Everything You Need to Know About Dog Collar.

Dog Collars are easier to spot on domestic dogs. These are made of a piece of material like leather, nylon, metal, or even clothes fabric that are usually tied around a canine’s neck. People use collars for dogs for multiple purposes like identification, control, protection, or simply for a style statement. Medical details or identification tags (Emotional support animal, PTSD, etc.)are often attached to these dog collars.

If you are a dog parent, you must choose a dog collar that not only serves its primary purpose of restraining a dog and should also be comfortable for a dog to wear. It should be easy to wear and ensure the safety of your dog. If you are also looking for a dog collar, read this article until the end. We have tried to cite complete information on dog collars, collar types for dogs, and how to pick a perfect dog collar for your dog.

• What are the types of Dog Collars?
  • Regular collars
  • Aversive collars
  • Special use collars
• What is the main purpose of dog collars?
• How to choose the right collar for your dog?
• How to measure a dog’s neck?
• How to buy a collar for a Puppy?

What are the types of Dog Collars?

Regular collars

Flat Collar

• These are classic buckle or plastic snap-closure dog collars considered under everyday collars. 
• Flat collars come in different colors and designs.
• Usually, the Flat collar consists of a ring where additional dog accessories like an Identification/medical information tag or leash can be attached.
• These wide dog collars are available in various materials like nylon, leather, etc.
• Dogs wear these collars for most part of the day. Therefore, you should ensure to set the buckle loose enough to be comfortable for your dog. However, it is also essential to confirm the collar is not too open, so your buckle collar dog can slip out of the collar.

Martingale collar

• Martingale Collars are used for dogs who easily slip out of the collars while walking on a leash.
• Pet parents use these collars, especially for narrow-headed and wide-necked dog breeds like greyhounds, boxers, etc.
• Martingale collars are called Greyhound collars, Limited Slip collars, or No-slip collars.
• These collars are the best dog collars for sight hounds but can also be used for other breeds.
• The unique stopping mechanism of these collars tightens the collar on pull but not enough to harm the dog. It is because this collar prevents excessive closure on the dog’s neck.
• Like traditional dog collars, these dog collars come in various colors, designs, and materials.

Head Collar

• Head collars are somewhat similar to horse halters in terms of their design. 
• Pet parents use this collar for strong and large breed dogs that are difficult to handle.
• The collar’s strap encircles the dog’s neck and settles above the head, behind the ears. Along with this, another strap surrounds the muzzle and links with the first strap.
• Despite having a large size and excess weight, if put on this collar, big-sized breeds cannot pull on the leash as the halter surrounds the muzzle, not the neck.
• A great precaution is required while using the head collar. You should ensure not to always put this collar on your dog. It is because your dog will easily find a way to remove or chew it off.
• A dog trainer can give basic precautions regarding the perfect fitting and how to use this collar for big dogs.

Aversive collars

If you are confused regarding “What are the best dog training collars?” Then we will suggest you choose any under Aversive collars. So basically, these dog collars cause pain and discomfort and are meant to teach dogs to behave appropriately. If you use proper training techniques, you can use these western dog collars to suppress the unacceptable behavior of your dog. However, these dog collars can also cause anxiety and fear in dogs. You can manage it by building a healthy relationship with your dog by giving it treats, your love, and attention.
Choke chain collars

• As the name suggests, Choke chain collars are chain dog collars containing metal links that get tightened on the pull in order to control the dog.
• Unlike the martingale collar, there is no limiting mechanism for the collar to “Stop”; therefore, it can get tighter to the boundary until it harms or even kills the dog.
• These dog collars are called Check chains, choke collars or choke chains.
• It is easy to spot injury signs and damaged coats around the dog’s neck who wear choke collars.
• It is used in managing stubborn dogs but can also cause injuries to a dog’s esophagus and trachea.
• The malicious use of these male dog collars can injure dogs’ eyes and blood vessels, and cause brain damage, loss of consciousness, paralysis, and death.

Prong or pinch collars

• Pinch collars are used to handle big and aggressive dogs.
• These collars are made of metallic materials, mainly steel, and contain flat prongs. That’s why they are also called Prong collars.
• When a dog tries to pull the leash and loses control, the collar’s prongs will apply excessive painful pressure on the neck.
• The prongs of these collars are, indeed, painful. Still, these collars for large dogs are less brutal than choke chain collars.

Shock collars

• It is pretty clear from the name itself that these dog collars produce an electric current and give shocks to the dogs.
• It consists of a metallic material that carries the electric current to produce a variety of signals from milder current tickling to severe shocks.
• Usually, training coaches use these types of dog collars to control large and aggressive dog breeds.
• However, some people also misuse these dog collars to threaten and practice strenuous activities on their dogs to control their disobedient behavior.
• Only a few know that these painful pet collars and harnesses suppress dog behavior but don’t teach them to behave in a well-mannered way.

