What is the best collar for my dog? Well, for the majority of dogs, a traditional nylon or leather dog collar is enough. There are so many styles of dog collars to choose from. This depends on the size and disposition of a dog as well as your training need. There are dog collars for specific situations and these are as follows:

Traditional Dog Collars

These should ride high on a dog’s neck; not loose so that it slides down near the top of his shoulder blades. The collar should not be too loose since it will slip over the dog’s head. It should also not be tight as this restricts breathing and may cause coughing or choking. A collar should be snug with enough room to fit two fingers between the dog's neck and his collar. The collar size on growing puppies should be checked regularly. Use a tape measure to measure your dog’s neck, and then add on two to three inches for safety. Collar and lead width should match your dog’s size. Smaller leads are for small dogs and puppies, and wider, more durable styles are for bigger dogs.

Dog Harnesses

These go around the neck and around the shoulders behind the front legs. These are recommended for dogs that have upper respiratory disease or diseases of the throat or trachea, such as a collapsed trachea. A dog with respiratory problems would pull on the collar and on the leash and this would place pressure on the throat and trachea. Irritation and coughing would result. Therefore, harnesses relieve that pressure.

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Halter-type Dog Collars

These will give you the best control over your dog since it gives you control of your dog’s head. These collars look more like a horse's halter, with a band going around the back of the head, and another around the nose. The leash snaps onto the collar under the chin. When you pull on the leash, the dog's head will either be pulled down or to the side - this makes it virtually impossible for the dog to pull you forward.

halter collar

Chain-slip Dog Collars

Also called check chain or 'choke collars,' provide effective training when used correctly and on appropriate dogs. These collars are used for dominant dogs. If you plan to use a choke collar on your dog, have a trainer show you how to use it correctly. Correct usage involves a quick 'tug-and-release' action. These collars should only be worn during training sessions, never in a crate, and avoided in pets with delicate builds and tracheas, such as Yorkshire Terriers.

For correct sizing, measure your pet's neck and add 2-1/2"- 3". There is a right and wrong way to put a slip collar on a dog. To correctly place a collar on a dog, the top ring on a properly-looped collar forms a letter P when you stand in front of the dog and pull it snug. If it forms the number 9, it is on backward and may not release immediately as designed, which may cause discomfort or gagging.

chain collar

Pronged Collars

Also called pinch collars, contain blunt prongs that protrude inward from the links. Designed for only the most stubborn pullers, they are temporary training tools used to change behaviour on dogs that do not respond to any other collar. Halter-type collars give you more control and are much less likely to harm your dog.

At Euro Puppy we would not recommend these as they can cause a dog harm and discomfort.

Anti-Barking Collars

anti barking collar

This is special type of collar that triggers a reaction out of a dog…and after repetitively negatively stimulating the dog with every bark, the dog slowly but surely learns not to bark. It is only a temporary collar. And it is not needed for most dogs.

There are different types of anti bark collars available.

There are dog collars that deliver a light shock to your dog as a reaction to barking, or aggression.

There is also a type of dog collar that sprays mists of citronella. This smell is not welcomed by dogs and they sooner stop barking than continue smelling the fumes of citronella around them. This is a more humane solution because it does not inflict pain to the dog.

Anti-barking collars can modify a dog’s behaviour while teaching the dog not to bark. It helps dog owners in their everyday chores of taking care of their dogs. It is humane and the most proper way to stop excessive barking of dogs.

Dog owners support it worldwide. - In a matter of a week, it can already be removed since dogs already get used to such a scheme.

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Last but not least every collar you own should have a current nametag attached to it at all times!