Home
Choosing the Right Collar
There are lots of dog collars to choose from; how do you know which is best for your dog? For most dogs, a regular nylon or leather collar works just fine, provided that it fits him properly. Use a tape measure to measure your pet’s neck, then add two to three inches; this will be your correct collar length. Choose a collar and leash width with hardware that matches your pet’s size. Smaller, lightweight choices are for small dogs and puppies, and wider, more durable styles are for bigger, stronger pets. Make sure that every collar you own has a current nametag with address attached to it at all times.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nylon or leather collar – A traditional dog collar is available in a multitude of styles, colors and widths. Whichever style you choose, the collar should ride high on your pet’s neck, not loosely so that it slides down toward the top of his shoulders. Any dog collar should fit snugly, with just enough room to fit two fingers between your dog’s neck and his collar. For his safety, the collar should not be loose enough to slip over the dog’s head. Take care that the collar is not so tight that it could restrict breathing or cause coughing – don’t forget, particularly with young animals, that your growing pet will need to graduate to a larger collar as he matures. Check your puppy’s collar size frequently as he grows.
Dog harness – A harness, which holds a pet securely without encircling his throat, is recommended for dogs with upper respiratory disease or problems with the throat or trachea. A regular collar would put pressure on this area as Fido pulls on his leash, causing irritation and coughing. The harness safely bypasses that situation altogether.
Halter-type dog collar – This collar resembles a horse’s halter, with one band around the head, and another around the nose. The leash attaches to the collar beneath the chin. When you pull on the leash, the dog can only walk beside you or behind you, which gives you a great deal of control when training Fido not to pull on the leash. The best known brand of halter-type collar is the Halti. Read here for more on training your dog to use a Halti.
Choke chain dog collar – The chain-slip or ‘choke collar,’ can be an effective training or retraining tool IF used correctly and on the appropriate type of dog. If you plan to use a choke collar on your dog, it is imperative that a trainer show you how to use it correctly; incorrect usage of this type of collar can be very harmful to the dog. This collar should only be worn during training sessions, and never when the dog is crated. Small or delicate dogs should never be subjected to this kind of training collar.
Make sure the trainer helps you choose the proper size choke chain for your dog, and teaches you how to put it on the dog correctly – if worn backward it may not release immediately as designed, which could cause your dog to choke or gag.
Pronged collar – Thepronged collar is made up of blunt prongs that protrude inward from the links in the chain. Designed for only the biggest, most muscular and most stubborn leash pullers, a pronged collar is a temporary training tool used to change a dog’s behavior when he doesn’t respond to any other type of collar. This collar doesn’t truly hurt the dog; try it yourself by wrapping it around your thigh and pulling on the chain. You’ll feel the pinch, but no real pain. Nevertheless, this type of collar should be used only as a temporary training device. A halter-type collar would actually give you more control over your dog, unless he’s so massive and stubborn that he requires the pinching in order to learn.
