Martingale Collars...A Necessity?

SunKissedRider · 05-03-2011, 09:48 AM

So while we're waiting to hear back regarding the pup we'd like to adopt (read here) I'm entertaining myself by making shopping lists of all the new things I get to buy. Shopaholic anyone?!

I didn't even realize that GSD's used martingale collars until I was perusing this forum. Our greyhound HAS to have one...they aren't off leash trustworthy, despite a lot of good training, and they back out of their collars easy.

My question is, do you HAVE to have one for GSD's? Why or why not? Are they just a "good" idea...or only on certain dogs, depending on the shape of their head/neck?

I <3 the martingale collar our greyhound has, but I have always been a sucker for a nice supple leather collar...and that's what I was planning on purchasing for the GSD if we get him.

Emoore · 05-03-2011, 09:51 AM

I've never used one.

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 05-03-2011, 09:53 AM

I love the martingale collar. I have them for all but 2 of my dogs (because I couldn't find a pattern I liked - collarholic too!) and those two are the ones who aren't going to have a meltdown if they slip their collars. I really like the no-slips for all new dogs and cringe when adopters put a flat or other collar on a dog because sometimes things happen and you want that security, especially in the first couple of months of having a dog. One rescue I volunteer with requires them for all dogs. So I would get one.

Hope things are going to work out for you!!!!

Liesje · 05-03-2011, 10:19 AM

I have several and never use them. We used to have a thick custom made one that DH put one on Kenya to take her jogging because she had a habit of getting spooked and I didn't want her to slip a collar and take off on him, but I don't even know where that one is anymore.

Chicagocanine · 05-03-2011, 11:38 AM

The only time I've ever used a martingale is when I had a foster Chinese Shar-Pei. Something about the shape of the head/neck and the wrinkles made him constantly lose his collar before I got a martingale. It was almost like his wrinkles pushed his collars off!

I have been thinking about getting one because the animal-assisted therapy group allows them and I thought it might be good to have a "cute" collar for that but no I've never used one for Bianca or my foster GSDs.

Bianca uses a soft webbing collar in the house, and a 1.5" decorated leather collar from Paco Collars when we go out.

Elaine · 05-03-2011, 12:30 PM

I have one for my greyhound, but have never used one on any of my GSDs.

selzer · 05-03-2011, 12:47 PM

One day when Babsy was about four months old, I was walking her along with her sister Jenna into the PetsMart in Mentor, Ohio. That parking lot has KMart, Fashion Bug, Home Town Buffet also, maybe others. In short it is very busy.

Something spooked her and she slipped her collar.

There I was with one puppy on lead, and a leash with collar and tags attached and my scared puppy running naked through a busy parking lot.

I got her back and nothing bad happened. But that was just the grace of God, because so many things COULD have happened. Since then, I have been a disciple of the martingale. I put a collar with tags on my dog, and the martingale on my leash, and then put that on the dog. There is ALWAYS a martingale attached to my leash. I use no other type of collar to attach the leash to my dog.

If there is an equipment failure, I either have a dog at the end of my leash, or at least my dog has a collar with tags on them. So far, no problems though.

elisabeth_00117 · 05-03-2011, 12:58 PM

I actually use mine as a safety-collar when he wears his prong.

I have had my really good prong (HS, and properly fitted) break on me for some reason once and I am paranoid now.. lol.

Because the martingale chain is longer than the prong chain, it doesn't interfer with the correction or collar at all.

I hook them up like this:

spidermilk · 05-03-2011, 01:48 PM

My pup went through a short phase of cranky/adolescent collar slipping. Doesn't do it anymore and doesn't spook. Still, when we are out and about he is usually on a harness or prong collar.

cassadee7 · 05-03-2011, 05:53 PM

Where's a good place to get a martingale? We have had a couple of collar slips recently and I don't like how tight I have to make the buckle collar for it not to slip.

