Wolf collar
{{Short description|Type of dog collar fitted with large, outward-facing metal spikes to prevent wolf attacks}}
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File:Kangal dog with spikey collar, Turkey.jpg with wolf collar]]
File:Roccale 1.jpg, Italy]]
A wolf collar (also known as {{langx|it|roccale|italic=no}} or {{lang|it|vreccale|italic=no}}, {{langx|es|carlanca|italic=no}}) is a type of dog collar designed to protect livestock guardian dogs from attack by wolves. Wolf collars are fitted with elongated spikes to stop wolves from attacking dogs on the neck. Such collars are used by shepherds in many countries including Italy,{{cn|date=August 2021}} SpainCharles Bergman, Jorge Sierra (1997). [https://search-ebscohost-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=9703042409&site=ehost-live Spain's Wolf Wars]. International Wildlife. 27 (2): 22–29. {{subscription required}}. and Turkey.
Ancient Greeks used such collars to protect their dogs from wolf attacks.[https://www.worldhistory.org/article/184/dogs-in-the-ancient-world/ Dogs in the Ancient World] "The dog was companion, protector, and hunter for the Greeks and the spiked collar, so well known today, was invented by the Greeks to protect the necks of their canine friends from wolves."
In Latin the collar was called mellum or maelium or mellum or millus.[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0062%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DM%3Aentry+group%3D11%3Aentry%3Dmillus-harpers Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Millus][https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0059:entry=mellum Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, mellum] Marcus Terentius Varro wrote that the farm dogs should have spiked collars for protection against wolves and other wild animals.[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0063:entry=collare-cn A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), Collare]
War dogs in ancient Greece and Rome had collars with large spikes.[https://archive.org/details/blackwoodsmagaz144edinuoft/page/698/mode/2up Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 144, 1888, p. 699]{{cite book|author=United States War Department|title=War Dogs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9KEM3d7YqgEC|date=1943|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=5}}
Use
A wolf collar is normally made out of metals such as steel. The length of the spikes can be quite long, but styles differ in different places.{{cn|date=August 2021}} The dogs that normally wore the collars were ones used to protect livestock from attack by wolves. The purpose of the collar is to protect the dog wearing it when it has to fight the wolves. The collar base protects the dog's throat and carotid arteries, while the spikes are intended to deter bites to the neck or even injure wolves trying to do so. There are some tales that suggest that dogs were only given them after they had killed their first wolf; however, these are normally considered to be inaccurate.{{cn|date=August 2021}}
References
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Sources
- Brenda M. Negri, Spiked Collars Give LGDs an Edge, Farm Show Magazine [http://www.farmshow.com/view_articles.php?a_id=1447 Brenda M. Negri, Spiked Collars Give LGDs an Edge]
- Goat Rancher Magazine [http://mlppubsonline.com/display_article.php?id=902505 article] on Spiked Protective Collars by Brenda M. Negri