Safety First Dog Collar - How To Choose the Best Dog Collar For Your Dog
One of the first things you’ll be buying after you have picked up your new dog is a dog collar.
Dog collars come in a variety of materials, colors, styles and even functions. There's the obedience or choke collar, bark control collars, flea collars, and a whole array of just good old plain canine collars. So which one do you choose?
The dog collar market is swamped with conventional as well as more unusual types of dog collars. These serve a variety of functions and needs. As a pet lover and dog owner, you should learn that different kinds of dogs need different types of dog collars.
What Types Of Collar Are Available?
Quick Release collars are essentially flat nylon buckle collars with a plastic closure. This clip is similar to some luggage strap fasteners and makes getting the collar on and off a little easier.
Buckle Collars are pretty much just what they sound like, collars that are fastened with a buckle. They are typically made of leather or nylon and they are either flat or rolled. The buckle collar has a ring for you to attach the city dog license and other identification tags. Should your dog accidentally get lost, this collar and the attached tags will help him get back home.
A break away collar is special quick-release collar that will unclip if a strong tug is made on the collar. This is a safety feature so that your dog does not choke if the collar gets caught up on something. The collar will not unclip when it's attached to the leash
Training Collars
Choke chains are metal chain links of various sizes with a ring on each. These collars are only to be used while actively training or exercising your best friend. This type of collar is usually sold by length, so ask for assistance when purchasing a slip or choke collar.
The hottest thing for your well-mannered pet, head collars are not to be mixed up with muzzles. A muzzle is used to make sure that your dog cannot bite anyone or anything, and is not attached to the leash or to be used as a training aid. The action of the leash when correcting your pet is very different with a head collar verses any of the other training devices. So the initial training using a head collar should be done under the supervision of a qualified trainer, even though a head collar is considered to be more humane than a pinch or slip collar.
It has been said that using an electric shock collar desensitizes the Dog to the shock but they still prove to be effective training collars. Electronic collars are only to be used for training and should never be used without a professional trainers guidance. Incorrectly used, these collars can ruin a canine's self confidence, good will and any desire to work.
(See Dog Training for more details on dog training).
Tips To Correct Collar Use
You need to ensure that your dog collar fits well. Badly fitted collars and their incorrect usage may be harmful to your pet and in the worst case it can prove to be fatal. A properly fitted collar has at least a two finger width space between the collar and the neck of the dog but it should not slip over his ears.
One of the essentials of a dog collar is to make sure that it's personalized and has your dogs name and your contact details on it. This will make it easy for someone to get in touch with you if your pet gets lost or strays. It can also help keep your dog calm in a distressing situation. Your dog is lost and while he may be amongst strangers, they will learn his name from his collar and he'll feel less threatened if called by name.
Lastly pick a dog collar that suits your dog’s size and personality. A fluffy pink collar really does not belong on a Boxer
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