Choosing A Suitable Collar For Your Dog

by Simon Oliver

Dog collars are an important accessory of man's best friend - they include your dog's registration tags, ID, and even leads (for leashes). When looking for the right collar for your pet dog, it's nice to know you have lots of options. Here are some tips to guide your shopping.

You need to find a collar that will fit around your dog's neck exactly. And as long as this is the case, you can basically choose whatever color, pattern, or style you like.

For small dogs, pick out a collar that is neither too heavy nor too light. For puppies, a thin, leather collar or a soft, nylon collar is ideal. As for bigger, stronger dogs, wider and heavier collars are best. To make sure that a collar is the right fit on your dog, make sure you can squeeze at least two fingers in between the dog's neck and the collar. It should be a tight squeeze though, as you don't want to the collar to be too loose. Finally, you will want to cut off the excess length of strap because otherwise, the dog might chew it.

A snap-on type fastener is the most common replacement for buckle collars, because it makes for easy adjustment of a collar's length. As for choke collars, they are cool looking but shouldn't be used on younger puppies - gentler, training collars are better.

Moreover, leather collars are long-lasting and are naturally softened by the oils of a dog's skin and they come in a variety of styles, widths, and colors. Nylon collars are washable and durable and are perfect for dogs that like to swim and for smaller dogs and puppies that need a softer touch. For bigger dogs, a nylon collar is okay, but it will need to be one with heavy webbing.

There are other collars that suit very specific kinds of dogs. For surfers, there are collars that are made out of the same material as wetsuits! And for those impatient dogs that pull on your leash during walks, head collars are the best option and are often used in training. A harness can come in handy with an anxious or hyperactive dog as well, as it is positioned around the dog's chest and ribcage to prevent choking - some harnesses even allow you to buckle your dog into your car!

There are all sorts of colors and patterns to choose from and most collars come with matching leashes. Because it is important for your dog to feel as comfortable as possible, put careful time and consideration into your search for the perfect collar.

About the Author

Simon Oliver has an interest in Pets and Recreation related topics. To access more information on choosing the right dog collars or on designer dog collars, please click on the link.

collar for your dog

Innotek ULTRASMART REMOTE TRAINER, 300YDS

collar-dog

What can I say about this collar? That it works, miracles.

It's one piece, instead of a box that hangs off of a regular nylon collar, ensuring contact. It also has a right fit test to make sure it's doing it's job. It's waterproof, even allowing the dog to swim with it on. No, on/off buttons on the collar itself, it turns on/off like a tv remote.

Using the remote, which comes with a lanyard, you can be far from your dog, which is let's face it, when they tend to misbehave anyway.





There is 9 levels, and a boost that let's you up it by 2 for that moment. There is also a timeout safety feature in case you hold the button down for 10 seconds or longer.

The best part is the tone button. The manual says you can use it for a reward or warning, just not the two. That would just confuse Fido. My dog learned quickly that the tone means a warning. That way, if I press that button, she acknowledges it, and stops the behavior straight away. This also means there's no correction after awhile, since the dog learns what comes after the tone. Unless you use it for a reward sound. Then I guess it's more like clicker training.

So, why is it the new religious collar?

Because it makes a believer out of the dog. And, since the dog sees the behavior as getting a correction, and not you giving it, it seems to make training quicker. Because of course you don't want your dog afraid of you.

Now, I know there are people who think it's inhumane to use a collar like this. Personally we tried the citronella collar, and I wish I'd saved my money.

It didn't do squat for our Doberman. I think this collar is more humane than having a dog put down, which is exactly what people do when they find they can't handle their unruly, aggressive dogs.

collar-dog

The Most Popular Dog Accessory – Collar Dog

collar-dog

Collar Dog

A dog collar is a is a piece of material put around the neck of a dog. A collar might be used for control, identification, fashion, or other purposes. Identification tags and medical information is often placed on dog collars. Collars are also useful for controlling a dog manually, as they provide a handle for grabbing. Collars are often used in conjunction with a leash, and a common alternative to a dog collar is a dog harness.

Basic collars

* Buckle collars, also called flat collars, are usually made of nylon webbing or leather (less common materials can include polyester, hemp, or metal) with a buckle similar to a belt buckle, or a quick-release buckle, either of which holds the collar loosely around the dog's neck. Identification is commonly attached to such a collar; it also comes with a loop to which a leash can be fastened.

