What Makes a Good Dog Collar?

By Jo Soliday

BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A GOOD DOG COLLAR:

• The material needs to be strong enough to handle sudden lunges by your dog
• The fastener (metal buckle or plastic snap) needs to be strong enough to handle the dog's maximum force. When in doubt, go with a metal buckle
• It should not be too loose or too tight. If you can slip two average size adult fingers between the collar and your dog's neck, it should be about right
• It should be a comfortable weight for your dog
• A good dog collar ought to be flexible, not too stiff
• Attaching and detaching a leash should be quick and easy
• If you walk your dog at night, it should have reflectors or glow-in-the-dark materials for maximum safety

Besides regular collars, there are several types of training collars. Before you acquire one of these collars, do some research. Some of these collars will be a good dog collar for your dog, others won't in other words, one type does not fit all.

AN OVERVIEW OF TRAINING COLLARS:

• A choke chain or slip collar, which consists of a chain that slips through a ring and pulls tight very quickly when the dog pulls on it. As soon as the dog stops pulling, the chain loosens up. This type of training device can result in harm to the dog's trachea.
• A martingale dog collar is considered a gentler option to the choke chain. It is usually made out of webbing or leather and a piece of chain. The martingale consists of an extra loop on top of the collar that can be pulled on to control the dog or prevent a dog with a head smaller than its neck (e.g. greyhounds) to back out of the collar.
• A pinch or prong collar, which looks cruel but is actually gentler than the choke chain since, as with the martingale, the force is distributed evenly around the neck. The blunt spikes pinch the dog's skin but do not harm the trachea.
• A head collar. This can be very successful for controlling a forceful dog, especially if you are not a strong person. However, this type of collar can injure dogs with a thin neck.
• All training collars need to be used correctly to work well and to avoid injuring your dog. They may need to be removed when you are not training or walking your dog.

OPTIONAL FEATURES OF A GOOD DOG COLLAR:

• What materials it's made of - nylon webbing is a popular choice, as is leather. As long as the collar meets the strength and comfort requirements, the types of materials used is not hugely important
• Whether it's store bought or homemade. You do not have to buy a collar; with a little know-how and the proper hardware, you can make your own dog collar. For some ideas, follow the links below the article.
• How it looks - again, the important thing is how well it works for walking your dog. Looks are secondary (unless you spend a large amount of time fretting about the appearance of the collar!)

Ultimately, you as the dog owner must decide what will make a good dog collar for your dog. Hopefully, the information on this page will help you make that decision.

Jo Soliday has been a dog lover and crafter since childhood. For some ideas for making collars for dogs, see http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com/how-to-make-dog-collars.html and http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com/design-your-own-dog-collar.html