Silent or Not?

[leih merigian]

I like my dog to have enough tags on her collar so they tinkle some...I can tell when she's moving and where she is that way, and I like that a lot. Since Geyser only has her ID tag so far, I've got a little bell with it. It doesn't make much noise (I wish it made more than it does), but at least there's a little tinkle to let me know where she is if I'm not looking directly at her.

I know people who would be made totally nuts by this . They like silent dogs' collars.

So, where do you stand? Do you like to be able to hear when your dog is moving, or do you like the sounds of silence?

[KRoberts626]

All my dogs in the past just had leather collars (once they were fully grown)- no tags as it drove me crazy. The rabies tags I would just file away with the rest of their vaccination info. No ID tags. Now Ziva has a rabies tag, still no ID tag (I doubt she'll ever have one unless my husband ends up getting it for her). For the first couple weeks it made me crazy LOL. Especially at night when she was in her crate and I could hear the clinging when she scratched or moved around. Now, I take her collar off indoors And 1 tag doesn't even make that much noise. 2 tags will definitely be worse!

When she's an adult I might get her a leather collar for around the house. Whether the rabies tag stays on remains to be seen. Or might just continue to leave it off as long as she's inside.

[icvanstra]

One tag. On one side is my name, home phone and cell phone. The reverse is the vet information.

Rabies tags are files away at home in the same envelope that their chip information is in.

[GSDNanny]

All of mine have a heavy duty flat leather collar with a metal ID attached, like the hunters use for their hounds. They seem to last longer than dangling ID tags. I do put their rabies tags on the collars but they dont seem to last very long as my dogs are really active and play rough. One tag doesnt make much sound. My house is pretty much dog and kid proof at this point so really no need to know where they all are. Now with a puppy, yeh, that may be necessary although mine usually are under foot anyway. But it is annoying to have one scratch or get up in the night with dangling tags and wake up hubby. For myself, I dont mind, but I do try to keep the peace when it concerns him and the dogs. He is tolerant to a point but I dont push my luck. The dogs are 'my dogs', not his.


Denise

[k9katet]

Our dogs rarely wear collars. Only when working at class or walking in public. I'm too scared of them getting caught on something as I've heard too many horror stories.

Letty is always in my sight or in her xpen so it hasn't been an issue. For the most part all of the dogs are and they have pretty good recalls. My dogs do not wander off however some of my "stepdogs" will so I don't have them out of the fence if I'm working on something where I can't keep an eye on them.

We have talked about fencing in a large part of the property. If we can find a way to keep the agility field clean then it will be awesome.

[leih merigian]

Yeah...I was pretty much thinking that anyone with multiple dogs wouldn't want any noise coming from their collars.

It's not that Geyser is ever out of my sight, mind you...but when we go hiking, for example, she may be behind me instead of in front of me, and if it's suddenly totally quiet, I know she's stopped or something. And, when practicing out of sight stays and such, it's a nice indicator for me. I generally train alone, alas.

I'd worry about no ID at all, tho. Galaxy forbid there would ever be a fire at my home when I"m not there but she is, or some other kind of disaster like that, or a vehicle accident and the dog gets loose...those very very rare things where **** happens.

It's always so interesting to me how many different ways there are to live with and manage our dog companions and partners. There really aren't any right or wrong ways (other than some safety issues, of course), and so much depends on the individual dog. I would never, ever leave my dog free in the yard when I'm not home, for example. Just wouldn't do it. Others do it all the time. For that matter, I don't leave her in the yard unsupervised at all . She wouldn't want to be out there alone anyway, so it's kind of moot, but still...I wouldn't do it.

[turnnburn52984]

We have rivet tags on both of our dogs- (er, on the dogs collar, not riveted to the DOG!) When we are out hiking and they are off leash, they both wear 'bear bells' just so we can keep track of them. (And for the named intended purpose!)

[icvanstra]

I'd worry about no ID at all, tho. Galaxy forbid there would ever be a fire at my home when I"m not there but she is, or some other kind of disaster like that, or a vehicle accident and the dog gets loose...those very very rare things where **** happens.

I just experienced some of that scenario.

Wednesday evening I was on my way to a late appointment and had Abigail in the car with me. Less than two miles from the house I was in a car accident. ...nobody seriously injured... The guy that caused the accident was blatantly not paying attention (think texting) and was going way too fast. He hit the car behind me which in turn hit me...

When I jumped out of my car to check on the other drivers (okay...my initial emotions were to yell at the guy who caused the accident) I totally spaced the fact that Abigail was loose in the car. She was laying in the passenger footwell at the time of the accident. I left the drivers door open. Traffic flowing all around us... Next thing I know Abigail is sitting next to me.

Thankfully her training is to come to me, but she could have just as easily run off!

Funny thing is when I told her to get back in the car she jumped in with the lady in the second vehicle.

[leih merigian]

I just experienced some of that scenario.

Traffic flowing all around us... Next thing I know Abigail is sitting next to me.

Thankfully her training is to come to me, but she could have just as easily run off!

Funny thing is when I told her to get back in the car she jumped in with the lady in the second vehicle.

OMG, Eric! That's exactly it, and I"m so glad this turned out so well for you.

[turnnburn52984]

Funny thing is when I told her to get back in the car she jumped in with the lady in the second vehicle.

Good Girl Abigail! Did it totally spook the person in the car? Koenig has done similar things at my house. I tell him to get in the Jeep, open the apt door, I stay and lock it, fully expecting him to run to the jeep like he does 99% of the time.... this time I came out to an empty Jeep, and a car one space closer with a very startled man standing by it, and my 80 lbs dog sitting proudly in the drivers seat. Whoops. Sorry sir!

[icvanstra]

Not so much surprised /spooked...I think more perturbed at the dog that just randomly jumped in her car.

[turnnburn52984]

Oh, whats a little dog hair going to do to hurt a car!?! My jeep is drowning in dog hair!

[Marjolein]

I have some tags on Ivil's collar, to scare the wildlife (hares, deer) around here, so they move before she starts chasing them It worked a couple of times...

[turnnburn52984]

I have some tags on Ivil's collar, to scare the wildlife (hares, deer) around here, so they move before she starts chasing them It worked a couple of times...

Until Ivil learned to move very quietly, so as not to scare the wildlife, right?

[Marjolein]

I have some tags on Ivil's collar, to scare the wildlife (hares, deer) around here, so they move before she starts chasing them It worked a couple of times...

Until Ivil learned to move very quietly, so as not to scare the wildlife, right?

...untill she SAW the wildlife trying to get away and started her rocket-fuel-filled hind quarters and chases them untill she cannot keep up anymore or actually has one (never happened 'till now...)
But, I bought myself a dogtra e-collar recently, so the fun is OVER heh heh heh