| It is important for all dog collars to be comfortable | | | | constrict around the dog's neck. When the leash is |
| and fit correctly. Traditional dog collars are available in | | | | attached to the live ring the chain slips (adjusts) |
| a variety of materials, and are usually buckle-type | | | | tighter when pulled and slips looser when tension is |
| collars, with a buckle similar to a belt buckle, or the | | | | released. Master the proper use of this type collar |
| quick-release type. Style must be secondary after | | | | with the snap tug release action: a quick gentle jerk |
| safety and convenience when it comes to the collar | | | | with an immediate release. The dog learns by the |
| you place on your dog. | | | | sound of the action, not the force of tug-a-war. |
| There is a far greater chance that your lost dog will | | | | Proper use of this training device does not involve |
| be returned if it is wearing a dog collar with a pet ID | | | | choking (strangling) the dog. Never leave this type of |
| tag. A properly fitted dog collar is used for control, | | | | choke training collar on the dog when unattended. |
| identification, fashion, identification tags and medical | | | | When the training to walk on the leash session is |
| information. A common alternative to a dog collar is a | | | | over, this collar should be removed. |
| dog harness, best used to sport tags with smaller | | | | The martingale dog collar is recommended for sight |
| breeds or in car travel. It's important that a telephone | | | | hounds because their heads are smaller than their |
| number and address be on the ID tag and not the | | | | necks and they can often slip out of standard collars. |
| dog's name. Having the pet's name on the ID tag can | | | | The martingale collar has 2 loops. The smaller loop is |
| give wrongdoers an advantage with your dog. Collars | | | | the control loop -- it tightens gently when pulled to |
| should not be so tight as to restrict breathing or | | | | prevent dogs from slipping out of the collar. Similar to |
| cause coughing. It is important to check the collar | | | | a prong collar, the martingale collar has limited |
| size frequently on growing puppies. | | | | constriction on the dog's neck, and applies even |
| A dog collar should be comfortable with enough room | | | | pressure. It can be used for any breed of dog if |
| to fit two fingers between your pet's body and the | | | | desired. The martingale no-slip feature has made it a |
| collar. Use a non metal tape measure to measure | | | | safety choice at many kennels and animal shelters. |
| your dog's neck and add on two to three inches. If | | | | The prong collar, or pinch collar as it is sometimes |
| the collar is too loose, your dog can slip out of it and | | | | called, is a series of blunted open-end chain links |
| escape in a dangerous environment. Loose collars can | | | | turned towards the dog's body. When the collar is |
| snag on objects and subject your dog to the | | | | tightened, it pinches the naturally loose skin around |
| tragedy of accidental hanging, which happens to far | | | | the dog's neck. The design of the prong collar makes |
| too many dogs every year. Break-away collars look | | | | it have a limited circumference, unlike slip collars, |
| similar to buckle collars, but have a safety mechanism | | | | which do not have a limit on constriction around the |
| installed that allows the dog to break free of the | | | | dog's neck. Any pressure from the collar to the dog's |
| collar if excessive force is applied. These collars are | | | | neck is spread out over a larger area. The prong |
| useful in situations where a non-quick-release collar | | | | collar should be placed high on the dog's neck, just |
| could get snagged and cause injury or death. A collar | | | | behind the ears. Some dogs can learn to free |
| should never be worn when your dog is in its crate. | | | | themselves from these collars by shaking their head |
| Use a training slip collar (also called a choke chain, slip | | | | to make the links pop out, so a second dog collar, |
| chain, or choke collar) to teach your dog to respond | | | | usually a flat buckle dog collar, in addition to the |
| quickly to your commands and walk with you. The | | | | prong collar is recomended. A plastic version of the |
| ring which connects to the leash goes over the back | | | | prong collar has been termed a "good dog collar" and |
| of the dog's neck, not under. When the leash is | | | | is considered self-correcting since it requires little |
| attached to the dead ring the collar does not | | | | strength on your part. |