Dog's Help

You can buy ready made dog collars or tailor-made collars for your dog. However, the more important aspect here is to find out what type of collar suits best to your requirement of training your dog.

Depending on the purpose of training and dog's size and temperament, you should choose the style of collar. The dog collars not only serve as an absolute fashion statement for you and your pooch but also serve as a perfect safety guard for your dog. Therefore besides sticking to the basics of choosing the collar as per your requirement, you should use your imagination to the fullest to impart the best look to your pet. Also, never ever forget to place the name tag to the dog's collar. The tag should also contain your contact information clearly.

Choosing the right collar style
Although a large variety of dog collars are available in the market, they can be mainly classified into six types.

Regular collars:

The regular collars for dogs come in several varieties and styles that you can use to flaunt your personal statement daily. The most common ones of these are buckles and quick-release clasps which are available in many materials. Buckles are sturdy while clasps as not as strong. So depending on the size and temperament of your dog you can choose one.

To dress them aptly, tie the collar snug-fit, not too tight and not too loose. The collar should not press against the trachea nor should it be so loose as to slip over the head. Measure your dog's neck size and add a couple of inches for the right collar size.

Chain-slip collars:

Slip collars or choke chains are effective training tools for stubborn dogs that pull on the leash and don't respond quickly to training. A tug-and-release action on the leash closes it a bit and lets the dog know that it needs to behave differently. You don't have to pull at it steadily as with other collars. Choke chains are not supposed to be used on dogs like Yorkshire Terriers that have fragile tracheas. You should always have a trainer educate you with its correct usage.

Pronged collars:

Pronged collars or pinch collars are training collars to be used on strong dogs that are unresponsive to training. They have blunt prongs made of metal on the inside to help restrain the dog. These collars are only temporary training tools and should never be used without professional supervision.

Martingale collars:

Martingale collars give your more control without choking your dog. Also known as greyhound collars, they were designed for sighthounds because their necks are bigger than their heads and collars could easily slip out. Martingale collars tighten when you pull the leash but they also have a stopping mechanism to prevent choking. These are more popular nowadays than choke chains.

Head collars:

Head collars or Halter type dog collars act like harnesses for the head and help you control the dog by controlling the head. A band goes around the head and another around the nose. The leash catches the collar under the chin. If the dog pulls on the leash, the head gets pulled downwards or sideways. It's an effective way of having the dog listen to you.

Harnesses:

Harnesses are used on dogs that have a weak trachea or neck. Dog harnesses go around the dog's chest and back, thus lifting the pressure from the neck. The leash can be fastened to the top. Harnesses may not be a good idea on dogs that have no medical problems as they could encourage pulling instead of being a deterrent.