"Danger, Danger: Calling all Collar Catastrophies!"

[Nancy Sunderland]

We all have either heard of or experienced either a collar or harness (or leash) malfunction, either as a result of wear and tear, poor design, poor construction, crazy puppy, or perhaps even improper use. Let's share with each other some not-so great things that can happen to help others avoid these potential hazards. Accidents do happen...

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

If you use a prong collar for training, never let them play with other dogs or run loose with it on. The other dog can get caught up in it and also if your dog is running around they can get hooked on an object, i.e., tree, bush, fence, etc.

[Terri]

My dogs like to lay on the floor vents in the summer to soak up the air conditioning. On 2 different occasions my dog's tags got caught on/in the vent cover and when he got up he had the entire vent cover hanging from his collar. Thankfully he doesn't panic. He just patiently waits till we notice and remove them for him. I worry what would happen if he got caught when we weren't home, but I haven't been able to find any covers that don't have the slats that the tags can slide between and turn or grillwork with edges that can catch on the tag rings. I hate to take the tags or the collar off...

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe you could cover the vents he uses with fiberglass screening.

[Tara Quigley]

This is a late response to your post, but there are filter covers you can get to put over vents. They are for people with allergies so that any particles blowing out of the vent are filtered. It might solve your problem, although the pups may just chew it to bits...

[Carol and Banjo]

We had quite a scare the other day with a retractable leash I had bought only 3 days earlier. We had stopped at a local park to walk Banjo and on the way back to the car (this is the point Banjo is pulling like mad!) the leash broke!! My heart stopped as the highway was only 250 yds from where we were. Fortunately Banjo stopped to investigate something and my DK was able to get him and carry him to the car. I had only used the leash one time before in the yard and really liked it. I'd love to get another one but now I'd be afraid to use one anywhere but around the yard. Can anyone recommend a good RELIABLE retractable leash????

[Camilla and Darwin]

I am somewhat embarrassed to post this, actually. Darwin is my first dog, and although I did a ton of research, there were a few things I just wasn't aware of.

It was the second day we had Darwin, and we had taken him to my parents house to visit. After we were done, I put him in the backseat, with his leash ON. What I didn't notice, was that part of the leash was dangling out the door, and I closed the door with it dangling out. Well, DH put the car in gear and drives forward. All of a sudden, I heard a horrible screaming noise coming from Darwin. When we had pulled forward, the back tire ran over his leash, and it yanked Darwin HARD against the car door. We immediately stopped, backed up, and released him. He was so scared he had peed all over the seat. Fortunately, his neck was a little red but nothing worse.

It seems like common sense to take the leash off, but for some reason I just didn't think about it. I'm SO glad it didn't break his neck or do any further damage. Lesson DEFINITELY learned, I ALWAYS take his leash off now.