I've been skimming the threads and have yet another question-- I've been reading about the "teenage" stage, which mine are nearing the end of; what kind of things can one expect when they reach adulthood? is there really an "adult" stage? My two have been getting a bit stir crazy- it just won't stop raining!!! We go for walks, and play roll-the-ball fetch in the house (it helps to have slippery wood floors, makes it hard to be too reckless for them). Just made me wonder if they'll settle down as they age or if the energetic one will continue to be energetic, and the cuddly one will just keep on being cuddly. Just curious-

My other question is on collars-- not training, but the everyday collar with ID & Rabies tags on it. Mine wear choke chains- that I have never used as chokers, lol. Their previous owner told me that they destroy nylon or leather collars with their wrestling and/or chewing. I had a little experience with that when I received a dom dog collar in the mail. I opened the box, tried it on Dixon for size and then left him unattended in it for an hour to put away a load of laundry... in hindsight, leaving Dixon alone in it wasn't smart, but to drive the point home, it was in three pieces when I found it in the yard, lol. Anyway- although I like using the pinch with dom dog as back-up for training, am I doing them any harm letting them run around in those chokers? I read about the fursaver- but that lead me to wonder about flat leather collars... do they do damage to the fur, too? I'm tempted to get them cheap nylon ones just to see how long they'll really last... but not sure if there'd be a point if flat isn't any better than either of the chain-type for the fur?

Again just curious-- thanks for all of the past and future advice!

I think too many things can go wrong with a choker on all the time. I'd get them a flat leather and correct them when the chewing starts.

I agree with Alex about chokers...especially with 2 dogs around. I've seen several cases ( 1 happened with our employee's dogs at work ) where the dogs got caught in the choke collar. Nasty injuries and a near-strangulation. Very scary.

I have Leerburg's flat leather collar and it wears extremely well...plus it is so much better looking than nylon. My dog rough-houses with other dogs and the collar is in great condition.

i don't think the choke collars were made to be worn all the time. i view them as an accident waiting to happen and most people size them incorretly anyway. i promise you, if you get a real leather collar, a good thick one, the dogs will not tear it up. i'm sure leerburg sales some good ones but i buy mine form morrco pet supply over the internet and have never had any problems.

wow- ok now I feel silly. Didn't realize they were so dangerous. Don't know how I missed that- they came with them on when I picked them up from the previous owner for my "trial period" through the rescue, and I just assumed they were safe to leave on. What really bothered me at the time was that they didn't have any ID tags on and weren't microchipped. I should have questioned the collars, too.

You wouldn't think so, but dogs are pretty good at getting them caught up. Anything can get them stuck in a nasty situation, brush, furniture, other dogs. Unfortunately, when dogs get their choker stuck, they fight it, which can cause damage. I've seen one case of a dog actually choking himself to death when fighting a caught choker.

Better safe than sorry. Leather is the way to go, if its fitted right there should be no problem.