Hey guys,

I just ordered two of the nice hemp collars that Leerburg sells for my GSD's and my male chewed threw his in a matter of 30 minutes! I couldn't believe it... I let them outside for a bit, came back and i'm like... where is his collar. I got the 2nd one for my other dog, but I think i'll keep this one for my male as well... but i'm really afraid to put it on him. I put it on him really tight the second time, but ended up taking it off, in fear of wasting another $22.

Anyway, does anyone know of any metal collars or something that he couldn't chew through? I see Leerburg sells some fur saving collars... but they look like just a choke collar.

Hi Jason, You let your dogs out & 1 dog chewed through the other dogs' collar? How frustrating! The only thing different I would do is I wouldn't leave unattended dogs together, I would kennel them when I wasn't watching them. If a dog chewed through his own collar, then it is probably on too loose. He should not be able to work his jaw through the neck hole - could end up causing an injury. A fursaver would not be the answer because of the posibility of getting caught on something & causing the dog injury. Flat collars (no choke action) is the only way I would go on an unattended dog.

I agree w/Susan about the fursaver potentially getting caught on something if the dog was left unattended. Leerburg makes a really great, very thick flat leather collar that might work. If your dog can chew through that, you better resort to a spiked collar <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> (I'm just kidding). I imagine w/enough time he'd chew through anything that's not metal but jeez, how's he even getting his jaw latched onto the collar in the first place? Is it that loose? Did I misread your post? It is his own collar he's chewing on and not another dog's, correct?

Is there a reason a dog has to wear a collar unattended? I never have mine in collars at home alone b/c a friend lost a dog when he became stuck on his brother's collar, choking him to death in his struggle <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. It was awful. I don't ever leave them with collars in the yard or kennel run either, in case they were to try to climb and get it stuck and hang themselves...

Maybe I worry too much, but I only leave them 'au natural' if I'm not supervising.

Maybe the only thing that can make you sound like you worry too much is introducing my way of doing it <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> ! If I leave my dog alone in the house I put a soft, flat, day-glo orange collar on him (as opposed to au natural) for one reason only - I really would be horrified if someone broke into our house and he got out without any collar identifying him! So my ritual is change from fursaver to soft, flat day-glo and alarm the house and double lock all doors (the bugger knows how to open doors and no to anyone thinking it...I didn't teach him). And I put the collar on very loose on the off chance he'd get it stuck on something so that he could slip his head through if he really had to.

He is microchipped BUT, I think the majority of people out there who would find him without a collar, would not all think or bother to bring him to a vet and get him scanned in the hopes of finding a microchip. Half the population probably doesn't even know the technology exists.

Oops - I meant to say, "Maybe the only thing that can make you NOT sound like you worry too much is introducing my way of doing it <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> !

Ok, I guess there's no way, after reading what you do, that anyone could say I worry too much. I sometimes forget to LOCK my doors. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Someone would have to be on crack to try to come in my house, but I never thought about him escaping if they tried. He opens doors, whether locked or unlocked, including the garage door <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />. I have to padlock his crate (old-style, 2 locks, top and bottom). I don't worry too much about him running away, either; he's left the house on me while I've been at work (ignorance is bliss!) and no one has seen him when I ask the neighbors for clues as to how long he'd been gone, since he's just about collapsing in the yard when I pull in the driveway. I think he goes into stealth mode and avoids anyone who could end his adventure at all costs, b/c I find it unbelieable that in 5 hours, he's not come in contact with a single human <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. He can't go too far, b/c he shows up in the driveway when he hears my Jeep.

I keep forgetting how nice, friendly, normal dogs are <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. I see why a collar w/tags would be good to have on a friendly dog in case of accidental escape. So I apologize for my dumb question.

<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> No apologies needed!

Your dog sounds like he's pretty smart to know to hang around the yard come 5:00 PM! I love it. I wonder if he wanders back to your house about 1:00 PM on the off chance you'll come home for lunch <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> . I can't help but imagine the "conversation" he'd have in his head, "OK, just one more bush, and maybe just one more tree. She better not be comin' home for lunch. I'm not thru over here. Crap, I'm runnin' outta time".

Yea, if someone decided my house looked like a good target, I can imagine someone opening the door to coax him out. The alarm would go off, of course, but the damage of an open door would be done. So, hence my paranoia! And don't even get me started about a fire!! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Let's up the paranoia anti just a bit <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> My dogs never wear collars when they are unsupervised because they may get caught on something, including each other; they are crated separately w/o collars (the dogs have their own room) inside my double-locked house when I'm not home. I have a fenced yard with an electric wire around the top so nobody will get over the fence, everyone is microchipped, I have a smoke-alarm in every room and a carbon-monoxide detector. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
So.....how crazy am I? <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

HA! I can beat that with my eyes closed sister...I have the fence too (no electric or razr wire <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> so you win that one) but my alarm is set up that all the detectors are plugged in/alarmed so if they go off, the fire company automatically comes. And there is a button on the panel that I hit it once for a fire and don't have to call anyone and if that's not enough, I ordered portable alarms that I can carry in my pocket while in my backyard. I even had a panel installed by my bed that I could hit a button in case someone get's in on any floor, I'm covered and my second floor is wired even though they told me don't bother, I bothered! And I have noise detectors whichamacallits too so if someone trys to break the glass to get around the alarm. There's battery backups for power outages. OMG, listen to me...I sound crazy! All this in a neighborhood with zero crime rate! I should be too embarrassed to even post this but I'm in my 40's now and we women don't care what others think at this stage in our life <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> .

(I swear, I'm really normal) <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

OK, I guess what this really all means is my dog is safe <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> .

I didn't really hit me until I got a dog, but with all the dogs in my neighborhood, we have a very sophisticated canine neighborhood watch.

I don't need an alarm system, because my dog will wake the dead if someone tries to get in. I feel comfortable leaving my wife home alone with the dog, because I can't imagine anyone on the ohter side of the door wanting to get in once they hear that deep bark.