Special Use Collars

Bark control collars

• Needless to say, Bark control collars help control dogs’ excessive barking behavior.
• There are two types of Bark control collars, Spray bark collars and Ultrasonic Bark Collars.
• A spray bark collar will release air or citronella when a dog barks in order to disturb the dog from barking.
• You should not use a spray bark dog collar for your dog if there are other dogs in your house or surrounding area. It is mainly because the collar gets activated by the barking noise of other dogs.
• Another type of dog collar, the Ultrasonic dog collar, prevents the dog from barking by producing an ultrasonic sound only the dog can hear.
• These personalized dog collars don’t treat the underlying cause of a dog’s barking behavior. Instead, they will just help the dog’s parents eliminate excessive barking noise by halting the dog from doing it.

Vibrating collars

• Firstly, we want to make it clear that the vibrator collars are very much different from shock collars.
• Unlike Shock collars, the Vibrator collars give the dog harmless and non-painful vibrations.
• Pet parents use this dog collar to get the attention of their dogs.
• They are the best dog collars for deaf dogs who cannot hear your voice.

GPS collars

• These cool dog collars use a global positioning satellite system to track the dogs.
• These small dog collars are best for dogs who roam a lot and get lost easily.
• However, GPS dollars have a disadvantage in that you need to charge them on time. Otherwise, it will be just a fancy dog necklace of no use.

Elizabethan collars

• The Elizabethan collar is also called an E-collar, mainly used when the dog is wounded.
• This collar prevents the dog from biting its own wounds due to pain.
• The collar consists of a cone-like structure of plastic material and a wide opening.
• As these collars are pretty uncomfortable to wear for dogs, make sure to choose an E-collar with well-shaped borders so that your dog won’t feel much anxiety after wearing them.

Flea/tick collars

• Flea/tick collars can be used with the regular dog collar to protect dogs from fleas and ticks.
• These puppy collars’ unique material is infused with special chemicals that keep fleas and ticks away from the dog.
• These dog collars are beneficial, but changing them from time to time is better as the infused materials soon lose their efficiency with time.

What is the Main Purpose of Dog Collars?

As you can see, while learning about different types of dog collars, we have come a long way, from simple cute dog collars to custom dog collars with high-tech technology like GPS dog collars, vibration dog collars, etc. Other than being a style statement, there are several purposes for using dog collars. Some of them are described as follows.

Identification

Most dog collars contain vital information. You must have seen the dog collar with the name of the dog, and some might include the dog owner’s details like contact number, address, etc. Therefore, you can also get personalized dog collars; they are beneficial if the dog gets lost. To level up the safety, you can also choose GPS dog collars.

Some dog collars also contain information like the dog is an emotional support animal or a psychiatric service dog to highlight the dog’s role.
The dog’s medical details can also be mentioned on the tag when even the dog suffers from a severe illness.

Dog Training

Dog trainers and even some dog parents use dog collars to train the dogs. The pet collars and harnesses help direct an untrained dog and teach it moves like jumping, running, or doing tricks. Some dog trainers use Aversive collars like choke chains, prongs, and chain collars, which is undoubtedly an extreme and cruel approach. Instead, you can train your dog at home with a regular dog collar and leash set.

Protection

E-collar and vibrator collars mainly serve the protection purpose. With the help of an E-collar, you can stop your dog from biting its wounds, which wounded dogs usually do in pain. In the case of handicapped dogs, i.e., deaf dogs, who cannot hear any sound, you can alert them or grab their attention using a vibration collar. You can also use a standard dog leash and collar to stop a dog from going toward danger. For example, you can protect your dog from hitting a vehicle by managing its mobility.

Behavior Check

Trainers use dog Collars like vibration dog collars and shock collars (extreme and brutal ones) that control the behavior of dogs with a touch of a remote. In case of misbehavior like excessive barking, they prevent the dog from misbehaving with these collars. These collar remotes are highly efficient and work even at 1000 ft of distance. Some trainers also prefer bark control collars to control dogs’ excessive barking.

Safety of Others

Not all dogs feel comfortable around strangers. Sometimes in anxiety or fear, and even with the thought of protecting their owner, dogs get aggressive and attack the people they don’t know. In these situations, it gets too challenging to handle your dog, especially if it is heavy and too energetic. Using a dog collar and leash helps a lot in these situations. You can control your dog outside around the crowd or when you have guests in the house.

