Dog Collar
There are hundreds of dog collars available in all shapes and sizes. Finding the correct one for your dog is essential. In addition to having your dog tagged with a micro chip and or an ear tattoo, by law you must also have an ID tag on your dog.
If you are going to use your dog as a working sheep dog or gundog then and only then, will you not require a collar and ID tag.
Types of collars;
Full Check Dog Collar - A full check collar tightens around the dogs neck when it pulls. There is no limit to how tight the collar becomes so can be very dangerous and should never be left on a dog unattended. If you decide that this is the collar you wish to use, then make sure it is fitted correctly. If it is too long it will pull your dogs fur out everytime you check the dog. To make sure the collar is the correct length measure the circumfrance of your dogs neck and add 3.5 inches.
Also if the chain is too narrow/fine it can cut into the dogs neck causing a painful or even fatal injury.
When you put the collar on it should be the shape of an upside down P with your dog on the left. If it is put on incorrectly the collar will not release after you check the dog, which will defeat the point of using this collar.
When you take your dog for a walk it is important to make sure that the collar is not permanently tight around the dogs neck. If this does happen there is no point using this collar and you will damage your dogs neck. The correct way to use this collar is by the check and release method. If you have any doubts then seek professional advice.
Half Check Dog Collar - The half check dog collar is effective for most dogs. It is a cross between a flat collar and a check collar. The collar should be fitted so that the 2 D rings are 2 fingers apart when the collar is tight.
When a dog pulls on its lead wearing a half check collar the pressure is evenly distributed around the dogs neck. This makes it a safer collar than the check chain or flat collar, which can both damage the dogs neck if it pulls.
There are various half check collars available, however the best ones have a release clip at the side. This is important as you may need to quickly release your dog from its collar if it gets caught up running in the forest. It is also important for the collar to be adjustable as it needs to fit your dog exactly, otherwise it will be ineffective.
As with the full check collar it is important to make sure that the collar is not permanently tight around the dogs neck. The purpose of the collar is to allow you to check the dog, then release. This may there will be no discomfort for the dog, but it will quickly learn where the heel position is.
Once your dog is walking nicely to heel all the time, you can make the transition to a flat collar.
Flat Dog Collar -
The flat dog collar is perfect if your dog doesn't have a tendancy to pull. It is safe to leave on the dog all the time. When fitting the collar make sure that you can fit 2 fingers under the dogs collar. It is important to check this regularly so in case your dog grows out of the collar or in case the collar shrinks due to weather conditions, baths etc.
Head Collars and Gentle Leaders -
The gentle leader or head collar is an effective way to correct a dog that pulls on the lead. There are various versions available. The one below is popular as it has been designed specifically to stop dogs pulling. If you have a real problem with your dog pulling, then this will be money well spent. Apart from very rare occassions this type of collar will instantly fix your dog pulling, but only while its being worn. You will still need to train your dog to walk to heel. If you have a very strong dog then this type of collar will be particularly effective as your dog will find its strength has no impact.
Remember you will still need to use a normal flat collar on your dog as well as the head collar in order to display your dogs ID tags.
Dog Harness -
When you travel with your dog, unless you have a dog crate fitted in your car, it is advisable to use a dog harness. This will prevent any accidents and also allows you to open your car dogs without worrying that your dog will run out into the road.
Dog harnesses can also be used for walking your dog. However, they are not good for dogs that are prone to pull as they allow the dog to use its upper body strength which is very powerful. This is why Husky dogs wear a harness to pull the sledge.
Corrective Dog Collars -
There are collars available, which claim to train your dog through the use of citronella spray or electric shock. Both these methods can cause more problems than they correct and should not be used as a 'quick fix'. Instead seek the advice of a good dog trainer that will be able to give you advice that will be more positive for your dog in the long run. To see a list of qualified dog instructors visit The Kennel Club website.
These collars should only be recommended if the behaviour that needed correcting was life threatening for your dog and all other methods had failed. There are no quick fixes with dog training.
There are other collars that you may come across such as the pinch collar;
As you can see the pinch collar has large metal prongs that would dig into the dogs neck if he pulled. This can lead to dogs becoming very aggressive or very nervous. Although it may correct the problem of the dog pulling it will cause far more problems which will be a lot harder to fix.
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