Picking the right collar for your dog can make a huge difference in the way you go for walks; it can improve the overall happiness for you and your dog and make walking your dog a whole lot easier. But choosing the right dog collar can actually be more difficult than most owners realize, you have to include a number of factors that could come into play like how big your dog is, what material the collar is made out of and so on. Most owners are not sure how to even fit their dogs properly which can lead to all sort of problems like your dog getting loose or even worse, your dog getting hurt. Below we will discuss all the different things to look for when choosing the right dog collars for your dog.
The first thing you need to determine is the length of the collar. A collar that is too long will have too many extra holes and you don’t want this. You also don’t want it to be too short, if it’s too short chances are it’s too small. Do not try to add any extra holes as this can damage the collar and it will have a shorter lifespan than a collar without added holes. A good way to determine which collar is great for your dog is to take him to the pet store and try some on. If you can’t do that, grab a measuring tape and measure around the circumference of where the collar is supposed to go, you can use these measurements as a rough guideline.
You should also make sure that the collar is fitted comfortably around your dog’s neck which can sometimes be a bit tricky to do. If your dog’s collar is too loose, your dog can easily slip it off which will leave you chasing your dog around for hours trying to catch him. If your dog’s collar is too tight, it can hurt your dog by rubbing the skin too much, cutting into their neck or even restricting your dog’s ability to breathe comfortably. You want to be able to easily put 2 fingers between your dog’s neck and the collar.
The general rule of thumb when choosing the thickness of the collar is the bigger the dog, the bigger the collar and vice versa. You don’t want to use a small collar on a big dog for the obvious reason – it could easily break from all that weight and also, the dog can easily break it and run off. You do not want an overly large collar on a small dog as it can run against their skin and be uncomfortable. Real leather dog collars are usually an exception to this rule as they are more durable and comfortable, so if you want to spoil your dog maybe you should invest in a leather collar. There are no real rules when it comes to the thickness; just try to use your best judgment and buy one like you would buy clothes for yourself and compare it to the size of your dog.
There are many different types of dog collars with all different parts and features. The first thing you should look at are the different buckles. The most common buckles include snap buckles and loop buckles just like a belt buckles. Snap buckles are easier to put on and take off, but that means that someone or another dog can easily take your dog’s collar off as well. There are also collars that are made with a reflective material if your dog tends to run off so you can spot him or her in the dark (this will also make cars more aware of you and your dog while walking).
There are also collars that are used for training purposes like chain collars, pinch collars, and shock collars. Most people, however, view these as inhumane. Whether you agree with that or not is your own personal choice, but these collars shouldn’t be kept on all day as they are dangerous if your dog is left unattended. Whichever type you feel will best suit your dog, make sure you put quality over price; you can buy quality dog collars online or in you local pet store.
