Collars and dog perceptions
- Thread starter Gempress
- Start date
Yup, apparently they do. I think the look of the dog matters more though. Dakota has a big, studded leather collar (rarely wears it because it wrecks his fur) and harness. Nobody thinks he's mean, probably because he's so fluffy. In fact, a lot of people thought it was funny.
I wouldn't let what other people think dictate what you put on your dog. It would be interesting though, to put him in a fluffy pink collar for a day and see how people react
I went to a couple hospitals today to see what the therapy dogs do, and one lady had her Bullmastiff wearing this ridiculously cutesy, frilly collar and carrying a rose. Totally took the "edge" off of the huge, intimidating dog.
I wouldn't let what other people think dictate what you put on your dog. It would be interesting though, to put him in a fluffy pink collar for a day and see how people react
I went to a couple hospitals today to see what the therapy dogs do, and one lady had her Bullmastiff wearing this ridiculously cutesy, frilly collar and carrying a rose. Totally took the "edge" off of the huge, intimidating dog.Of course it does. Having a pit bull with a spiked collar sends a message just as clearly as having a Peke with a topknot bow. Lots of people with little dogs like to dress them up cute, but get aggravated when others dismiss their pets as froofroo freaks - you just have the same problem, different style. Idiots are attracted to attention-getting dogs - the girly toy breeds and the 'macho' big breeds. They try to enhance those aspects of the dog, and everyone else ends up paying the price because anyone who's ever seen a beribboned Yorkie afraid to walk on grass, or a Rottie with a studded collar who lunges at everyone who walks past it forms certain logical opinions of those fashions.
I don't like a cutesy collar because I've seen a lot of nasty, trashy dogs of 'macho' breeds who wore sweetly colored and decorated collars. Bad owners get crafty after the first bite and try to mislead people about their Cujo. I think a plain leather or nylon collar without adornment is probably the best way to give a neutral message - ie, my dog is properly restrained and identified, and you may judge him by his behavior and mine.
I'm a little leery of dark dogs because it is harder to see their expression. It's not always just a weird reaction.
I don't like a cutesy collar because I've seen a lot of nasty, trashy dogs of 'macho' breeds who wore sweetly colored and decorated collars. Bad owners get crafty after the first bite and try to mislead people about their Cujo. I think a plain leather or nylon collar without adornment is probably the best way to give a neutral message - ie, my dog is properly restrained and identified, and you may judge him by his behavior and mine.
People are afraid of dogs for weird reasons. When I was in Florida for 6 months, I had people scared of Eevee because she was black. >;<
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i think yes in many ways people will judge by the collar. but at the same time i personally think a well made leather studded (not spiked) collar is absolutly stunning on the right dog (my dane had a hand made black leather collar with silver diamond studds and it looked stunning and everyone commented about how dignified he looked) i also think silver studs on a dark dog look, again, stunning, it sets off the colour with a little flash. However im not talking 3 inches wide and nothing but rows of spikes either.
I think if voodoo looks good in his studded collar, its obviously of good enough quality to keep him under control if anythign was to happen (where i think a nylon collar would just snap with that baby!)
and if anyone has an issue with the collar your dog wears and still do after propper introduction, they arnt worth the time in my opinion.
I think if voodoo looks good in his studded collar, its obviously of good enough quality to keep him under control if anythign was to happen (where i think a nylon collar would just snap with that baby!)
and if anyone has an issue with the collar your dog wears and still do after propper introduction, they arnt worth the time in my opinion.
LOL ToscasMom! Or you can tell them that she's just trying to make sure they taste good in case she has to bite them.
It took a lot of thinking on my part, but I've decided to just keep the collar style that I like. It's gotten so many compliments at the kennel, the vet's office, etc., and it looks good on him. I shouldn't have to go out of my way to "soften" my dog's look with bows and ruffles: Voodoo is what he is, and I love him just the way he is. He adores people, is the darling of Petco and the vet clinic, and is gentle and well-mannered with everyone, family and strangers alike.
If people who've met my dog can't look past a collar to see that, than that's their problem, not mine.
It took a lot of thinking on my part, but I've decided to just keep the collar style that I like. It's gotten so many compliments at the kennel, the vet's office, etc., and it looks good on him. I shouldn't have to go out of my way to "soften" my dog's look with bows and ruffles: Voodoo is what he is, and I love him just the way he is. He adores people, is the darling of Petco and the vet clinic, and is gentle and well-mannered with everyone, family and strangers alike.
If people who've met my dog can't look past a collar to see that, than that's their problem, not mine.
