Can martingale collars be worn all the time?  

This is a common question that many new sighthound owners have. At the same time, it is also something that many dog owners are unaware of. The simple answer is no – martingale collars are not meant to be worn all the time. Martingale collars must be worn under supervision and should not be left on your hound when you leave the home.  

Let’s talk about its unique structure 

Martingale collars are a type of dog collar that are anti-escape, thanks to their unique structure. Unlike standard dog collars, martingale dog collars are made of two loops - a large loop where a dog’s head goes in and a small loop with a D-ring. When a leash is attached, the small loop tightens in response to a dog pulling on the leash. This ultimately reduces the circumference of the collar and stops getting tighter at a point where it’s close enough to keep the collar from slipping off but not tight enough to hurt or choke your dog. 

This mechanism makes martingale collars extremely effective for safe walking for sighthounds with narrow heads, such as Greyhounds, Whippets and Italian Greyhounds and other dog breeds who can easily escape out of the standard collar and harnesses.  

Then why shouldn't it be used all the time? 

Martingale collars are great for daily walks and training. However, martingale collars are not suitable to be used as a house collar for the same reason why martingale collars are so effective in preventing accidental slip off. For example, if the D-ring gets caught on a piece of furniture, a dog won’t be able to slip out of the collar (don’t forget, they’re anti-escape collars) without human intervention, which may lead to a choking hazard if unattended.  

For this reason, we strongly recommend using a martingale collar mainly for walks and under supervision at home. If you wish to have an ID tag on your dog, have a separate house collar that can be worn all the time. 

If you have one of our stylish martingale collars, think of it as a nice functional but fashionable jacket that you wear in winter. You wouldn’t wear jackets around at home. You’d wear it to go outside and take it off when you get home. This is also great for dogs as they can be free of the collar around the house, while keeping it fresh for a longer time.