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Post by grizabella on Apr 12, 2011 3:10:10 GMT -5
I've been looking at sighthound/martingale collars online, but although I've looked in a few pet shops, I haven't seen any around.
To those who own a sighthound, do you use sighthound collar, or do you not find them necessary?
If you use one of these collars, did you find it in a store or did you have to order one online?
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Post by grizabella on Apr 12, 2011 3:14:09 GMT -5
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Post by Gazinghound on Apr 13, 2011 22:01:39 GMT -5
I do own a martingale collar and matching leash, which I bought from this company: mackenziebelts.com/collars.php?osCsid=18ddd8c82ddfe7da3b407326e82881e9I found them at a dog show, where they had a vending booth set up. There are just loads of different patterns on the site, and the collars collars & leashes come in different styles and widths for various sizes of dog. The pattern I ordered is a vibrant purple and emerald green scroll design, because my red Saluki looks brilliant in those complimentary colors.  Martingales aren't that easy to find in average pet supply shops; you do generally need to seek out a nice company that makes them, but some people really do gorgeous ones (and often highly elaborate and ornate--you ought to see some of the thick, studded, embellished, bejeweled numbers I've spied at shows!) I honestly don't find it absolutely necessary (and it had taken me a while to actually get one) because I mostly walk my dogs with harnesses now...I find them preferable to collar-walking because it's more comfortable for them and offers me better control. But I do sometimes use the lovely collar for walking...it's safe, unlike the usual collar she wears all the time, which has her name and my cell phone number embroidered. You CAN adjust the size and walk her in that, but she'd still be capable of slipping out, so I've hardly ever done it. I can also use her show lead to walk her. Even if you have a harness, though, I'd totally recommend a martingale collar. ^^ They're great. |
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Post by grizabella on Apr 14, 2011 1:40:53 GMT -5
I think harnesses are great, we used to walk Tiggy with a lovely comfy harness (though not because she could slip out of a collar, she had too big a head to worry about that!). Tiggy used to have a headcollar as well, but she didn't enjoy wearing it. I'd definitely get a martingale collar if/when I get a sighthound, the thought of them slipping the collar and dashing into the road after something doesn't bear thinking about! I think the greyhounds in the GAP program wear martingale collars, or at least the 'green collar graduates'. That's the collar Dazzler's wearing here.  |
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Post by Gazinghound on Apr 14, 2011 23:56:26 GMT -5
Oh, what lovely creatures and colored collars! =D
Most definitely...sighthound owners really ought to invest in one...it could end up saving your dog's life. I've never had such a scare as when my Ulla rushed out the garage door when she was younger and wandered down into the middle of the busy street on which we live. Fortunately she wasn't chasing anything in particular or moving very quickly, just sort of meandering and exploring...and was already tall enough to be seen by the car that stopped while we scooped her up.
Sometimes people in this house need to be more careful. -.- Somebody once left the backyard gate unlocked, and both she and the Brittany decided to take a little stroll around the neighborhood. The amazing thing then was that some lady who lived on one of the streets behind my house came and told us that she'd seen them walking around together...and then once they'd had enough, they returned together and came back into the yard (as I was screaming frantically, of course.) Terrifying, but I still had to be impressed by their smarts and independence...not sure who the leader was...
Anyway, yeah, the dog harness is a great invention. Without it, the Britt (whose head and neck are also big enough not to have to worry about his collar!) is all but unwalkable and insists on choking himself to death. _-_ With it, I can walk both dogs at once. 8)
I've never actually used one of the head halters, but I've seen them and heard they can be quite useful for some dogs. In fact, I think my uncle in Colorado uses one for his Lab. I can imagine they might not be the most pleasant things to wear, but so long as they're soft and fit well, I'm sure they're fine. ^^
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Post by grizabella on Apr 18, 2011 3:56:54 GMT -5
That must have given you such a scare! I never had problems with Tiggy getting out, though she did give me a fright running onto the road after a bird once. It was only one time as she generally had a lot of road sense.
Your Brittany sounds a handful! I've only seen one before, and he was certainly full of beans to say the least, they're definitely not common over here.