* Flea collars are impregnated with chemicals that repel fleas. They are usually a supplementary collar, worn in addition to the conventional buckle collar.

* Elizabethan collars, shaped like a truncated cone, can be fitted on a dog to prevent it from scratching a wound on its head or neck or licking a wound or infection on its body.

* Break-away collars look similar to buckle collars, but have a safety mechanism installed that allows the dog to break free of the collar if excessive force is applied. These collars are useful in situations where a non-quick release collar could get snagged and strangle the dog.

* Stud collars are leather collars fitted with dulled points and/or metal studs that traditionally prevented another animal from biting the dog's neck. In modern societies, stud collars are more commonly considered a fashion accessory.

Training collars

Several types of collars are used for the purposes of training dogs, though sometimes a collar is not used at all (such as in the case of dog agility training, where a collar could get caught on equipment and strangle the dog). Each training collar has its own set of advantages and disadvantages (briefly outlined below) which trainers might consider before using a select one. Training collars are typically used for training only and not left on the dog's neck all the time, as some collars can be harmful or dangerous if left on a dog unsupervised.

Flat collars

Some dogs are trained on leash using a buckle or quick-release collar.

Slip collars

Slip collars (also called choke chains, slip chains, or choke collars) are a length of chain or nylon rope with rings at either end such that the collar can be formed into a loop around the top of the dog's neck, just behind the ears. The ring which connects to the leash goes over the back of the dog's neck, not under.[1] When the leash is attached to the dead ring the collar does not constrict on the dog's neck. When the leash is attached to the live ring the chain slips (adjusts) tighter when pulled and slips looser when tension is released. A quick gentle jerk with an immediate release, called a leash pop, snap, or correction, is used to alert the dog that it has done something undesirable.

The reference to choking is due to the fact that slip chains typically have no limit to how far they can constrict on the dog's neck (versus limited slip collars which do have a limit to how far they can constrict). This name for the collar is deceiving however, as proper use of this training device not involve choking (strangling) the dog. Even so, it is important to note that improper use of this collar can result in injury and even death of the dog, for the aforementioned reason.

Prong collar

Prong collars (also called pinch collars) are a series of chain links with blunted open ends turned towards the dog's neck so that, when the collar is tightened, it pinches the naturally loose skin around the dog's neck. The design of the prong collar is such that it has a limited circumference; unlike slip collars which do not have a limit on how far they can constrict on a dog's neck. Similar to the martingale collar (below), any pressure from the collar to the dog's neck is spread out over a larger area than with most buckle collars, and with all choke chains. Prong collars can also be turned inside out (with the prongs facing away from the dog's skin), to function like a martingale.[2] Rubber tips are occasionally placed on the ends of the prongs by some trainers to protect against scratching or puncturing the skin, though it is very difficult to actually puncture the skin using this type of collar, because of this spreading effect, the limited constriction, and the already blunted tips. Like the slip collar, the prong collar should be placed high on the dog's neck, just behind the ears.[3] Some dogs are able to free themselves from prong collars by shaking their head so that the links pop out, so some trainers have come to use a second (usually a flat buckle collar) collar in addition to the prong collar.

Martingale collar

Martingale collars are recommended for Sighthounds because their heads are smaller than their necks and they can often slip out of standard collars. They can be used however for any breed of dog if so desired. Their no-slip feature has made them a safety standard at many kennels and animal shelters[citation needed]. A martingale collar has 2 loops, the smaller loop is the "control loop" and it tightens gently when pulled to prevent dogs from slipping out of the collar. Similar to a prong collar (above) the martingale has limited constriction on the dog's neck, and also applies even pressure.

Shock collars

Shock collars (or training collars, remote training collars, e-collars, electronic collars and hunting collars) are electronic training aids developed to deliver an electrical signal through contact points attached to a dog collar.

Wolf collars

Wolf collars or protection collars are metal collars fitted with large spikes radiating away from the dog, usually worn by dogs protecting livestock in case they are attacked by wolves or other predators. Such collars protect the neck of a dog from direct attack. It is rare to see these collars being used in modern societies.

collar-dog