What Kind of Collar Should I Get My Dog?

What Kind of Collar is the Right Collar for My Dog

By LukEli K-9, Dog Training and Behavior Modification Professionals

Many dog owners do not give a moments thought to the type of collar they put on their dogs. After all, we just want our dogs to look pretty or cool for you more masculine types out there. It seems to me in my experience not only as a dog trainer, but also while working at doggie daycares and pet retail stores, not much thought goes into the actual functionality of the collar we put on our dogs.

Lets first think for a second the purpose of putting a collar on our dog. The most important function of this device is to have some sort of identification attached to it if in case our dog were to get loose. Secondly, and just as important is that the piece of material around the dogs neck, no matter what kind, is designed for the purpose of keeping our dogs safe when we are in public by attaching a leash or long line to it. Of course, there are training collars like prongs and choke chains, which are designed for a more unique purpose (we will talk more about training collars in another blog).

Now, all that being said, I know from experience that it is a bit overwhelming going to pet retail stores and staring at the massive selection of collars, collars, and more collars. It’s no wonder most pet owners pick the one that grabs their attention or sort of “strikes their fancy”, so to speak, with no thought of the functionality of the collar of their choosing.

There are many different variations of the same kinds of collars but for the sake of keeping this article relatively short I will mention the four main kinds of collars I see being used most often.

Collars with a plastic closure, usually made out of nylon or some other form of rope like material, tend to be the most popular. This has to do with the fact that they are usually the most inexpensive. These types of collars are a good choice for dogs that attend daycare or dog parks, but not so great for everyday use. The problem I have found with these collars is that they are more likely to break at their plastic connection points. This is good for dogs in play groups, if a dog where to get its mouth or some other appendage caught in the collar of another dog the collar would break. This however is not a good thing to happen if you were out for a walk and the collar were to break, all identification on the dog is now lost (unless your dog has a micro chip which we also highly recommend).

Metal buckle collars, which are also made from nylon, are not as widely used but they are a much better choice for everyday use. These collars may be slightly more expensive than the plastic closure collars but will by no means break the bank. Metal buckle collars are much more reliable and just as easy to find in stores as plastic closure ones. They do not, however, have as much flexibility when it comes time to resize your growing dogs neck, but because they are relatively cheap, you can punch a whole in the fabric if there is room or buy a new one.

Leather collars are probably the most expensive in terms of buying them straight of the shelf at pet retail stores. (I do not recommend leather spike collars for any dog; period. These collars may “look cool” but can lead to injury to other dogs and you.) Leather collars have metal buckle closures that are normally plated in some sort of material that does not rust easily. These types of collars are sturdy and reliable as long as they are not left to the elements for extended periods of time. Over exposure to water or extremely dry climates may cause leather collars to become brittle and break easily.

Martingale collars, sometime called “slip collars” , are my collar of choice. These collars are designed to slip over your dog’s head thus eliminating any weak connection points in the collar (there are some that do have plastic closures. These I do not recommend. Make sure to look carefully at what you are buying). Most people will argue that if the collar is loose enough to slip over the dog’s head how will it not slip of when they are on a walk?  The answer is in the design of these collars.

Rock the Great Dane showing of his new
Holiday collar from Collar Me Happy

Martingale collars are designed to tighten around the dog’s neck when they pull against the leash but do not continue tightening like a choke chain would. These collars only tighten enough to prevent the dog from pulling out of the collar. They are also a great choice for r

eactive dogs that may have a tendency to spook easily. They allow for the collar to sit loosely on their neck but tighten in an instant to prevent the dog from pulling out of its collar. That being said the proper fit of these collars are important to its functionality. Too loose and the collar will not tighten enough, too tight and you have one uncomfortable pooch on your hands.

No matter which type of collar you decide on make sure to pay attention to all its parts, the most important being the type of connection, not just which one will look nice on your dog. If you have questions or need help fitting a collar to your dog do not hesitate to call a dog training professional who will gladly point you in the right direction.

For more info about martingale collars or to order a specialty hand made martingale collar visit our friend Amy at Collar Me Happy, https://www.facebook.com/collarmehappy

To shop retail for all these collars Martingale included visit  McCoy Feed and Supplies in Midland NC and don't forget to add them on facebook too!