Ryder Jackson Died October 24th 2018

Ryder lost his life to collar strangulation, he is the reason we do what we do. Every Get Dog Smart Breakaway Dog Safety Collar we sell is in his name #rydersafefoundation

For most dog owners, putting a collar on their dog is one of the most ordinary parts of daily life. A collar carries an identification tag, provides somewhere to attach a lead and is often worn from morning until night without a second thought.

But collars can also present a strangulation risk when they become caught on something and the dog cannot free themselves.

It does not require an unusual accident. Collars and the tags attached to them can become trapped on radiators, fencing, decking, furniture, crates, branches and other everyday objects. Accidents can also happen during play when another dog's jaw, teeth or paw becomes caught underneath a collar.

What turns an apparently minor snag into an emergency is the dog's instinctive response to being trapped.

What Happens When A Collar Becomes Caught?

When a dog feels something restricting their neck, their natural reaction is usually to pull away. Unfortunately, with a conventional fixed collar, pulling may tighten the collar or increase the force being placed on the neck.

A frightened dog may then twist, struggle and pull harder in an attempt to escape.

Pressure around the neck can interfere with the airway and blood flow. Even when an obstruction is released before a dog loses consciousness, significant injury may already have occurred. Damage to the tissues of the neck and airway can also mean that a dog which initially appears to have recovered still requires veterinary assessment.

In a severe entrapment, the consequences can be fatal.

Dog To Dog Play Presents A Particular Risk

One of the most frightening collar accidents can happen when two dogs are playing.

Dogs frequently mouth one another around the face and neck. A lower jaw or teeth can slip underneath another dog's collar and become trapped. As one dog tries to pull free, the collar can twist.

The dog wearing the collar may begin to choke while the other dog, unable to release its jaw, panics and struggles. Their movements can tighten the collar further.

This type of accident can develop extremely quickly, which is one reason collars deserve particular consideration in multi dog households and anywhere dogs play together.

The Collar Itself Isn't Always What Gets Caught

Identification tags and other items hanging from a collar create additional snag points.

A dangling tag can slip into a surprisingly small opening. Radiators are one example, but similar problems can occur with decking, fencing, crates and furniture.

Once the tag is trapped, the collar effectively anchors the dog to whatever has caught it.

Again, the dog's instinct is unlikely to be to stand perfectly still and wait for somebody to help. They may pull backwards, twist or panic, transferring the force directly to their neck.

Outdoor Environments Create Their Own Hazards

Gardens and outdoor spaces can contain numerous potential snag points.

Branches, wire, fencing, gates, decking and garden furniture can all potentially catch a collar or tag. A dog running through vegetation can also catch a collar on something that an owner may never have recognised as a hazard.

The risk becomes particularly concerning when a dog is somewhere unsupervised. An accident which could be resolved quickly if somebody were present can become much more serious when nobody sees that the dog is trapped.

Why Breakaway Collars Exist

Unlike a conventional collar designed to remain securely fastened when force is applied, a breakaway collar incorporates a safety mechanism intended to release under pressure.

The principle is simple: if the collar becomes caught and the dog pulls against it, there is a means of escape.

That does not make any collar completely risk free, and the appropriate collar and equipment will depend on the dog and circumstances. A breakaway mechanism also needs to be considered when attaching a lead because equipment designed to release under pressure should not be relied upon in the same way as a conventional fixed collar for restraint.

But where a collar is being worn for identification or everyday wear, particularly around the home or during play, the ability to release if it becomes dangerously snagged can address a very specific hazard.

Why We Make Breakaway Safety Collars

At Dog Desk Animal Action, we make breakaway safety collars because collar strangulation is preventable, yet many dog owners have simply never been told that the risk exists. And they are not aware of just how many strangulation events there are. 

We don't believe people should be frightened of putting collars on their dogs. We do believe they should understand how collar entrapment happens and be able to make an informed decision about what their dog wears and when.

Look around the places your dog spends their time. Consider radiators, crates, fencing, decking, furniture and the way your dogs interact during play. Look at the tags and accessories hanging from the collar too, not just the collar itself.

Something as familiar as a dog collar is very easy to stop seeing as a piece of equipment. But equipment can fail, become caught or be used in circumstances for which it was never designed.

Understanding that risk is the first step towards reducing it.