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Post by Gazinghound on Apr 18, 2011 22:48:15 GMT -5
It surely did! I would hope that Ullie's got more street smarts (like Rita!) by this point, as she's not a big car fan to begin with, but then I don't want her to have the chance to prove it or learn more! Other dogs of ours have escaped in the past...the Maltese ran down the block a couple of times (my brother saw her streak by and thought she was a chicken o.O), and the Beagles each managed to wander off a few times, but were always found and safely returned...until the one fateful year when a hurricane blew the gate open, 18-year-old Jack slipped outside, and we were never able to find him again no matter how hard we tried. :**{
Britts are sorta moderately popular over here, I suppose--not VERY common, but more so than most sighthounds. I haven't seen many just walking around, but I think there are others in my dad's gun club (along with others such as English Setters and even a Jack Russell, apparently...)
And "full of beans" would be a great way to put it, actually, yes! This guy is like, just the biggest bundle of love and nervous energy I've ever seen. He gives you the huge, sweet, sad, trusting eyes, and insists on hugging you and giving you his paws, and sits like a little person, and will let you do anything to him...but at the first sign that you're going someplace, he flips out and becomes a bit of a wreck, almost as if he'd been abandoned in the past (even though we brought him home at two months of age, and I doubt very much traumatic activity would've happened to him during those first sixty days.) On the other hand Ulla is more chill and sometimes just wants to be left alone; I suspect she can be something of a mischief maker when we're gone as well. Her love and loyalty are completely clear and obvious; they just tend to be expressed a little differently. ^^
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Post by grizabella on Apr 18, 2011 23:07:24 GMT -5
I'm sorry about your Jack,  18 years is very, very impressive though. Tiggy was a big softy, she loooooved just stting next to you and just getting patted for ages. She was pretty much a typical golden in being such an affectionate girl. My sister used to have a lab and he was a very noisy-affectionate sort of guy, very vocal and squirmy when it came to cuddles! He had to stay in England when they moved over here.  I love how different dogs can be, they all have their funny little ways. ;D We're getting slightly off the topic here LOL!! |
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Post by Gazinghound on Apr 19, 2011 1:35:53 GMT -5
Oops...funny how that always seems to happen, ain't it? Guess talkin' about collars inevitably leads to talking about dogs in general...xD Yep, poor ol' Jacko was one old boy, all right. My dad had adopted him before I was born and he was with us for a good long time. Each dog really is a unique personality just like a human; Jack was very much a laid-back, easygoing, slowish, extraordinarily patient guy. Awww, sounds as though Tiggy was similar to Rusty. :3 He's just the biggest love bucket you've ever seen, and really only gets all noisy and squirmy about it when he's upset (but that happens easily!) That sort of extreme affection often tends to be a sporting dog thing. ^^ Awwww...!! I can't imagine having to leave a dog behind... Too sad. They're my devoted family members. :} But my uncle did have to leave his Lab while he was captaining a ship for a while; I felt bad about that, but they're back together on land now! |
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Post by grizabella on Jun 10, 2011 6:32:02 GMT -5
I'm going to buy a harness for walks to start with I think, which'll may be good for use in the car as well. I'll definitley get a martingale collar (or two or three, there are so many lovely ones out there!) later on though.
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Post by Gazinghound on Jun 14, 2011 0:10:39 GMT -5
Good plans!! ^_~ I totally recommend harnesses for walkin' and ridin'...and though it took me a while to get my martingale, I'd be interested in another too...  |
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Post by grizabella on Jul 18, 2011 4:08:16 GMT -5
Bella recently got a new collar from A Ring Around the Collar, it's a bit big, but she looks VERY posh in it. It's a medium, the size recommended for Salukis so I'm sure she'll grow into it.   |
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Post by Gazinghound on Jul 23, 2011 22:37:12 GMT -5
Oh, how LOVEly. I bet she will. Looks great already. Awesome design and colors. That company is impressive...they've got a pretty fantastic array of patterns! =]
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Post by grizabella on Sept 23, 2011 5:14:38 GMT -5
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Post by Gazinghound on Nov 18, 2011 15:15:21 GMT -5
Beautiful, beautiful stuff. =) And so many breathtaking model photos. I especially love the Tartan ones!
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18 years is very, very impressive though.
