Martingale collars are specifically designed to be slip-proof when properly fitted, with a loop that allows the collar to tighten when pulled.

• A properly fitted Martingale collar is snug but not tight. When pulled, the collar should tighten, but the two links that attach the loop to the rest of the collar should not touch. In other words, you should not be able to pull the loop completely taut.

• Always use a properly fitted Martingale collar whenever your dog is on leash or secured with a seat belt. You never know when your dog might get scared of something and try to back out of their collar.

• If you prefer to attach a leash or seat belt to a harness, securely connect the harness to the Martingale collar. This will keep your dog safe in case they slip their harness. Dogs can slip an appropriately sized harness.

• We recommend having a back-up Martingale collar on hand in case the one you normally use breaks, gets lost, needs cleaning, or otherwise cannot be used.

Being in new or unfamiliar surroundings can make dogs anxious and fearful and is one of the most common situations in which dogs escape, becoming lost and in danger.

• A dog who has been with the same family for years may act differently in new places, even if family members are with them. These circumstances include, but are not limited to, moving to a new home, traveling, visiting friends and relatives, being on vacation, and being in unfamiliar places such as a new daycare, pet store, groomer, or in the home of a new caregiver.

• A puppy or rescue dog may be nervous and scared as they are transported to and brought into a new home. For important information specific to safety during transporting and transitioning a new dog into your home, see our section Bringing Home Your New Dog.

• Owners should be extremely vigilant when their dog is in new surroundings and carefully follow the precautions outlined in this guide.

New, unfamiliar people can frighten a dog, even if they are in their own home and their family is with them. When their family members are gone, dogs may feel even more insecure, anxious, and scared. These situations are some of the most common in which dogs escape, becoming lost and in harm’s way.

• Before you have a new caregiver stay with your dog in your home, allow your dog to spend as much time as possible with the caregiver so they can become familiar and comfortable with them.

• Thoroughly review this guide with your dog’s caregiver.

• If new or unfamiliar people are entering, exiting, or working within your home, make sure your dog is secured in a separate room with the door closed, behind a gate they cannot get over, in a crate, or on a leash with a Martingale collar (or a harness connected to a Martingale collar).

Do not give your dog any opportunities to escape from your house! Dogs can seize the opportunity to break out through even a slightly open door. Dogs frequently become lost and endangered after bolting through cracked doors, pushing open unlatched doors, or slipping out when doors are blown open by wind.

• Each time you bring your dog into your house, make sure the door is completely closed and securely latched before letting your dog off leash.

• If you would like to use a gate to contain your dog in the house, make sure it is tall and sturdy enough that they cannot get over it. After you set up the gate, observe your dog around it to make sure they cannot knock it down or jump over it, even when motivated to do so.

• Before a door that leads outside is opened (i.e., when someone is entering or exiting the house), secure your dog in a separate room with the door closed, behind a gate that they cannot get over, in a crate, or on a leash with a Martingale collar (or a harness connected to a Martingale collar).

• Know the needs of your breed - most dogs need regular exercise and without it they can get bored and break out looking for something to do.

Make sure your dog cannot escape from your yard. Broken fencing, open gates, and unsecured yards have lead to many dogs on the run and at risk of harm.

• Only let your dog off leash in your yard if it is fully contained by a fence at least four feet high. Six feet is best.

• We do not recommend invisible/wireless fencing because dogs will not hesitate to cross the boundary if they are scared or otherwise strongly motivated to leave the yard.

• Check fencing frequently, at least once a month, for gaps between fencing materials or between the fence and the ground. If a dog can fit its head into a gap, it can push its body through.

• After storms or heavy wind, check that fencing is intact before letting your dog into the yard. 

• If your dog likes to dig, we recommend extending fencing 12-16” underground, or 12” from the bottom of the fence into the yard, laying on the ground. Be sure to extend the entire fence - your dog will easily find unextended sections to dig under.

• Make sure there is nothing your dog could climb on and use to jump over the fence, such as snowbanks, branches, planters, tables, chairs, etc.

• Check that gates are securely closed and latched after landscapers, yard crews, delivery people, or other visitors leave. Hang a sign that tells people to close the gate securely after entering and exiting the yard (e.g., Gate Must Remain Closed and Latched at All Times). If you have children in your yard, use a padlock on the gate so that they cannot open it.

• Do not let your dog off leash and unsupervised in a fenced-in yard that you are unfamiliar with. There could be ways for your dog to escape that you are unaware of. Even after checking to make sure the yard is secure, supervise your dog to make sure they do not attempt to dig underneath fencing.

• If your dog is left unsupervised in a properly fenced yard, they may not be able to escape, but they could be vulnerable to getting stolen.

• Do not tie out your dog in an unfenced area of your yard. If the tie breaks or your dog chews through it, they may leave the yard and become lost. If your dog is tied out and left unsupervised, they could get stolen.

