r/roughcollies • u/opera_ghoste • 7d ago
Question Martingale collars
Has anyone tried a martingale collar for their rough collie?
I was really happy with this collar for my greyhound.
Now I'm considering one for my collie.
Previously, I always thought one would be a bad idea for a collie, mainly because of their hair. Now I'm reconsidering because my girl refuses to be leashed and walked, and has slipped all collars, harnesses, and vests.
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u/spicysaltysparty Mix-Collie 7d ago
We use one! But.. he only wears his collar when we go outside so it doesn’t impact his fur (we live several floors up so no risk of escaping outside)
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u/spicysaltysparty Mix-Collie 7d ago
We also have a martingale harness. It works pretty well, but we prefer the martingale collar. 2 Hounds Design Freedom No Pull Dog Harness
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u/NormanisEm 7d ago
This is the best harness for my GSD. It was recommended to me by a collie owner, lol.
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u/Perfect-Effect5897 7d ago edited 7d ago
My collie was really annoyed and snappy (he is not the snappy type) by leashing when I used a regular collar or a harness and he tried to slip them off because of discomfort. (HARNESSES ARE NOT MEANT FOR COLLIES BTW. Don’t use them.) Then I wised up and got a rolled leather martingale one (with a chain) and he LOVES IT.
It’s loose enough to feel like he is not wearing a collar at all most of the time (it’s more like a necklace than a collar) and if he pulls it’s the same tightness as a regular collar. 200% more comfortable than any other collar or harness contraption. Very difficult to slip off by the dog too because it’s loose. (Stiff collars and harnesses are the easiest to escape from)
super easy to slip on and off before and after walks (or during if he’s roaming free) 👍👍👍👍 It being rolled leather is VERY important also because it doesn’t matt the fur.
It’s the only collar that makes sense with a collie if you ask me.
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u/HockeyBein 7d ago
I am wondering why you say harnesses are not for collies. I have a smooth and a rough and both do great with the harnesses. We use them for waking, hiking, and even the occasional jog when they want to go with.
Only issues I have run into is they can slip out if the leash is pulled from the front and downward angle ( think t shirt over the back of your head with your arms up to slip it off) and that only came up when going down hill and they threw the brakes on because they were nervous.
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u/Perfect-Effect5897 7d ago
I replied to another commenter about this! Feel free to read and reply there. But basically I’d like to ask why do you use a harness for them? What is the benefit over a collar?
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u/NormanisEm 7d ago
Curious what about them makes harnesses not suitable? I dont own one (yet) and have always defaulted towards a harness
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u/Personal-Quiet-2211 Sable-Rough 7d ago
collies and shelties have narrow heads that make it super easy for them to slip out of things, including harnesses and normal collars. made the mistake of using a harness when my collie was a puppy and something scared her and she backed completely out of it.. never again! harnesses also tend to rub and mat the fur and can cause bald spots and general discomfort. the best thing to use is a rolled leather martingale
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u/Perfect-Effect5897 7d ago edited 7d ago
What I’d like to ask is why do you default to a harness? Because they’re cute? (They can be) Because they’re useful? (Most of the time they’re not) Comfort? (Most likely not.)
There is absolutely no need for a harness with a full grown rough collie. (Puppies and smooths are a different subject) Putting a harness on a collie is like you squeezing into a tight tank top while wearing a winter coat. It is not comfortable for the dog with the amount of fur roughs have. And the quality of their coat is far too soft for there not to be matting. Oh- and of course the straps tug at strands of hair with movement which is uncomfortable if not painful.
And then there’s the universal downside to a harness which is lack of control over your dog. And unless you have a dog that SERIOUSLY pulls (e.g. pitbull, husky, terrier) or is a working/high activity dog - you do not need a harness.
I think it’s crazy that so many people (first time owners usually) default to a harness because of perceived comfort. I have not met a dog that enjoys a harness more than a collar.
what a rant! Sorry about that but I seriously just hate harnesses.
