[Equinox]

This is a tad early, but I'm considering whether to buy a leather collar or a fur saving collar for my puppy when he graduates from an adjustable nylon. Now, I know that you should never leave a chain (or prong) collar on a dog unattended. Why are you allowed to leave fur savers on a dog? Those are chain links... aren't they?

Forgive my stupidity, please! I didn't get enough sleep last night

 

[Xeph]

You're not and you shouldn't. It's a choke chain just like any other and is for training/showing only.

Get him a leather collar

 

[Willowy]

"Fur-saver" collars are chokers, right? If they're the collars I'm thinking of, it's just a choke chain for long-haired dogs (because regular chokers will pull long fur). So, you're right; they should not be left on an unattended dog. If you want a fur saving regular collar, rolled leather collars are pretty good at not leaving collar rings.

 

[Maliraptor]

Agreed. Don't leave one one. We put them on and off as dogs come out of crates in the van to work. Pull them off when they go back in.

While they may not choke in the crate, they sure can grab the end on pull on themselves. Jak is very good at getting the ring stuck OVER his canine...sigh.

 

[Locke]

Jak is very good at getting the ring stuck OVER his canine...sigh.

My dog did that with his martingale, so we switched it to a no-chain martingale and he managed to get his front paw stuck in the fabric loop part AND his canine stuck in the d-ring....thank goodness we were home, and watching.

 

[Xeph]

Now THAT is talent!

 

[Locke]

UGH...tell me about it...

 

[Equinox]

Oh! I was just thinking that a LOT of the pictures I see have German shepherds wearing a fur saver, even if they're running around in a field or posing for a nice picture on the couch. Which got me wondering, because I thought a fur saver could get stuck and choke a dog to death just as easily

Thanks for clarifying, a leather collar it shall be (my family wants a pink leather collar with ribbons >.<).

 

[Inga]

Good call! I like fur savers for training but NEVER leave them on the dog. Not in the crate or anywhere. I have not had any experiences like that but tend to be a worry wart and do NOT want any bad experiences.

 

[nikelodeon79]

This is a tad early, but I'm considering whether to buy a leather collar or a fur saving collar for my puppy when he graduates from an adjustable nylon.

Actually, I wouldn't use an adjustable nylon very long at all... unless you can get a wide one.

Puppies pull... and narrow collars are more likely to do damage than wide ones. Additionally, that plastic snap on many adjustable collars is cheap... so if you do use one make sure you get one that has a well made snap.

Your pup's probably going to grow pretty quickly, so I'd wait on purchasing a nice, leather collar until he's full grown.

I use this on Luna:
http://www.petco.com/product/101039/Petmate-by-Aspen-Pet-Comfort-Cushion-Collars-in-Purple.aspx

It's got nice padding on the inside, and a big sturdy buckle. I started with one of those adjustable nylon collars and it tended to get bigger when she pulled, which left it in danger of slipping over her head, and also my fingers were RAW from unsnapping the thing after a couple of weeks! (I don't generally leave her collar on in the house).

 

[Xeph]

Oh! I was just thinking that a LOT of the pictures I see have German shepherds wearing a fur saver, even if they're running around in a field or posing for a nice picture on the couch

They may have just come in from outside, or their romp in the field could be on the schutzhund field and they're taking a break from training Either way, the dog is being supervised at that time, which makes it less concerning.

When I really get concerned is when I see a dog with it's TAGS on it's chain...then I know they use that as the dog's regular collar, and that's not correct.

By the way, if you're training in schutzhund, several people will suggest you get a fursaver and a pinch collar. I personally hate fursavers for training and use them only for conformation, but others like them.

And if you're going to buy a nylon collar, I'd perhaps go with an adjustable martingale until he's big enough to hit rolled leather (8 months? xD!!!!!)

 

[Equinox]

Thanks for the puppy collar suggestions!

And yep, definitely waiting until he stops shooting up to buy a nice leather collar. Otherwise, I'll find myself getting another one every other week! Which isn't going to be good for my wallet.