Dog Collars - How to Pick the Right One

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     Dog collars serve many purposes and are made from different materials. A collar can be used to train a dog, control a dog, to carry contact details or important medical information about a dog's owner, some collars contain chemicals to stop fleas, others are used for tracking your dog but most collars are a combination of practical use and fashion.

A dog collar can be made from leather, nylon, hemp, cork or chain. There are collars for specific breeds and personalised ones. There are designer dog collars made by Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Swarovski etc. They come in almost every colour and design one can imagine with crystals, rhinestones, studs and spikes embedded into them.

All collars should be fitted correctly around a dog's neck with metal or plastic snap buckles. The collar should fit snuggly and not too loose or too tight. You should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and your dog's neck. For a small dog you only need to fit one finger under the collar.

A puppy needs to start wearing a collar as soon as possible, but like all puppies, he has to be introduced to it gently and slowly over time. He must see it as a positive thing and not fear it. Leave it on for short periods in the beginning. Check a puppy's collar every two weeks since it can tighten as the puppy grows so fast. It is not necessary to buy an expensive collar while your puppy is still growing.

Be aware that dog collars vary in size between manufacturers. Fit every new collar as if it was your dog's first one. Always make sure you can fit either one or two fingers under it, depending on the size of your dog.
If you are nervous or unsure about how to measure your dog for a collar then ask your vet or the staff in the pet store for help.

Here is a list of some types of dog collars.

Some big names in the fashion world also design fabulous dog collars in high quality fabrics and metal, fitted with everything from spikes to real diamonds. The patterns can be paws, stars and stripes, holiday themes for Halloween and Christmas, a wedding or to draw attention to health awareness days. There is a huge choice to suit everyone and every price range.

Leather rolled or flat collars, fitted with a metal buckle are very popular, come in lots of stylish designs and are comfortable for a dog.

For safety while walking your dog at night, there is a reflective collar which glows brightly when the lights of a car shine on it. Some collars have an actual light attached which gives off a constant light or can be switched to flash on and off.

Break Away or Quick Release collars prevent a dog from getting strangled by allowing him to break free if he gets entangled or snagged in bushes, fences or another dog.

The Choke Chain or Slip Collar has rings on either end which form a loop around a dog's neck. A leash is connected at the back of the dog's neck. This is not a good collar for a beginner as it can hurt or even strangle a dog if fitted or used incorrectly. Always supervise your dog if he is wearing a choke chain.

A Prong Collar is made up of chain links with ends turned inwards towards the dog's neck. Always buy a good quality prong collar as the cheaper ones can injure a dog by puncturing the skin. This collar is fitted high up behind the dog's ears for best effect on controlling him. Again, it should only be used by a professional dog handler and the dog must be supervised while he is wearing it.

The Tracking Collar is mainly used with hunting dogs but search and rescue, hikers and campers tend to use them too. The collar, which is fitted with a transmitter, is worn in the normal way by the dog. The owner or handler carries a receiver. There are many different receivers available which show lots of detail on a dog's location, if he is stationery or moving and the direction he is going. A tracking collar can be used on more than one dog at the same time.

Some people like to use a Head Halter. It works fine on well behaved dogs. It consists of one strap going around the dog's neck connected to the second strap going around his muzzle. You get good control of the dog's head which controls his body. Some dogs find it strange at first and will try to scratch it off their face with their front paws. They just need time to get used to it. Try to make it a positive experience for them with praise and treats when they wear it. You should receive professional instruction on how to use it. The two main ones are the Gentle Leader and the Halti.

A Harness is worn around a dog's chest area and abdomen. They are usually used on dog's with medical problems in the neck. The leash is attached to a loop on the top of the harness where it crosses over the dog's back.

You have to find the correct collar for you and your particular dog and his/her temperament and energy level. You must be able to control your dog, especially in public places, for your safety and the safety of others.