Which Dog Collar Types Should I Use On My Dog

While collars are quickly looked at by most people as the needed item to place identification and other information tags, many people fail to take control requirements, dog size and proper use criteria into consideration when making a dog collar purchase.

Some Interesting Dog Collar Information:

	A good buckle type collar should be used instead of the snap on collars for larger more powerful dogs and even smaller dogs with aggressive traits. The plastic closure device on snap on collars can break easier than you think when the powerful force of an excited or irate dog is straining against the snap connection. Keep in mind when trying to decide whether to use the buckle type versus the snap on collar that some types of plastic can become brittle with age and exposure to weather conditions.
	All dogs should wear a collar of some type preferably the buckle type so you have something to grab if say Fido gets excited and bolts out the door when UPS delivers a package. The UPS delivery person sure would appreciate it.
	A harness type collar system is great for dogs who pull so much when being walked or the dog has neck injuries. While the pulling is a sign of bad behavior that needs corrected, many people after hearing their dog coughing from a collar pressing against the dog's throat opt to use a harness collar. The harness type collar will also give you more control of a dog than a basic collar.
	Have an arthritic dog or a dog with rear leg injuries? There are even leash systems designed to take the pressure off of a dog's rear legs.
	A dog living in the country who loves to roam or actually works with cattle and even sheep may need a wolf collar or stud collar to protect the dog's throat from wolves and other predators who will go for the throat quick kill.
	Use e-collars to correct bad behavior traits but only if you are properly trained to keep from permanently hurting Fido.
	Some people like using what is called the Head Halter style of collars while some people advocate never using this type of collar on your dog. As the name implies, this collar is designed to control the dog's head but there have been reports the leather strap piece placed over the nose has moved enough to actually hurt the eyes of the dogs.

 
Could using the wrong collar mean life or death for your dogs in some cases?

Some dog collars are known to be a contributing factor in dog strangulation deaths while some collars are designed to reduce the chances of your dog getting strangled.

Take choke collars (slip collars/slip chains) used for training purposes for example.
 
A person unfamiliar with this type of training collar making the decision to just leave the collar on their dog or dogs all the time could unknowingly be signing their dog's death warrant. Excessive pulling on the live ring of the collar with enough force will create the deadly noose effect which could strangle your dog.

How could the live ring be tightened enough to kill your dog?

One of your dogs just playing around or fighting with your other dog could pull on the live ring with enough force, duration and determination tragically leading to either seriously hurting or strangling the dog.

Even Fido all alone could accidentally strangle himself if the live ring is snagged on a gate, a fence or even a window blind cord. The more he struggles the tighter the choke collar becomes resulting in a death noose.

Does it happen all the time? No, but unsupervised use of this potential death noose in the making can happen so why not remove the choke collar when training is not underway.

Is There Collars On The Market To Reduce The Chances of Accidental Collar Strangulation

Break away type collars could help reduce the chances of your dog dying from collar strangulation if they somehow get caught on fences or other fixtures where a collar may get caught.

Do keep in mind break away collars are just that; a dog very excited or agitated especially a larger dog could possibly create enough force to break the collar as designed if you do not have a leash hooked properly to both collar loops.

Stretch collars also help reduce the chances of strangulation due to the elastic material stretching when snagged or pulled yet they perform as a normal collar when a leash is properly attached. Note: Do keep in mind some people have reported their dogs have been able to quickly back out of this type of training collar.

Isn't There Other Training Collars Available

Metal Prong Collar and Martingale Collar are two more commonly used training collars.

Both of these types of training collars only exert so much limited pressure around a dog's neck.

The pressure and pain from the metal prongs get the dog's attention quickly and will usually stop the bad behavior if you can keep the collar around the dog's neck. Yes, dogs are known to have escaped this type of training collar so be prepared to have an adequately sized buckle collar around the dog's neck with the leash attached as a backup.

The Martingale Collar is a better design and highly recommended by many trainers with the collar tightening evenly around a dog's neck when the leash pulls on the outer loop ring. This a good collar to use when walking your dog especially a large dog.

Like the choke collar, the Metal Prong Collar and Martingale Collar should be removed after a training session or walk.

What Other Types of Collars Are On The Market?

Anti-Bark Correction Collars are available in the static correction shock collar or the citronella oil spraying collar designs.

Where Should I Go From Here In Selecting and Purchasing A Dog Collar

The bottom line is to take your time in deciding which dog collar types are best for your dog.

Your dog's life could be...correction...is... dependent on you making the right choice the first time.

The safety and well being of a human life can also be at stake if you don't make the right choice the first time especially if your dog is known to have aggressive traits.

After narrowing down your selection of possible collar designs that match your dog's size and disposition, review and master the manufacturer's operating instructions. Understand and follow all safety warnings available to make sure you properly use the collar.

When in doubt, contact the collar manufacturer's customer support division or hire a professional trainer to teach you.

What good is a training collar if you don't know how to properly use the device to correct your dog's negative behavior.

Why risk permanently maiming or killing your dog because you failed to take the time to be right the first time.