Make it Responsible

You won’t need your dog to wear the collar all their life years. There will be a time when your dog can behave its best even without a collar. You won’t need to be around it all the time, guiding with a collar and leash. It will be mature enough to react with violence only under the necessary conditions. At that time, your dog can go outside and come alone safely without your supervision.

How to Choose the Right Collar For Your Dog?

Choose the Right Width and Weight of the Dog Collar

Dog collars come in different size ranges in terms of width, from highly wide dog collars to narrow ones. The perfect collar width depends on the breed of the dog. For example- around 3/4″ width collar will be suitable for small breeds like a beagle, whereas you might require at least a 1” width collar for larger breeds. If we talk about the weight of a collar, it varies from material to material. Leather collars are relatively heavier, while nylon ones are softer.

Find a Better Fit For Your Dog’s Neck

Choosing the right-sized dog collar is very important. Your dog can easily remove a loosely fitted collar which will be risky for the dog and other people, especially if you are outdoors. However, too tight would be uncomfortable for your dog to wear. Most of the brands release small, medium, and large-sized collars. Here is an example of a sizing chart:

It is better to check the measurements of all sized labels as these are not universal sizes. These might vary from brand to brand.

Collars like Buckle collars and Martingale collars are adjustable. Therefore, you can adjust their size as a dog grows. It would be expensive to buy new dog collars as your puppy grows every other month. Not only for puppies, but adjustable collars work great for a dog that loses or gains weight quickly, primarily the double-layer dogs that lose fur seasonally.

How to Measure a Dog’s Neck?

Firstly you can have either a measuring tape or a ruler and string. Both the methods can work.
Take a measuring tape and wrap it around the neck where the collar will sit.
If you don’t have a measuring tape, take a thread and wrap it around the dog’s neck similarly. Place the measured thread against the ruler to check the correct measurements.

How to Ensure the Measurements Are Correct?

2-Finger Rule: While measuring, use another hand to place two fingers flat against the dog’s neck between the coat and tape. Now, at this moment, you shouldn’t feel too tight or loose while placing your fingers on the neck. It would be the perfect measurement. Consider adding or removing inches accordingly if it’s loose or tight.

Measure where the collar sits: This will depend on the type of collar you want to buy for your dog. For example, The standard collar sits where the neck starts to widen. The face harness sits on the neck’s upper part, just behind the dog’s ears. The collar shouldn’t be too tight and not too loose to move over the broadest part of the head.

Therefore, it is best to measure the neck/head in three parts for correct measurements.

Measure twice: This rule is the most basic but essential. You can make mistakes while measuring once, so it is better to measure at least twice. In case you don’t get the exact measurement the second time, as you got the first time. Move to the third one and choose the most repeated size.

How to Buy a Collar For a Puppy?

Getting a collar for a mature dog is one thing, but if you want to buy a collar for a growing puppy, you need to consider a few things. Puppies grow so fast. Therefore, it is best to get a collar that will fit nicely for most of its growing days. You can consider the following points when buying a collar for a puppy:

• You cannot estimate the growing speed of your dog or its future size. Therefore, it would be best to get a collar that fits well, for at least now.
• Don’t buy so loose that your pup will slide out of it. Further, it would be risky for your puppy to strangle something while playing or running.
• You should be clear with the fact that you cannot choose the same collar for a long period. Be open to change.
• While being mindful of the above facts, you can still find a collar that fits at least for the next few months. Buy a little loose collar but not so loose that it will slip from your dog’s neck.
• You can buy adjustable collars like buckle collars or martingale collars. These dog collars can be adjusted and fit well for your dog in the coming months.

Keep checking your dog’s neck after a couple of weeks of choosing a collar for your pup. Make sure the collar has a fundamental two fingers gap. If you see any sign of skin irritation or difficulty breathing, purchase a new dog collar for your pup that will fit well.

Dog Collar Versus Dog Harnesses

It is a long-running debate concerning what is best? Harnesses or Collars. If you ask for our opinion, we have a counter-back question for you. For what purpose do you need a dog collar and dog harness?

Dog harnesses are very comfortable as they provide better support to the dog while walking outdoors. Further, they provide a better grip. Therefore, it is helpful for you too to handle your dog. It is highly efficient in small-necked and brachycephalic dogs.

However, your pup cannot always wear a puppy harness and leash, especially in the hot weather. Harnesses are comfortable only if worn for a short period and only during walking. It doesn’t contain an Identification tag and other important information that dog parents usually put on dog collars.

Therefore, both harnesses and collars have their own use. It is not that one is better than the other. You can use both to comfort your dog all the time. Harnesses are fine during walks and training outdoors, while collars are best to wear 24/7.

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