this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2026
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Every time ❤️ (startrek.website)
submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by IcedRaktajino@startrek.website to c/dogs@lemmy.world
 

Inspired by, and borrowing the graphic from, an earlier post from @LadyButterfly@piefed.blahaj.zone

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[–] isVeryLoud@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I received a few reports on the conversations in this thread, and although heated and certainly divisive, seems to remain civil, and thus I haven't taken any action.

Please remember to mention the rule broken when reporting content, and although I encourage you to keep reporting content you believe violates the rules, avoid reporting content simply because you disagree with it (unless it's a topic explicitly banned by the rules).

I am proud of the level of civility you were able to retain even in very divisive topics. I encourage open conversation without hostility, and disagreeing is part of conversation. You can even agree to disagree, and some topics may have no right answer, and / or more research may be needed to decisively answer a question.

[–] IcedRaktajino@startrek.website 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Hah, thanks. The original discussion thread I linked in my first reply was full of differing opinions on that topic but everyone was approaching it from a "this works for me but you do you" angle. I'm disappointed and apologize the same topic under this post was so inflammatory. That wasn't even what the post was about.

Edit: Oh, I replied to this from the inbox but am now realizing this was addressed to the room :facepalm:.

[–] isVeryLoud@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Hahah no biggie! I think me using the royal "you" may have felt more personal than it should have been and came off as a PM in the interface

Thanks for posting! Don't worry about it, netizens love to argue, and I'm guilty of starting a few flame wars myself 😅

[–] Francislewwis@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Dogs go from 0 to let me stretch first real quick 😭

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Wow, what a thread!

I use a Martingale collar on my dog. It's super loose until you pull from the loop (where the leash attaches). The only time I take it off is to give him a bath. I don't think he really even notices it's there

[–] RickyRigatoni@piefed.zip 16 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Running around outside without stretching the muscles first is how you get tears and pulls. Good dog smart dog.

[–] Sculptor9157@sh.itjust.works 15 points 2 days ago

Everybody knows that rule #18 is to limber up.

[–] zxqwas@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Heh, the comments really blew up into a heated debate. I just wanted to say: Cool post!

Lol, thanks, that's what I was going for. Not whatever (gestures to the other thread) that is.

[–] plantfanatic@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago (9 children)

Who takes their dogs collar off? If they get out, their location and everything is right on it.

[–] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 day ago

My dog would sit in front of is and whine of we don't take the harness off after a walk.

[–] boletus@sh.itjust.works 25 points 2 days ago (6 children)

Do you guys really not take your dog's collar off? Is this an across the pond thing? In Australia most people I know don't leave their dog collars on when they're at home. If somehow your dog got out, other people usually call animal services. Dogs are microchipped, vets can scan it and you can do it yourself with your phone on the newer ones.

My dogs are a lot more comfortable with their collars off at home. If I forget to take it off they refuse to nap or try to grab at it with their paws.

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[–] IcedRaktajino@startrek.website 23 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (21 children)

Lots of people. We're a "no shoes, no collar" house.

Both dogs are trained to not bolt out the door when it opens, and I've got a fenced yard.

[–] Alabaster_Mango@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 days ago (9 children)

Yo these people are weirdos for putting you on blast for no reason. I also take my dog's harness off inside the house. If I leave it on him his fur gets matted to heck, and if it's any looser he can slip out. Let these pearl-clutching "won't anyone think of the puppies" people live in their own little fantasy world of escape artist dogs and dog stealing burglars. You don't gotta justify yourself.

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[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

My dog only wears her collar when she's outside.

Edit: you have to catch a dog to read a collar, so it's not that much different than a microchip.

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[–] Stupidmanager@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I don’t use collars on my dogs, but we have a harness for walks. I long ago stopped using collars with so much info about me, my dog, my phone, etc… microchips take care of the lost part in the very unlikely event my dogs leave me.

[–] Alabaster_Mango@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

There's a cadre of crazies in this thread. I don't think they're open to rational thought, lol. Just a bunch of collar/harness extremists who think they know what's best for all dogs in every situation.

[–] isVeryLoud@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I don't think they're necessarily "extremists". Different cultures, different countries, different legislations, and different dogs create varied opinions on the topic of collars and harnesses.

Here in Montreal, IIRC dogs above 40 lbs must be in a harness and wear a collar at all times when out in public, and must be held on a leash no longer than 6ft outside of designated area. They must wear their license, be microchipped and be neutered unless you get a special permission.

Having a border collie, if I left his harness on at all times, his fur would get matted and he would get infections as he loves to get wet in summer, so I take it off when indoors. He's also not a flight risk, but I still leave his collar on most of the time because he spends a lot of time free in the backyard.

Another dog may have short hair so matting may not be an issue, or could be a flight risk, yet another dog may live in the countryside and have nowhere to go but home. Some countries have easy access to microchip scanning at a vet, some countries require you to go to their SPCA equivalent to get the microchip scanned, and some countries don't even require microchipping.

TL;DR opinions vary based on experience and situations, and no one is right or wrong. See my pinned post, but I encourage conversation.

[–] Alabaster_Mango@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I believe I've been misunderstood. I don't think they're extremists in a political sense or anything. I think their stance on the harness discussion is on the extreme end of things. Many of the arguments were "Your dog must wear a collar or harness 24/7 or you are an irresponsible owner", and they left no room for alternative views. That falls under the definition of extremism in my books.

dogs above 40 lbs must be in a harness and wear a collar at all times when out in public

I agree 100% with that practice. In my opinion the only time dogs should ever be off their leash in public is when they are in designated off-leash areas. When I have my dog in off-leash areas I leave his harness (with contact info) on too. We weren't talking about dogs outside though. It was mainly about dogs whether dogs should be required to wear their collar/harness inside the home.

Anybody who said they took their dogs collar/harness off would face the wrath of the "you're an irresponsible owner" crowd. No counter arguments would be considered either. One user made the outlandish argument that an apartment dog could escape into a common hallway, get into the fire stairs through a propped-open door, go down 5 stories, open the emergency exit via a crash bar, and get outside. To me that is an absurd scenario to use for an argument, and definitely something that only a person with extreme views on the topic would stand behind.

[–] isVeryLoud@lemmy.world 2 points 23 hours ago

Fair enough, I agree, they saw things as very black and white.

[–] Stupidmanager@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Yep. My dog doesn’t need a collar, no other reason. But she has a harness because it’s the leash law. She doesn’t run off, she doesn’t leave the yard… why put a collar on her that does nothing more than become an ornamental with personal info. I value my privacy, trained my dog to be better… tell me why she needs a collar?! I just want to say, “You know what, your dog runs away because she doesn’t have freedom!” Hah

Anyway, glad I’m not alone in my version of crazy. Hah

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[–] BreadOven@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Mine only has a harness for walking. She also has a microchip, and doesn't run away, even if we leave the door open. Everytime we're out though the harness goes on.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (5 children)

I take their harnesses off because they cuddle in bed with me and I don't want the plastic and metal parts jamming into me while I sleep. I don't use neck collars since they're just for identification and they're chipped.

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[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 4 points 2 days ago

We only put things on when we leave the condo. The dog does not just get out. We control the door.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

For me it depends on the dog. Some can be trusted to stay with you no matter what and only need a collar as a social cue. Others need a gps tracker attached to them even during bathtime.

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