Dogs And Collars

When choosing a collar for your dog you will have a number of criteria in mind, primarily these are practicality and good looks. You need a dog collar which will do what you need, dependant upon the breed of dog and it's size, strength and conformation. You need to be able to hold your dog or puppy safely when on the collar and leash. You may also choose to have a house collar, which would be a soft fabric collar designed for comfort. These are often called tag collars, because a dog should be carrying his identification or microchip tags at all times.

Check chains and prong collars are extreme forms of collar, only suitable for the most intransigent and stubborn of large dogs. They should certainly not be the primary collar of choice unless all else has been deemed unsuitable. Prong collars will cause considerable discomfort to the dog if he pulls on the leash and check chains can hurt the neck too, especially if in inexperienced hands.

Preferable to these options are the martingale or half-check collar, or the standard buckle collar. If you have specific needs when training a dog to walk on a leash you may consider a harness or halti-style face collar. The advantage of the martingale style is that it only tightens if the dog pulls. They are generally made from soft fabric so are not cruel on the neck. They help to hold the dog if he pulls backwards, as a timid dog might. They are particularly suitable for greyhounds and whippets, where the head is the same width as the neck and so slipping out of a conventional buckle collar is a serious risk.

Your dog may be fine on a standard buckle collar, be it in leather or fabric. Modern fabrics can be very durable and strong so don't automatically assume that leather is best, unless you want it for the look - yes, really, bull terrier owners! However the stronger the dog the more you must consider the strength of the material in the collar - including the stitching and seams.