Which Type of Dog Collar is Right For Your Dog

There are on the market different kinds of dog collars, and a dog owner sometimes does not know what to choose, because each collar has a different impact on the dog?s neck. So you have to be well aware of the collar type which fits best your dog, and of course, which also satisfies your quality requirements. Here are some collar types which are recommended for your dogs.

Simple buckle collar

It is a simple belt, tied to the dog?s neck, having a metal buckle. Made of nylon or leather, it may be adjustable. It can be used as a simple collar, in order to tie your dog, or it may be an identification collar (for the municipal license, range medal, etc.). If you use this collar to educate or to train your dog, it may cause an opposition reaction from the dog (pull ? pull, push ? push). Therefore this collar can?t be used at all for education or obedience training, because there are no means of applying a correction using the collar (a slight collar stroke), without the automatic opposition of the dog. Besides, you can hurt your elbow or your shoulders if you use it with a large dog.

Adjustable ?quick release? collar

This collar type is the most recommended for puppies because it can be well adjusted on a growing puppy?s neck. It is made of nylon, with a plastic buckle. But, as well as the simple buckle collar, it can?t be used for obedience training. Break away collar

It is a special collar, which breaks when it is hit. It was invented as a result of a dog?s death, whose collar did not break, even if the dog was hanging. It is recommended when you allow your dog running free in the back yard, without being supervised. Conventional strangulation collar - Sliding collar

Also called ?choker?, this collar is used the most frequently for dogs. A study made in Germany proved that this type of collar causes the wounding of the neck, of the spinal column, as well as of the throat, if it is not used properly (which means in 95 per cent of the cases!). Since it is not used for obedience training, but as a preventive measure, this collar can?t be used for all kind of dogs, neither by all kinds of persons. It is actually a chain, with a sort of ring at each end. The collar slides into one of the rings at each end.

The collar slides into one of the rings, making the shape of a ?P?. The leash is attached to the ring at the end of the ?P?, that is why the collar might slide. Take into account that if your dog walks on your left, the collar does have the form of a ?P?. But if the dog walks on your right, the collar must form a ?Q?. When the collar is attached to the second ring (the still ring), no sliding of the collar is allowed.

This kind of collar provokes a complete strangulation of the dog. A lot of dogs even died. You must never leave this type of collar at the dog?s neck if it is alone, outdoors or in a kennel, as an accident may occur very quickly.

If the chain is large enough, it can slide less easily, so the collar is less effective. If the chain is soft enough, the correction will be more effective. The adjustment must be perfect if you want an efficient correction, by sliding the chain. A too short or a too long collar won?t correct conveniently the dog and there will appear the danger of a wounding for the dog or even for the person who holds the leash.

Nylon holding collar

These collars are usually used for conformation exhibitions. They are used in the same way as the conventional strangulation collars, very easily. Martingale type collar

These collars are a variation of the strangulation collar. They are effective for a simple, quick and precise correction of the dog, if it is well adjusted.

The adjustment round the dog?s neck is important if you want an efficient dog collar. It is recommended for puppies and adult dogs, for any kind of education or obedience training.

Martingale leash

It is an exhibition leash for small dogs.

Prong or pinch collar

This collar is used for the same reasons as the conventional strangulation collar. It is used to correct the dog, exerting an equal pressure on the whole surface of the neck. If it is well adjusted, this collar doesn?t pinch the skin and doesn?t hurt the animal. The pinch - prong collar is actually much more secure when it is used, than a strangulation collar. A study made in Germany proved that the injuries on the neck, on the back and in the throat are less, when it is used the pinch collar instead of a strangulation one. This type of collar is usually used for dogs which pull the leash, which refuse a usual correction with the strangulation collar or for people who are not able to control a very strong dog. This collar is used for dog obedience training and it must be used correctly. It must never be used for a puppy.

Dog halter

The dog halter is often used for the dogs which pull the leash. It can be used as the horse halter, but it is usually applied near the eyes, so that it is very uncomfortable for most of the dogs. This halter is not a muzzle and in order to be effective it must be used together with a collar. Harness

Some people use the harness in order to stop the dog pulling the leash. It is a contradictory use, because a harness is made for pulling. These are the most popular dog collars. Nowadays there are more advanced dog collars, like magnetic or electronic ones, but this subject should be treated separately.