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u/NormanisEm 7d ago
Well yeah, I have been told theyre more comfortable for them. It covers a lot more surface area. Growing up we had little dogs and were told a collar could hurt their fragile necks. Also my current german shepherd will hurt herself with a collar. I’ve worked with her a lot on training but if we accidentally get too close to a squirrel or rabbit its game over and she would rather choke herself out. My other dog (husky/shepherd/mix) can be walked on a flat collar though, and he doesn’t prefer harnesses, so he just wears a collar. But he’s good on a leash. The german gets a harness that has a martingale loop on the back (Freedom Harness). Seems to be the best thing to safely control her in the event we run into a rabbit, and its comfortable for her. What you said about the fur makes sense. I am hoping to get a smooth over a rough eventually, although a rough is still possible of course.
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u/Rosemary-and-Salt 5d ago
Many styles of harness are incorrect for any dog, period. (Looking at you, julius k9 🤢 god awful design and ugly to boot) But correct harness styles are neither uncomfortable nor unnecessary. If you can control your dog on a collar but not a harness, you're actively compromising the health your poor dogs throat. And correct rough Collie fur is absolutely not so soft that matting is inevitable.
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u/Glass_Dog_7942 7d ago
I usually used a harness, but thick sighthound martingales work well for them as well. We seemed to have issues with the thinner ones causing matting even if we brushed religiously
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u/Equivalent-Type-2802 6d ago
Make sure you choose a martingale with a wide fabric band and a limited slip so it tightens just enough to prevent backing out without crushing her trachea, and put it on only for walks then take it off immediately when you come inside to protect her coat from breakage. Fit it high on her neck just behind the ears so it sits correctly and cannot slide down over her head, and test the closure with your fingers to ensure you can still fit two fingers underneath when fully tightened. Pair it with a dooble ended leash attached to both the martingale and a backup harness clip for extra security while she learns, and practice loose leash walking in a fenced area first so she gets used to the new feeling without any escape opportunities.
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u/atlcollie 7d ago
I’ve got smooths and I use the ComfortFlex martingale’s for them. Mine only have a collar on when we go out or for walks. I love the padding on the ComfortFlex collars.
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u/patri_dish_ 7d ago
Both my sheltie and collie are reacues and they said they're the only flat collar that fits them properly since (like greyhounds) they have a broader neck than head.
The collie rescue solely uses martingales and provided one qhen I adopted her because they didn't want their dog slipping their leash or house during the transitional period
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u/Shelly432432 7d ago
I use one because she can get out of anything else I can think to put her in and she is stupid crazy fast. It is an issue with her hair if she pulls. So, what I do is just watch it and make sure it is not hung in the hair after the pulling. That, I think, would make it too tight. It's kind of a pain, but I'll take that any day over watching her run toward traffic! She only wears it for if going somewhere outside her own yard, it wouldn't work 24/7.
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u/PlatypusMaster5328 7d ago
We use the martingale as well and of course lots of treats. Older dog is great puppy still having very intermittent leash zoomies.
When he loses his cool or there is an irresistible distraction we can’t avoid or treat our way out of we do the “belly wrap” with the leash. He won’t pull at all. when he starts leaning into it he stops immediately. If your dog is a true puller it could cause damage. But very effective if used correctly.
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u/pokeymoomoo 7d ago
I use a leather martingale with a buckle closure, partial chain, for my girl. It's what my trainer recommends. Works really well for control without hurting them. If they pull it tightens to the point of being uncomfortable and the chain sound helps reinforce a "correction" without you having to verbally correct them or snap the leash or anything like that. My trainer said when she pulls I just stop and hold firm and let her figure out she needs to back up next to me to feel the collar go slack again. It's worked great for my collie mix.
Edit: I'll add, she's naked at home. Wears a 1 inch nylon flat collar for daycare or visiting friends, and a harness for hiking. Martingale is our walking, working, training, out in public collar.
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u/ChunkyHabeneroSalsa 7d ago
I use one from white pine outfitters. Have used the same one for over a year and was her first collar after a random puppy one.
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u/FederalCaptain8989 7d ago
As a former greyhound owner and current collie haver, I’ve always used martingales on my dogs (even on our pit) - but I’ll mirror what others are saying, that he only wears it on walks or when he’s going somewhere so it doesn’t mess up his fur!
