Saturday, April 7, 2012

A Guide To Dog Collar Options

By Glenn Matthews


Dog collars are an important accessory of man's best friend - they include your dog's registration tags, ID, and even leads (for leashes). This article deals with some useful information on collars - not necessarily need-to-know but useful nonetheless. Consider the following quick tips when shopping.

First of all, you need a collar that perfectly fits around your dog's neck. If the collar fits, then you have free hand when choosing the desired color or design - whatever floats your boat!

For small dogs, pick out a collar that is neither too heavy nor too light. For puppies, a thin, leather collar or a soft, nylon collar is ideal. If you own a Lab or a Great Dane or a similarly large, strong dog, then you definitely need a wide and heavy collar. You can always use this quick test to ensure that you have chosen the best fit for your dog - the distance between your dog's neck and the collar should not be narrower than two finger's width. But be sure to tightly stick your fingers inside, because the last thing you want is for the collar to be too loose fitting. You want that excess strap dangling from the collar to be cut off as well, unless you're comfortable with your dog mistaking it for a sausage link.

Using a fastener that sort of snaps on can conveniently replace buckle collars due to the fact you can easily adjust the collar's length. While a training collar doesn't look like anything to write home about, it's a much better choice for puppies rather than one of those "cool" looking choke collars.

Here are a couple of neat facts about leather collars - one, they are versatile in terms of the colors, styles and widths you can choose from, and two, they become softer on a dog's skin due to the dog himself and the natural oils produced from his skin. Nylon collars are washable and durable and are perfect for dogs that like to swim and for smaller dogs and puppies that need a softer touch. For bigger dogs, a nylon collar is okay, but it will need to be one with heavy webbing.

There are other collars that suit very specific kinds of dogs. For surfers, there are collars that are made out of the same material as wetsuits! A head collar would be a good choice for owners of those hyperactive dogs that find it cute whenever they pull on the leash. A harness can come in handy with an anxious or hyperactive dog as well, as it is positioned around the dog's chest and ribcage to prevent choking - some harnesses even allow you to buckle your dog into your car!

We cannot even begin to tell you how many colors and designs are available, but most collars have their own leashes. Because it is important for your dog to feel as comfortable as possible, put careful time and consideration into your search for the perfect collar.




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