Make sure your dog is securely attached to you during walks and use a properly fitted Martingale collar. Many dogs have become lost and endangered after people have lost their grip on a leash, they have slipped out of a harness or collar, or they have taken off after something that caught their interest.

• It is essential to use a good quality, properly fitted Martingale collar. See the first section of this guide for more about Martingale collars.

• If you prefer to walk with a harness, securely connect the harness to a Martingale collar or use two leashes, one attached to the collar and one to the harness. Dogs can easily slip out of a harness, even if it is properly sized.

• Use a standard 6’ leash. Loop the handle around your wrist for the safest grip. Maintain a full grip on the leash handle. When switching hands, make sure you have a full grip with the new hand before letting go with the old. 

• A leash that securely attaches around your waist is a great idea, as a primary leash or as a backup. If you lose your grip on the primary leash, a waist leash will keep the dog attached to you. This is particularly important in conditions where you could easily slip, fall, and drop your dog’s leash, such as icy weather or slippery hiking.

• Do not tie your dog outside of a business while you go inside. Your dog could chew through their leash and run, or get stolen.

• Retractable leashes should not be used. They can break easily. If dropped, this could scare your dog, who may run and then think they are being chased by the bulky handle.

• Chew-proof leashes should not be used. If a dog becomes lost, their leash could get caught on something and they need to be able to chew through it so they do not get stuck.

Make sure your dog is unable to jump out of the car. Dogs have become lost and at risk of harm after jumping out of cars in familiar and unfamiliar places, during travel, and after car accidents.

• Even a minor car accident can frighten a dog, whose instinct will be to flee the situation immediately. If they are not secured, they could jump through an open or broken window, or dash out when a door is opened.

• Have your dog travel securely, in a crate or with a pet seat belt attached to a Martingale collar. If you prefer to attach the seat belt to a harness, securely connect the harness to a Martingale collar.

• If you do not have a pet seat belt, you can run the car seat belt through the leash handle and buckle it to keep your dog secure.

• Before opening any doors, check that the seat belt is still buckled into the car. Dogs may occasionally step on a seat belt buckle and release the belt.

• Always secure your dog on a leash with a Martingale collar, or a harness connected to a Martingale collar, before letting them out of a crate or unhooking a seat belt.

• If you travel with open car windows, make sure the opening is small enough that your dog cannot fit through.

• Never leave your car unlocked, running, or even locked with your keys inside while you go into a business or other location when your dog is in the car. Ideally, never leave your dog in the car while you aren’t there. Your dog could get stolen out of your car or your car could get stolen with your dog inside.

Loud, unfamiliar, or unexpected noises can frighten dogs and cause them to run in panic, looking for opportunities to escape. Such noises include, but are not limited to, thunder, fireworks, power tools, hammering, high-pitched tones such as smoke alarms, vehicles, and raised voices.

• When there are loud noises outside of your house, keep your dog securely in a room without an exterior door and keep the door to the room closed. Only take your dog outside to go to the bathroom. While outside, even in your own backyard, securely attach your dog to your body using a leash and Martingale collar (or a harness connected to a Martingale collar).

• While you are outside with your dog, frightening noises may cause your dog to try to slip their harness/collar or escape the yard and run. Follow the Walking and In the Yard sections of this guide to keep your dog from getting away when they are scared by noises that occur while they are outdoors.

There are several products available that you can attach to your dog to increase the likelihood that they will be found if lost. We strongly recommend ID tags, microchipping, and a tracking device.

• Attach ID tags that include your cell phone number to your dog’s collar, or use a collar printed with your cell phone number.

• Microchip your dog. Microchips for dogs are about the size of a grain of rice and are implanted under your dog’s skin. Your vet can check if your dog is microchipped and implant one if your dog is not. You must register your dog’s microchip! When registered, the microchip can be scanned with a device that will display the registration number. This number is associated with your contact information, which can be looked up.

• Apple Airtags are tracking devices detectable by iPhones. An Airtag can be attached to your dog’s collar. If your Airtag is detected by someone’s iPhone, you will be notified of the Airtag’s location. This is a relatively inexpensive option for tracking your dog, and the Airtag battery is relatively long-lasting. However, an Airtag must be in close range of an iPhone to be detected, so it may not be very useful in rural areas or if your dog is hiding in a spot that people are unlikely to be near.

• The Whistle Health & GPS, Whistle Health & GPS+, FitBark GPS, Tractive GPS DOG LTE, and Link Smart Dog Collar are GPS tracking devices that will pinpoint your dog’s location and movements using cell phone towers. These are more expensive options that also require a subscription plan, but would likely help in locating a lost dog. It is important to keep the batteries of these devices charged. If your dog becomes lost, you will need to use the GPS almost continuously, which requires a lot of battery power. You don’t want the battery to run out when you need it the most.

• If you’re unsure about whether to invest in a tracking device for your dog, consider how much you would be willing to spend to get your dog back if you had no idea where they were or what kind of danger they were in. It’s probably a lot more than the cost of a tracking device.