is only as good as its fastenings.

I stick to herm sprenger fur saver for walking, never had one snap on 5 GSD's so far. No matter how hard the lunge was. Broke me, but not the collar!
 
#11 ·
shades of the '60s...

...
I stick to herm sprenger fur saver for walking; never had one snap on 5 GSDs, so far.
No matter how hard the lunge was. Broke me, but not the collar!
.

Herm Sprenger "fur saver" is a choke-chain, with rectangular links that have rounded corners.

It's not a neutral collar; unlike a buckle AKA tag collar, or the aforementioned martingale, it's designed to deliver an aversive stimulus - no matter who or what pulls on the leash, any tension on the leash punishes the dog by restricting the diameter of the collar around the dog's neck.
If the dog trips on an uneven surface, or if U stumble or slip on ice, the dog is punished. The dog didn't do anything - but the collar has only binary choices, wide-open or closing, & tension on the leash determines how much it closes.
If U take a fall, the dog can be throttled - despite being utterly blameless.

I attach a photo for those unfamiliar. // Not a tool that i'd ever suggest.

http://www.dogforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=222289&stc=1&d=1515502564

- terry

.
 

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#10 ·
I second the recommendation for the Martingale. It pretty much can't break. There are also similarly-designed limited-slip collars that are not, strictly speaking, Martingales. So, you would want to search for both "Martingale collars" and "limited slip collars".

If your dog wears a collar most of the time, whether on-leash or not, then these can really be the way to go because of their loose fit when not under tension. Please just adjust so that, when the collar is fully constricted, it only fits as tight as a normal collar. There is no need for it to constrict any more than necessary to just prevent it from being able to slip over the head.

One thing to be aware of is that, with these designs can fit loosely enough that some dogs can get their mouth on the tab portion and chew it, if so inclined. So, if your dog is predisposed to that sort of thing, you'd want to check that out.
 
#12 ·
I wouldn't recommend a collar with a plastic snap for any dog that you want to make sure doesn't get free- they weaken with time, fatigue (being put on/taken off), and exposure to elements. I avoid them even for my 14 lb dog, as he is out in the elements a lot (sand, mud, saltwater), and I have a cat who likes to chew things and has broken pieces off of the same clips on his harnesses. I'm wary of the metal squeeze clips too (like the plastic ones, but metal), as the springs inside corrode and give, causing them to no longer hold reliably.

He doesn't usually wear a collar at home these days, but most of the ones he has have a metal buckle, and a few have no buckle, but rather an adjustable slide where you make the collar big enough to fit over the head, then tighten it so it no longer fits over the head. He's reliable off leash, so I don't worry too much about him getting loose, but if I'm putting a collar and leash on him, it's for a reason and I want them to stay on and do their job.

When I previously had APBTs, they too usually used collars with a metal buckle, usually 2 or more ply nylon or heavier leather. Also, I have been told that a construction where the collar feeds through the D-ring of the collar, then buckles, is more sturdy than through the buckle, then through the D-ring, as it is more layers of collar to distribute the load. I've not really looked to see if that is the case, but I did find that my dogs (who had sensitive skin) tended to do better with the "D in front" style, as it put a layer of collar between their neck and the buckle, rather than the buckle being on their skin. Nylon tends to be "stronger" than leather, BUT if cut or torn will weaken significantly and quickly, and has less abrasion resistance than leather. Leather ages better than nylon, but quality leather products are more expensive and it requires more care if used in the elements. Biothane and Beta are both more suitable for use in wet environments, but tend not to be as sturdy as nylon and leather equivalents (I'm not sure I've ever seen a 2-ply biothane collar).

In the event that you find yourself in a similar situation again, I'd probably opt to make a slip lead by threading the leash clip through the handle vs using a belt, as belts are really not made to handle any sort of load, both the thickness of many leather belts as well as the hardware is usually not sufficient for dog restraint. I usually use a slip lead as my "backup" collar/leash, as it's all in one, lightweight, and fits any dog. There are things you can do (tie a knot at the "right" size, tie on a ring or snap, etc) to convert it to a non-slip lead if you needed it for your dog for longer term use. Or you could look into utility leads, which usually have multiple functions- I have a super nice leather one from my bigger dogs which can be used as a slip or flat collar, hands free leash, double ended leash, etc. It is heavy though, and as it was expensive, I would be pretty perturbed if I lost it somehow. You could also use a martingale lead (Mendota makes both slip and martingale leads), but as they are sized for "small", "medium", "large", etc dogs, not quite as versatile as a slip lead, though if your dog is your only concern, it would work fine. Since my dog usually is collarless, I use a Mendota martingale frequently, as it is all in one- keep one in my vehicle since we often just get in and go, then stop somewhere and he needs a leash; and the other is either at my parents' or my house.
 
#14 ·
That’s the kind of collar I want to get. I could not find a decent one locally. I like the leather look. I wound up getting a nylon collar with a metal buckle for now. I’m gonna order a leather one of the internet. Once I get the leather this one I purchased will be the backup. I’d rather purchase locally first then internet second.
 
#17 ·
I would add that, if your dog puts so much strain on a collar, it is probably not great to rely on a collar at all. I mean, that's a LOT of strain on the dog's neck. Granted, the dog inflicts that himself, but if you know he is going to exert that much force, it's probably best to both work on the behavior itself, but also to use a harness in the meantime.

I stopped using a collar on-leash years ago. The collar is just for ID and occasionally for just a quick walk or something.
 
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