Dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments, and your dogโs
unique body and personality type will determine what kind of
collar will suit them best. Is your dog a serious puller? There
are collars for that. Does your dog have a small head that easily
slips out of traditional collars? Weโve got a solution. Take a
look at the following collar options to find the best one for
your particular pup.
Traditional Flat and Rolled Collars
Traditional
collars are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and
styles. Some are made of nylon, some
are made of leather,
and there are even some earthy-friendly ones made of hemp. Many
traditional collars have decorative features too, such as printed
graphics or tough-guy spikes.
And you can choose from a wide range of widths; there are small,
thin collars for mini dogs and
wide, sturdy collars for large dogs.
Most dogs wear a traditional collar all of the time and may wear
other collars when training time rolls around. Make sure that
your dogโs primary collar fits appropriately; it should sit high
on the neck and you should be able to fit two fingers between
your dogโs neck and the collar. Also, make sure that your dogโs
collar has its ID
tag attached at all times.
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Options Your Pet Will Love
Head Halter
Head halters allow you to have great control over your
dog, and can be very useful when training your dog
to โheel.โ Head halters look
similar to a horseโs halter, and indeed they serve the same
function. One band goes around the back of your dogโs head and
another goes around the nose, snapping into place under the dogโs
chin. When you pull on the leash, your dogโs head will go down,
to the side, or back to you, but they wonโt be able to pull
forward. This not only helps your dog to walk nicely, but it also
trains them to keep their attention on you rather than focusing
on other dogs, cars, or whatever else might interest them. There
are two potential downsides to using a head halter: for one, most
dogs really donโt like them at first. Youโll need to train
your dog to enjoy wearing the halter, and it may take some time.
Secondly, you may end up fielding questions from neighbors about
why your dog is wearing a muzzle. Because of
the way the halter wraps around a dogโs nose, some people mistake
it for a muzzle, but unlike a muzzle, dogs wearing a halter are
able to comfortably open their mouths, eat, and drink.
Harnesses
Harnesses
are a popular choice for dogs with upper respiratory or throat
disease that can be made worse by traditional collars that put
pressure on the trachea.Certain types of harnesses can also help
with pulling. Look for ones that evenly distribute weight, attach
in the front, or redirect
leash tension to the area behind your dogโs front legs.
Chain Slip Collars
Chain
slip collars, also known as choke collars, are usually used
to correct very stubborn dogs. These collars can be safe and
effective when used properly, but you should always consult
your veterinarian and
a trainer before trying one
out on your own. The key is to use a โyank-and-releaseโ motion
and to only employ this collar during training sessions. If you
are uncomfortable using a chain slip collar, you may want to look
into the Martingale.
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Improve Your Dog Training
Martingale Collar
Martingale collars were originally designed for dogs with small
heads and necks -- such as Greyhounds and Whippets -- who can easily slip out of
traditional collars. While they are still commonly used to keep
these breeds from escaping, they have also become a popular
choice for trainers and pet parents who want to teach their dogs
not to pull. Martingale collars are made with two loops. The
large loop is placed around your dogโs neck and adjusted to fit
loosely. The small loop -- sometimes referred to as the control
loop -- is attached to the leash. When the dog pulls, the tension
on the leash makes both the small and large loops taut and
distributes even pressure over your dogโs neck.
Prong Collar
Prong
collars, also known as pinch collars, can help with extreme
pulling. They may look like torture devices, but the blunt prongs
that protrude inward are actually very dull -- try them on your
own arm to see how they feel. Itโs more of a โpinchโ than
anything else, and unlike chain collars, prong collars distribute
pressure evenly over your dogโs entire neck, which may make them
safer. If you wish to use a prong collar on your dog, you should
first consult your veterinarian and
a trainer to learn how to use
it properly. Improper use could not only injure your dog, but it
could also make their problem worse or cause them to become
fearful of the โyank-and-releaseโ motion being used at the wrong
time.
Herbal Collars for dogs
Maintaining the health of a pet dog requires timely meals,
regular exercise, sufficient playtime and attention, and routine
grooming. Grooming is often regarded as one of the most
challenging aspects of maintaining a dog. There are a lot of
aspects to grooming and every part of the dogโs body must be
given attention. Grooming a dog, however, has numerous benefits
such as
- Removal of dead hair and redistribution of natural oils which
keeps the coat and skin healthy
- Reveals any kind of unnatural bumps or lumps which could be
signs of major medical issues. Also reveals any kind of patches
or parasites like ticks and fleas.
- It improves the blood circulation of the dog
- Helps in reducing stress and blood pressure in your pet.
There are numerous activities involved in grooming such as
clipping of nails, bathing, combing of fur, and checking for
pests. All of these activities take time and the pet is
needlessly agitated every time. In order to retain the freshness
that is offered just after a grooming session, there are special
kinds of herbal collars available that dogs can wear for a
variety of purposes.
Uses of Herbal Collars
Herbal collars are made from natural herbs and come imbued with
oils that provide a variety of advantages. One of the most
popular kinds of collars is calming collars that contain natural
calming herbs. They help the dog during bouts of hyperactivity or
anxiety, excessive barking, fears due to loud noises, and
separation anxiety among others.
There are also herbal collars with special oils available that
act as natural pest resistant and keep various kinds of pests
such as ticks and fleas away. Added to that, they keep the coat
fresh and soft for long durations of time. These collars are all
made from soft fabric and are comfortable to wear. They are
available in almost all sizes. Before using a herbal collar it is
advised to check the contents of the collar and ensure that the
dog is not allergic to any of the mentioned substances. These
collars usually come in very bright colors with Velcro closing or
tightening. These adjustable collars are available not only for
dogs but for cats as well.
Flea and tick collars are one of the easiest and hassle-free ways
of keeping a dog healthy and free from any kind of pests. The
owner of the dog doesnโt need to check for fleas on a daily basis
or even comb regularly for that matter. These collars keep the
fur coat naturally free from pests and maintain its health and
natural softness. Such collars are effective in maintaining the
benefits of proper grooming for long durations of time.
What kind of collar do you use on your dog and why? Leave a
comment and let us know, and consider signing up for PetPlus, a benefit program for pet owners that
provides member-only access to medications at wholesale prices,
plus discounts on food, supplies, boarding, and more. Check it
out at PetPlus.com.
