Buying the Right Dog Collar for your Pooch—Ultimate Guide

Choosing a dog collar for your pooch can be pretty challenging, especially if you’re given about ten choices and you don’t know what they’re made for. The trick to wise dog collar shopping is in knowing what exactly what your pooch needs at the moment.

A specific dog collar can be made for training purposes only, while another one can be made solely for home use, when your pooch is let loose. To save you money and time, here’s a quick guide on the most common types of dog collars in the market.

Chain Slip Collars

A chain slip dog collar isn’t supposed to be used on your pooch 24/7. This is a special collar that’s for training purposes only. As the name suggests, this is made of steel or a similar metal that’s knotted into a slip-knot. When your pooch commits a mistake, you can simply tug on the leash and this mistake is “corrected”.

While this is the most commonly used training collar, it’s hardly recommended for very young puppies that may have frail necks, or breeds that may have problems with their spinal area. When you’re handling this collar, make sure that you tug only when necessary. You wouldn’t want to hurt your pet while you’re training him/her.

Metal prong or pinch collars

Just like the slip collar, this dog collar is solely for training purposes only. Pinch or metal prong collars are usually used on large, thick necked dogs which may be harder to handle. When your dog has an aggression problem, and you’re taking him/her out on the streets for the first time, pinch collars may be necessary. While this looks pretty much like a torture device, and some trainers don’t agree that it should be used, it can come in pretty handy on rare occasions.

Like the slip collar, you should consult your vet first before using it on your dog. Remember, training collars are supposed to help your pets recognize right from wrong. If they’re uncomfortable all of the time, they’re not really doing their jobs. They’re supposed to be corrective tools, not torture devices. Again, limit the tugs on the leash. Don’t strain your pet’s neck if you can help it.

Martingale collars

Martingale collars are also training collars and they’re designed to keep your pooch from breaking away from the leash. While they have the same protective feature, the look less harsh than the two collars we’ve mentioned earlier. This is also because they’re designed for thin-necked dogs like the Greyhounds. However, they’re also suitable for other dog breeds. This is an ideal dog collar to use if you’re training a younger, frailer, large breed pooch.

Everyday “normal” collars

These collars can be made of cloth or leather, depending on your preference. Based on studies, rolled leather collars cause less hair fall on almost all breeds of dogs, and they’re the most popular among dog owners. These collars are not meant for walking your dog, unless they’re well trained already and they’re not likely to break away from the leash.

Most of the time, owners let their pets wear these collars when they’re just let loose on the garden or inside the house. They’re also for identification purposes, just in case your pooch wanders off the yard.