Please DO wear a collar!
I guess I feel a little different about this whole issue than most people. I think it is very important that a dog be wearing a collar at home as well as when out but as long as it is an appropriate collar like a quick release type. Personally I use well fitted leather collars because it doesn't irratate their fur and they don't like to chew on it. Please keep in mind that I have VERY good reason for having my dogs collard all the time. Last year I lost both of my boxers in a house fire, I wasnt home but my father tried and tried to get them out but they turned and ran back inside the house. We used to keep their collars off at home so he had nothing to grab them by to pull them out, and we all know what it is like to grab a boxer sans collar.. its like grabbing a fish it just doesnt work. Earlier this year there was a fire alarm at my apartment which went off at 2 AM and thankfully Tyson had his collar on, so all I had to do was grab his collar snap on the lead and grab my coat and I was out of there. If I hadn't of had his collar on at night (I didnt have sable at that point btw) he would have been running around in a panic. Thankfully there was no fire some idiot had pulled one of the pull stations. But it was an eye opener for me, and a bit of a panic attack.
This has nothing to do with how well trained your dog is, because my 2 that I lost were so well trained they could be walked leashless and not move from your side, the recalled everytime and could drop on a recall with no issue. Infact they were probably the most well behaved and well trained dogs I have ever owned, but add panic and that much fear to a situation and it doesnt matter how much training you do they are still animals and they did not listen to my dad calling for them. My father almost had a heart attack trying to get them out of the house and if they had of been wearing collars he would have been able to get one out, sadly Barry pulled away from dad and ran back upstairs to his sister.
I collar my dogs at night (the fire happened at night) with their properly fitting leather collars with quick release snap (I had custom made) and I sleep easier knowing if I had to grab one of them I could. I take their collars off frequently and scratch their necks and let them play out in the yard without them, but at night its a non issue.. they wear their collars.
Please do not use chain collars on your dogs when you are not around them! they are so dangerous they can catch on anything. I have a really good cheap suggestion for a collar go to a dollar store they have nylon collars with the plastic clip (which because it is a dollar store is cheap) the clip if it catches will not hold it pops open. Perhaps something like that for your ID tags and its so cheap too. I urge you to look into a custom leather collar, my 2 I have now dont chew them, they are more durable and above all else they are safe!
Just my 2 cents
I am glad to hear Draco is doing well, hugs and boxer kisses from us
Colly
Its true, layla plays with her friend guiness all the time like that, thanks for the heads up, Glad your dog is feeling better, I will def. make sure next time......
Are you in Murrietta, CA? If so, we're in Moreno Valley, we should get an Inland get together going... there are quite a few of us. 