Should I take my dog’s collar off at night?

As a mom of a new puppy, I had a lot of safety questions. When my dog slept in a crate, I knew I had to remove her collar. But now that she is older and doesn’t sleep in her crate, should I take my dog collar off at night or not? The questions brought more questions instead of an answer.

For all the dog owners out there, I can say that most of us love our dogs like they are members of our own family. These little pooches bring joy to our lives in many ways with their unconditional love. In return, we want to be able to make them safe and loved. The safety questions are based on our values and experiences. Different opinions and values can make someone’s choice judged by someone else. So, let’s try to be understanding with each other because I found out that this question of keeping or not keeping the collar of our dogs during the night is a little sensitive to pet owners.

I asked pet parents in a Facebook group named Therapy Dog Training / Dog Training Discussion Group about whether I should keep the dog’s collar for the night. My little survey got 78 comments in a day and the answer to the question ‘Should I take my dog’s collar off at night?’ was 50/50. Both sides had a good idea of what was best for their dogs with compelling arguments.  This question is tough for me because it has no satisfying answers. But this doesn’t mean we can’t form a helpful and honest conclusion. Let’s look at both sides!

Answer no 1 – Your dog’s collar should always  be removed inside the house

This is a story that was told to me last year. I was in a training session with my puppy Happy when the trainer explained a terrifying experience.  She was watching her dogs having a fun dog playdate in her home. The dogs were running in her kitchen like normal dogs do until one of the dogs got his collar stuck in a cabinet handle. The dog’s safety was at risk. The poor pup panicked and tried to get free, by twisting himself in a way that his collar tightened around his neck. The risk of strangulation was real. Thankfully, the dog trainer was there and she was able to untie and save the dog. But what would have been the outcome without a human? Not a happy ending for sure.

So her lesson was: take off the collar of your dog every time you are in the home. 

Answer no 2 – Always keep the collar on your dog even inside the house

On the other hand, the rescue organization where Happy comes from (GRIN) and the Animal Humane Society, as well as lots of other animal welfare organizations, ask us to keep the dog tag on the dog’s neck all the time. Which means, a collar is on all the time. Because they know, firsthand, that bad situations can happen. For example, someone might leave a door open or your pet might unexpectedly run outside when you arrive at the dog park. If dogs escape without any identification, it could be difficult to know who is the dog owner and how to get them back to the right family. And if your dog is microchipped, it’s really good insurance but keep in mind that not everyone has a chip scanner!

What if your pup’s collar stays on the dog’s neck for the night?

I think your dog should or should not wear their collar at nighttime depending on the pet owner’s priority. Maybe your dog’s skin is irritable and she will scratch herself all night. You can be afraid of choking hazards while you are asleep or you know your dog’s Houdini tricks could make him escape pretty fast if fireworks are popping. The safer option is not the same for every owner and it’s okay!

Collar on during the day

One thing is for sure, all dogs need a well-fitting collar with an identification tag for safety reasons, during the day. Exceptions would be when your dog is in his crate, or inside the house and you are supervising him. You might want to remove it also if he is playing with other dogs.

Last time I checked, dogs were not allowed to talk. If you lose your dog, the fastest way of knowing that the dog belongs to somebody is a collar with the dog’s ID tag.  In the hypothesis that I see a lost dog on my porch, the collar will tell me that he is domesticated, he belongs to someone and I will try to grab him and call the dog owners. If he has no collar, he may be feral. I will call the first responder, for sure. But I will stay in my house because there is too much probability that the dog could hurt me. Even, If your dog is microchipped, you don’t see that at first, so please get a good dog’s ID tag.

Breakaway collars

I heard good things about those collars. If you use them, please let me know how you like them. If you want to keep your dog always with their collar and not be afraid that your dog get caught in something. The safety buckle releases under pressure. This is another great tool.

How to ID Your Dog

This is probably the most important tip on the list. Why? Because there are several reasons why you might be separated from your dog. Proper identification can make a big difference in reuniting you. Your dog should always wear a tag with your current contact information as well as a microchip. But keep in mind that chip scanners are not always available.

Identification tags (ID dog Tags) are usually worn on the collar clip and you should add your phone number to it. My dogs wear their buckle collars with ID tags during the day, except for grooming or sleeping. I recommend all dog owners keep buckle collars with up-to-date IDs on their dogs because stuff happens! Disasters, earthquakes, fires, floods, accidents. Dogs wearing collars with ID tags are more likely to be returned safely.

When should you remove your dog’s collar?

Nighttime is the best time to remove your pet’s collar because it is when your dog sleeps and they will probably not leave the house. Some people think the neck area of their dog could be damaged by excessive collar wear. Maybe your dog has skin irritation or other skin problems. You can take it off every time you supervise your dog and you are sure he is safe. Think about your dog as if they were a little toddler. You should always supervise them every time.

Let common sense guide you

The bottom line is to keep your dog’s collar with ID during the day! It’s the first place someone will look if, heaven forbid, your dog gets lost.

You can print your ID at your local pet store or you can buy a collar with your ID and the dog’s name engraved in it. 

All things considered, does your dog need to wear their collar at night? Probably not, especially if your dog is secured inside your home with no unsupervised access to the yard through a doggy door; however, every situation is different. The key is to consider your dog’s behavior and your lifestyle to create the safest possible environment for your pet. Whatever you will do keep or remove your dog collar at night, I hope you have a wonderfully restful night and sleep like a dog!

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