W
People always judge the dog and the person by the collar. I was at a park in IA when visiting the inlaws. Huge park, put the ecollar on because she was offleash, and off we went to play. a while later this woman comes up with her golden that I had asked to keep away from my dog as she was just resting in the shade after a pretty vigerous workout. Well she couldn't keep her dog from ramming its nose up my dogs butt. I could see my dog getting annoyed and she quicked jumped up and spun around and in her own way told the offending dog to back off.
Of course she asked if she could help direct me to a trainer cause it was obvious my "rescue" dog with an ecollar on needed training. Which I found funny cause the dog group that was training there as well came up and asked how I had trained my dog and complimented me as I did OB work before we played.
I can't even remember the last time I even had to put the remote in my hand with the ecollar on other than sensitizing her to it and what the correction meant. Now its just a safety measure that hasn't been used in years.
It seems I get judged a lot by the collars I have on my dogs, which is why a lot of my posts are directed at mis information about ecollars and prong collars and such. I know quite a few "opinions" by people that have zero experience with these things are formed by reading things on message boards just like this one.
Of course she asked if she could help direct me to a trainer cause it was obvious my "rescue" dog with an ecollar on needed training. Which I found funny cause the dog group that was training there as well came up and asked how I had trained my dog and complimented me as I did OB work before we played.
I can't even remember the last time I even had to put the remote in my hand with the ecollar on other than sensitizing her to it and what the correction meant. Now its just a safety measure that hasn't been used in years.
It seems I get judged a lot by the collars I have on my dogs, which is why a lot of my posts are directed at mis information about ecollars and prong collars and such. I know quite a few "opinions" by people that have zero experience with these things are formed by reading things on message boards just like this one.
People are going to think what they want about your dog no matter what....Roush has a thick black leather collar that alternates small, dull, cone-like spikes with grommets, and he also has a brown suede collar with black bones on it. I normally get the same reaction from both collars...that they are "cute". So, I think it's a matter of personal taste.
I think it does and I think people who beleive that are really ignorant in my opinion.
Though Tucker wears a spiked collar but it doesent phase anyone. Alot of people say how cute it is. Honestly I think it depends on the breed wearing the collar. Also im not a sicko or weirdo for buying Tucker a spiked collar. I just to happen to have my own spiked wrist bands. And I just like leather too..................Wait lol I may be a freak after all .
Toy poodle or a beagle or even a lab wearing a spiked collar. Is this going to make you fear the dog? Most likely no.
German Shepherd or a Rottweiler or a Pit (or pit looking breed) wearing a spiked collar. Is this going to make you fear the dog or be more careful? Most likely yes.
Sad but true.
Though Tucker wears a spiked collar but it doesent phase anyone. Alot of people say how cute it is. Honestly I think it depends on the breed wearing the collar. Also im not a sicko or weirdo for buying Tucker a spiked collar. I just to happen to have my own spiked wrist bands. And I just like leather too..................Wait lol I may be a freak after all
.Toy poodle or a beagle or even a lab wearing a spiked collar. Is this going to make you fear the dog? Most likely no.
German Shepherd or a Rottweiler or a Pit (or pit looking breed) wearing a spiked collar. Is this going to make you fear the dog or be more careful? Most likely yes.
Sad but true.
when i see a dog with a studded or even spiked collar i personally dont think any diffrent of them then a simular dog in a normal collar.
yes the collar a dog wears is a reflection of the owner, and even the name!
for example, with Ruckus i am going with a skull and cross bone theme. its not because he is a man eating evil sheltie, its because I like skulls and cross bones!
and his name "Ruckus" also makes him sound like a bad dog, and of course he is not, he is such a sweety. He was named Ruckus because his breeders had named him Rufus, and i didnt like that name and picked something that i liked but didnt sound so diffrent.
yes the collar a dog wears is a reflection of the owner, and even the name!
for example, with Ruckus i am going with a skull and cross bone theme. its not because he is a man eating evil sheltie, its because I like skulls and cross bones!
and his name "Ruckus" also makes him sound like a bad dog, and of course he is not, he is such a sweety. He was named Ruckus because his breeders had named him Rufus, and i didnt like that name and picked something that i liked but didnt sound so diffrent.
Collars certainly change or form perceptions of peoples' dogs. I really don't make huge assumptions about the dog by its collar, but sometimes of the owner. A pink collar does not make a dog less aggressive and a studded collar does not make a dog vicious. And obviously as we've learned in this thread is that all owners who have their dogs in studded collars aren't bad. There are people who do try to make their dogs loook mean like that, but all we lean from that is you can never be certain.