We keep Cosmo in his crate when we aren't home because he is still not trustworthy. He's usually pretty happy to be there. I stopped home at lunch today and found he was latched to the inside door of his crate by the D-ring on his collar. He was completely immobilized.
Even as I write this, I am still disturbed. Poor puppy. I have no idea how long he was trapped like that. I could barely get him free. I thought I was going to have to call the fire department. I was able to free him after tinkering for a minute or two.
The thing that saved him was that he remained calm. He didn't thrash around. He's such a mellow little guy that I think he just accepted that he was caught and just stayed with his head against the door. When I finally got him out, he was completely nonplussed, just happy. I was the one who was a wreck.
Now the lesson and your advice: Do you all take off collars when you crate? This seemed like a complete freak occurence but I don't want to take any chances. Cosmo has his rabies tag and dog park license attached to his collar, and that ring is what got caught. I know it will be a pain to take the collar off each time, but I won't risk that happening again.
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My two don't wear collars in the house either.
One day last Christmas they were wrestling - Bear's bottom jaw got caught in Goldy's collar and in a panic he "rolled" his body - tightening the collar and strangling her. They were in a panic, I was in a panic - I grabbed the scissors - luckily sitting out from wrapping presents earlier and was preparing myself to reach in to the flailing dogs. I figured if I stabbed one - that was better than Goldy strangling to death. Stab wounds can be treated, no oxygen - not so much.
Right as I was picking my spot to cut, Bear rolled again and luckily in the right direction and freed himself.
That day I swore off collars in the house forever.
Here's the collar FAQ:
http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/some-info-about-collars
I like the Martingale-type collar 'cause it slips off-and-on so easily. I replaced the chain with nylon rope to make it quieter and lighter. Arguably, it wears looser and may be more prone to getting caught on things.
They don't wear collars in the house. Thus we rely on the microchip should they get loose somehow -- and we recently discovered that Gwynnie's chip was undetectable(!). Home Again replaced it, no charge. Verify your chip when you go to the vet.
My crate had a warning in the instructions to remove the collar for this very reason.
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