05-03-2011, 09:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
SunKissedRider Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 59	Martingale Collars...A Necessity? So while we're waiting to hear back regarding the pup we'd like to adopt (read here) I'm entertaining myself by making shopping lists of all the new things I get to buy. Shopaholic anyone?! I didn't even realize that GSD's used martingale collars until I was perusing this forum. Our greyhound HAS to have one...they aren't off leash trustworthy, despite a lot of good training, and they back out of their collars easy. My question is, do you HAVE to have one for GSD's? Why or why not? Are they just a "good" idea...or only on certain dogs, depending on the shape of their head/neck? I <3 the martingale collar our greyhound has, but I have always been a sucker for a nice supple leather collar...and that's what I was planning on purchasing for the GSD if we get him.

05-03-2011, 09:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,214	I've never used one. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

05-03-2011, 09:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,697	I love the martingale collar. I have them for all but 2 of my dogs (because I couldn't find a pattern I liked - collarholic too!) and those two are the ones who aren't going to have a meltdown if they slip their collars. I really like the no-slips for all new dogs and cringe when adopters put a flat or other collar on a dog because sometimes things happen and you want that security, especially in the first couple of months of having a dog. One rescue I volunteer with requires them for all dogs. So I would get one. Hope things are going to work out for you!!!! __________________ Help IMOM help Pets www.imom.org You can help Anna help IMOM help people help pets help people win...

05-03-2011, 10:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,969	I have several and never use them. We used to have a thick custom made one that DH put one on Kenya to take her jogging because she had a habit of getting spooked and I didn't want her to slip a collar and take off on him, but I don't even know where that one is anymore. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

05-03-2011, 11:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chicagocanine Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,517	The only time I've ever used a martingale is when I had a foster Chinese Shar-Pei. Something about the shape of the head/neck and the wrinkles made him constantly lose his collar before I got a martingale. It was almost like his wrinkles pushed his collars off! I have been thinking about getting one because the animal-assisted therapy group allows them and I thought it might be good to have a "cute" collar for that but no I've never used one for Bianca or my foster GSDs. Bianca uses a soft webbing collar in the house, and a 1.5" decorated leather collar from Paco Collars when we go out. __________________ Chicago Canine Bianca HIC CGC TT (GSD)

05-03-2011, 12:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Elaine Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,784	I have one for my greyhound, but have never used one on any of my GSDs. __________________ Elaine and the herd

05-03-2011, 12:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	One day when Babsy was about four months old, I was walking her along with her sister Jenna into the PetsMart in Mentor, Ohio. That parking lot has KMart, Fashion Bug, Home Town Buffet also, maybe others. In short it is very busy. Something spooked her and she slipped her collar. There I was with one puppy on lead, and a leash with collar and tags attached and my scared puppy running naked through a busy parking lot. I got her back and nothing bad happened. But that was just the grace of God, because so many things COULD have happened. Since then, I have been a disciple of the martingale. I put a collar with tags on my dog, and the martingale on my leash, and then put that on the dog. There is ALWAYS a martingale attached to my leash. I use no other type of collar to attach the leash to my dog. If there is an equipment failure, I either have a dog at the end of my leash, or at least my dog has a collar with tags on them. So far, no problems though. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

05-03-2011, 12:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
elisabeth_00117 Crowned Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 7,251	I actually use mine as a safety-collar when he wears his prong. I have had my really good prong (HS, and properly fitted) break on me for some reason once and I am paranoid now.. lol. Because the martingale chain is longer than the prong chain, it doesn't interfer with the correction or collar at all. I hook them up like this: __________________ Battleborn Hundesport Wild Winds Archangel Raphael "Stark", HIC (2009-04-10) Wild Winds Zephyr "Zefra" (2011-04-15) *Beau* 03/08/97 to 06/07/10

05-03-2011, 01:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
spidermilk Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 317	My pup went through a short phase of cranky/adolescent collar slipping. Doesn't do it anymore and doesn't spook. Still, when we are out and about he is usually on a harness or prong collar.

05-03-2011, 05:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
cassadee7 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Posts: 1,254	Where's a good place to get a martingale? We have had a couple of collar slips recently and I don't like how tight I have to make the buckle collar for it not to slip. __________________ Shawn Mom to five kids and Speedy the Wonderdog, (toy poodle/pom mix), 13 years old "Saber" Jette vom Wildhaus CGC 11/09/10

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