Wisconsin, If You See a Dog Wearing a Red Collar Leave Immediately
Did you know there were specific dog collars associated with the temperament of a dog? Great idea, right? Now you can tell just by looking at the dog what to expect.
IF the owner follows these rules, that is...
Is This Dog Friendly?
If the owner is with the dog, it's always a good idea to ask, "is your dog friendly"? If they say, "yes," then I am more than happy to give the good boy some scratches. But if they're not around, I have to wait until I'm sure it's not going to bite my hand off before I can be calm.
Secret Collar Code?
Had I known there was a secret "collar code" to indicate the dog's personality, I guess I would have had less anxiety. Did you know about this code? Before I tell you about red collars here is what these collars mean on dogs according to FluffsOfLuv.com :
Orange – This dog does not get along well with other dogs.
Yellow – The dog is unpredictable and edgy. It could also mean that it’s looking for a new home.
Green – The dog has a friendly nature, and it’s okay to get close alone or with any animal.
Blue – The dog is a service animal. It’s training or working, so don’t disturb it.
White – The dog has difficulty hearing or seeing, or is completely blind/deaf.
Purple – Don’t feed anything to the dog.
I had no idea, did you?
Here's why you leave immediately when you see a dog wearing a red collar.
Red – Beware of the dog, and don’t get too close. Red signifies "stop, caution, warning" which we all learned as kids.
“Red is the signal that this pet is aggressive and needs space from both people and other animals,” according to Reader's Digest. Dr. Brian Evans veterinarian and medical director of virtual vet care company Dutch is quoted in the article and here's his warning.
“These are pets that have been known to snap or bite at passersby, attack other dogs, or lunge at people. These pets may be perfectly fine at home with their owner but become overly protective of them when they are out.”
Think About This When Buying New Collars
In the past, we've just bought the dogs whichever color the kids thought they would look good in. Many times that has been a red-collar. But we'll be thinking differently about it the next time Sid & Sarge are due for new collars.