Sporty Sunday: Quick Release Collars

While crossing a stream below Twin Lakes today, Jackson caught his collar on a tree branch. Jasper and I were sloshing across the low water dam, but Jackson had chosen to swim across the pool on the upstream side. I noticed his distress immediately. His ears pinned back and his paddling took on a frantic pace as he found himself stuck in deep water. Thankfully, the branch held him above the waterline, but the force of the creek pulled his body downstream, against the dam, where he frantically clawed at the surface, unable to pull free. His collar was pulled tight, and the water was numbingly cold, so it took me a good fifteen seconds to unclasp his collar and release him from the trap.

Both Jasper and Jackson wear simple nylon collars with quick release buckles, but I only purchased those because they are the only collars permitted by our daycare. Jasper has a lovely, studded, leather collar that fastens with a prong buckle and I’m so glad we stopped using it and that we never put a collar like that on Jackson. Their quick release collars win no style prizes, but are far safer than the traditional buckle style.

I can only imagine how much longer it would have taken and how much more panicked I would have been to try to force wet, cold leather through a metal loop and then back from a prong, underwater and under force. Fancy collars have their place, but, if you have adventure dogs, like mine, please make sure they are wearing quick release (or no) collars around water.


Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!