One of the first big purchases you’ll make for your hound is a collar, but the big question is….
Can greyhounds wear collars all the time?
No, martingale collars should NOT be worn all the time. Because of the martingale’s tightening function, martingales can become a choking hazard if left on unattended dogs.
Sighthound breeds, such as Greyhound, Whippet, Saluki, Afghan hound and Italian Greyhound, have long graceful necks. These breeds hunt by sight and, as any sighthound owner knows, sighthounds can get very excited and lunge on their leads on seeing any fast moving object which they consider good enough to chase.
Many of the sighthound breeds have short and delicate coats that can wear out from constant contact with dog collars. The added benefit of wearing a wider than normal hound collar is that is spreads out the pressure on the dogs neck preventing damage to the coat and hairless patches on your dogs neck.
It is no surprise that these special dogs need special sighthound collars to protect their neck and throat, which can be damaged when a dog pulls wearing a narrow collar. The wide part of sighthound collar will fit under the dogs throat and any pulling on the lead will not cut off his breath and arterial blood flow. See pictures below for illustration.
Sighthound collars are typically made of leather and have variable width being wider in the middle narrowing down at both ends to accommodate the buckle or martingale chain. Traditionally this style of sighthound style collars, sometimes referred to as fish tail collar, were used for hunting and coursing Greyhounds, Whippets and Salukis. They range from plain leather to fully lined and padded models to highly decorated, embroidered and studded designs.
Have you ever wondered why Greyhounds, Whippets and Lurchers often wear wide leather collar and what makes these collars especially suited for sighthounds?
What collars are best for greyhounds?
It’s recommended that greyhounds use a special collar called a martingale collar, because they easily slip out of regular collars due to the ratio of head to neck width. Please note that any collar, including martingale collars, can hurt your dog is they pull while walking on a leash.
Martingale Collars for Greyhounds generally come in two widths: 1.5 inches and 2 inches. For many greyhound owners, a 1.5-inch wide collar provides the best combination of fit, security and fashion.
FAQ
Why do greyhounds have thick collar?
Why do greyhounds have weird collars?
Why do whippets and greyhounds have thick collars?