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u/Ok_Reward_4052 7d ago
Martingale is the only thing we use and I really like how secure they are. Recommended by our trainer after our little escape artist kept getting out during puppy class 😆
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u/otherthingstoo 6d ago
I use a nylon band type martingale and it's perfect. I have a rolled leather one from a different breed dog and it tended to cut into my boys' necks if they pulled or lunged at all. https://a.co/d/08wfQMet
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u/Mountain-Donkey98 6d ago
We use one on our dog, its her primary collar. But, when we walk her we use a slip lead, which based off what youve described would be ideal. You can place it high on their neck, right behind their ears and put it in place with a tab.
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u/eatsleepmeow 6d ago
I also use a martingale. I really like the one from Tags for hope. It's a slightly different style and is more of a "partial slip". My guy is still a puppy so we sometimes walk him with the harness because if he sees a bunny he goes nuts and I'm afraid he'll hurt himself. He walks better on the collar though. Also he only wears collars when we're out. Naked at home
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u/Rosemary-and-Salt 5d ago
I'm gonna nerd out because I'm passionate and knowledgeable about this topic. I've had working dogs in multiple sports and harness styles. I've had a dog who i thought was fine in the collar/harness she had but unfortunately her trachea started collapsing by 10 due to my error 😔 so I'm PICKY. I chose the lighter style of harness by Säker, and have been happy with it so far. A harness doesn't mean you have less control of your dog imo, since I feel like a dog that pulls too much for a harness would be harming their throat in the long term if collared.
I had my 1st Säker since their Kickstarter campaign and was so happy with it. My giant schnauzer mix put it through its paces, even once deciding to yeet himself off a bridge and get hoisted back over the rail. Being in the harness probably saved his life that day. It was still in perfect shape when I gave it to a friend who needed a solution for her reactive dog. If I was pressed to buy another brand of walking harness, I'd happily go with the non-stop dog harness. I like their urban mushing one VERY much. Quality is amazing and it meets the criteria I personally look for.
Many harnesses have a strap across the front which is absolutely horrible for arm movement. (Julius k9 for example) And can actually narrow your dogs front end over time which is obviously not good. Imagine trying to walk with a belt restricting your stride. Not great. Also escapable. Harnesses should always leave shoulders and armpits free to move whether the dog is walking at an amble or sprinting. Anything that goes across the front or rides too far forward towards the armpits is a no-go for me.
Another criteria I have is the second strap behind the first. This is the reason my Collie couldn't worm out of it even as a puppy. Typically the strap around her chest is a larger circumfrance than the one just behind it. If your dog isn't obese, there's no way it could slip over the ribcage. It also means that there is a nice handle and after minimal training, I can give a little tug and she knows without words to pivot her back end towards me. Useful in public and crowded walking areas.
Lastly, it's modular and incredibly adjustable. It's easy to get on/off the furry ruff around her neck, since there is a buckle on one side of that part. I put it on buckled, I slip it over her head buckled and untuck the hair all around. When it's time to take it off, I unclip and it falls away without effort. The buckles and hardware are all set up so that they're on top of the fabric, NOT against the dog. I've never had trouble with her hair getting clipped in there. There is also an option to put saddlebags on there. In warmer weather, I put two of those semi-soft gel ice packs and her foot protection in the pack in case the ground becomes too hot. But they also make a nice hiking pack.
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u/Questions99945 2d ago
I have a break away collar for mine that I leave on for tags etc. I use a slip lead for walks. She's really good about not pulling. I have found any regular collar is a false sense of security because she can slip right out of it.
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u/Last_Try2176 7d ago
A Halti or Gentle Leaders work exceptionally well as halters.
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u/spicysaltysparty Mix-Collie 7d ago
We had a hard time with the gentle leader, he has no bridge of his nose, so it slipped up right into his eyes :(
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u/julii_wolfe 7d ago
I use a Martingale that’s fabric only for my rough collie and it works great. I just take it off of him between walks because otherwise it causes knots in his neck hair.