Damaged hair on neck (from collar)

[Miabella]

When I got Ilsa in November, she had a patch of hair (about 3 inches wide and 2 inches thick) that was very coarse and damaged. I assume this was caused by the hair being stuck under a collar for some time, although it is below where a buckle collar normally rests.

This hair is as rough as steel wool and it doesn't lay flat. I have tried brushing, conditioners, wetting it down. I have also switched collars several times, using flat nylon, flat leather, and now rolled leather. The rolled leather seems to be the best in preventing further damage.

What can I do to tame this hair? Some of the guard hairs look broken off, but most of them just look kinky. Will it eventually grow in nicely? How can I prevent this from happening again in the future?

[SpotsNRotts]

My girls both had this problem. I switched to rolled leather collars almost 3 years ago and the difference is amazing. Yes EVENTUALLY the fur should start looking nice again. It does take time though. Maybe somene else has advice for speeding it up??

[nynewbie]

I don't have advice for speeding it up, but we learned the hard way not to leave a collar on Nash unless we are walking her. Her buckle got caught in the bars of her crate! She doesn't have marks from her collar because she doesn't wear one all the time. If you keep it on all the time, maybe leaving it off unless needed would help?

[Carina43]

Originally posted by SpotsNRotts
It does take time though. Maybe somene else has advice for speeding it up??

Rogaine? :D :D
Sorry, couldn't resist! :p
Cooper as you know is long haired, and I have a rolled leather collar for him. If I take it off, there is no breakage or evidence of a collar at all, really.

[mickeymichellie]

I am not sure about rottie owners, but those people that I know who have show dogs do not put collars on them all the time because it ruins their coat. Now, most of them have long haired dogs, so I am not sure about the short haired except one Vizsla who wears a rolled leather collar sometimes, but I do not think she wears it at home.