How to choose a collar for a dog? Helpful Hints

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Among the variety of accessories designed for pets, the dog collar is the most sought after. However, not all owners understand what exactly their pet needs and how it should be selected. Depending on the purpose, the collar is made of various materials and can be of different sizes. There are walking, exhibition and educational options. Before buying, you should study the features of each of them and read a number of recommendations that professional dog handlers give for choosing a collar.

Walking Collar

This variant is the most sought after and most popular with most breeders. A similar collar for a dog is completed with a ring for attaching a leash. It is located near a small buckle, so the animal can freely turn its head in different directions. Collars are available in a wide range, so there is a suitable option for dogs of any size.

Features and choice of walkingoptions

Their main feature is the softness of the material from which they are made. Dog collars are most often made from leather, nylon, and tarpaulin. They do not rub the neck, suitable for daily walks with a pet of medium and small breeds. Cynologists recommend purchasing a soft leather collar for puppies to accustom them to this accessory, and as an educational element.

The walking option is also used when training an adult dog if its behavior can be easily corrected and does not require the use of more stringent measures. The dog collar can be equipped with both metal and plastic fittings. Moreover, the larger the dog, the stronger the elements used should be. Therefore, the plastic version is preferable for puppies or small pets.

Cynologists also recommend paying attention to the appearance of the accessory. Of course, additional elements can give a special chic to the collar, but the presence of rivets and plates can lead to accidental injury.

Training Collars

For training and education of puppies or adult dogs, a slightly different design is meant. There are several varieties of such accessories.

Fixed bar

Their main advantage is the presence of a handle that allows you to hold the animal if necessary. At the same time, the place for the ring also varies. There are options where the leash clings directly to the handle, and in other cases - right under it.

Choke

Choke outchrome steel. However, in this case, the validity of this acquisition is necessary. Not all dog handlers advise purchasing this accessory. It is suitable only for aggressive dogs and fighting breeds. Often such a collar is called inhumane. After all, a sharp jerk can cause suffocation and even harm the cervical vertebrae. But when raising some breeds it can be effective. A noose forming around the dog's neck calls for immediate obedience.

Still, experienced dog handlers advise considering chokes not made of metal, but of softer material. The most popular nylon collars with a metal cable inside. Even with a sharp jerk, the rim does not cut into the throat, and the outer cover protects the skin and coat of the animal. At the same time, the effectiveness of such an accessory remains at the same level.

For small breeds it is better to choose synthetic or leather chokes. They are often used as a daily accessory, and adorned with rhinestones, they can be used at exhibitions. Cynologists note that light strangulation in case of disobedience with a soft collar is perceived by the dog in the best way. This is due to the very behavior of the animal in its natural environment. It has been known that when a bitch teaches her puppies, she may press them down a little.

How to choose a noose

When choosing a collar made in the form of a chain, you need to pay attention to its links. They should be made of metal and fit tightly against each other. It should be noted that dogs often suffer from manifestations of an allergy to an alloy based onnickel. Therefore, it is worth considering copper chains. Similar accessories are darker than brass, their red tint is more intense.

When buying, it is also worth inspecting the collar for staining. The fact is that low-quality options can emit paint, and the animal's coat suffers from this. In order not to damage the long and thick coat of the dog, then for long-haired dogs it is necessary to choose a noose with the largest links.

Collar for extra large dogs

Sometimes an ordinary accessory is not enough for training and correcting the behavior of fighting breeds. In this case, experts recommend purchasing a strict collar for dogs. It is a metal hoop with spikes around the perimeter. Parforas do not cause injury to the animal. They are designed to control the behavior of the dog. With its sharp jerk forward or when pulled by the owner, the spikes dig into the neck. However, even with their full disclosure, the pet feels only discomfort, and the skin, trachea and vertebrae do not suffer.

But cynologists warn against rash acquisition and inept use of parforce. Such collars for large dogs should be used with caution and only when justified. It is better to entrust the education of a fighting breed to an instructor who will teach you all the intricacies of handling such a collar.

It is necessary to purchase parfors strictly according to the size of the dog. It should not hang out, otherwise its whole essence is lost. In this case, the collar must not be squeezed by the dog's throat. There are a lot of varieties of such models:

• lamellar;
• wire;
• with short spikes;
• with long spikes.

Short spikes are used in the case of short-haired breeds, long, respectively, for long-haired ones. The collar cannot be used daily. His area is training and behavior modification. If the breeder wears it all the time, then it will become even more difficult to control the animal.

Electronic novelty

Quite a fashionable novelty, but causing a lot of controversy among cynologists is an electronic dog collar. Accessories with a stun gun help to educate even the most wayward and neglected animals. They help to cope with aggressive individuals and large pets that could not be trained by the usual methods.

According to the proponents of this item and their developers, a dog that has received an electrical discharge in response to an unwanted action will no longer want to repeat it again. In fact, a natural reflex should work. However, there are quite a few opponents of such upbringing. The fact is that a dog can develop anger or a psychosomatic disorder. Therefore, the purchase of an electronic collar should be discussed with a specialist and used only during professional training. It is also worth considering that the use of such an accessory in some European countries is prohibited. Germany and Austria are among them.

Sentry Collars

The collar for hunting dogs and service breeds should be asstrong, but at the same time give the opportunity to quickly release the animal from the leash. The key feature of such accessories is that the leash strap is passed through the ring and fastened to the harness. Therefore, when the dog tries to break free, all the pressure is transferred to the strap and not to the collar. The buckle itself is located on top and does not harm the animal. His neck remains free and less injured even with a strong jerk.

For night walks

Luminous collars for dogs are designed for night walks. Such an accessory may be permanently lit or have a switch. The latter option is more expensive and complex, since it allows you to select the desired mode in different conditions.

These collars are made of nylon and have built-in LED lights. They can be of different sizes and colors. Therefore, each owner can choose any option they like.

Illumination can be provided by finger-type batteries or a built-in battery. The latest collars are more expensive, but they will last longer. The accessory is suitable for small and large breeds. It is convenient to connect a leash to it, so the collar can be used as the main one. But in this case, you must choose the option with the ability to turn off the backlight during the daytime and if necessary.

The collar is very convenient to use in the dark when walking. Not only the owner always sees the animal, but also motorists can notice the presence of the dog on the road.

Specific Options

Pet supplies manufacturers are constantly improving their products. So recently, an anti-bark collar for dogs appeared on sale. It begins to vibrate in response to the barking of the pet, which gives the animal a little discomfort. The action of this option is based on a natural reflex, when in response to an undesirable action the dog experiences unpleasant sensations and associates them with his behavior.

Collars with Navigator

GPS dog collars are becoming more and more popular. Of course, animals can find their way home, even if they are very far away. But not all breeds are capable of such feats. Often dogs get lost on the way to the dacha, while hunting, or just on a walk when they are chasing something interesting. Therefore, in such cases, a "smart" collar is very helpful. Breeders value him for the following parameters:

1. Easy to track any dog's movements if it gets lost.
2. Compact size and light weight allow it to be used as a main.
3. Easy to attach the leash.
4. The battery can last up to 48 hours on a single charge.
5. If the animal walks on its own, for example, in a dacha cooperative, then it is possible to set a virtual frame. When the dog leaves them, the owner's phone instantly receives a notification about the danger of loss.

In case of danger, it is the GPS collar for dogs that can really help the breeder find his "lost". After all, a pet can not only chase a cat,but also inadvertently fall into a well, catch on branches while chasing game, or get into another unpleasant situation. Thanks to GPS, the dog collar becomes a real way to protect the animal.

Basics of choice

With all the usefulness and functionality of collars for dogs with a navigator, choosing is not as easy as it seems at first glance. It is important to pay attention to the details and specifications. At the same time, it is worth deciding for what purpose such a model is acquired. After all, if the dog walks only in a familiar yard and rarely gets out of the city, then you can get by with the simplest model.

If the collar is chosen for hunting breeds and animals that often find themselves in an unfamiliar place, then it is worth considering more advanced models that have many additional options. Such an accessory can not only find the location of the dog, but also completely track its route.

When buying, pay attention to the following details:

• Specifications. It is important to evaluate the convenience of the interface and the ability of the transmitter itself.
• Functionality. The collar can be equipped with such options as: the ability to issue a command from a distance, switch to economy mode, panic button.
• Mount. It is necessary to evaluate the reliability of fastening and the weight of the parts that will be on the dog and those that remain with the owner.
• Operating temperature. Often the tracker fails if the indicators are close to critical. Therefore, it is worth consideringmodels that are designed to work in specific weather conditions. Water resistance is also important to consider.
• Price. The cheapest model is only suitable for a pocket dog. You should not count on it if walking is planned in a forest or unfamiliar terrain. The average price tag fluctuates around $250 (14 thousand rubles), so lower prices should alert.

In order not to worry about your four-legged friend, it is better to purchase a navigation collar for dogs. Feedback confirms that the transmitter allows you to always track her movements in any situation and find her favorite, even if she is lost far from home.