CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLAR & LEASH
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU'LL NEED TO BUY
Find out how to choose the perfect leash, collar, or harness right now!
The majority of the cities have stick laws about keeping dogs on leash while outside. Moreover, it is also a safe way how to prevent your canine companion from accident, getting lost, and generally to have more control over him.
COLLARS
An everyday dog collar is a matter of taste and comfort. You may choose from a variety of materials either it is leather, nylon or cotton as well as you may pick any colour or design you like. Regardless of the style of the collar, every dog should feel comfortable in the collar they wear. Several other factors are important in terms of the collar such as
including a tag with contact information in case the dog gets lost. Depending on where you live, your dog might also be required to wear a license that you renew every year, as well as a tag showing that he's been vaccinated for rabies. Please speak to your vet about the necessary collar information.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIZE COLLAR:
To choose the right size collar, wrap a flexible measuring tape around the base of your dog's neck. The circle should be loose enough that you are able to slip two fingers
underneath the tape. Note the size so you can pick the right size at the pet store or online. Notice, that most collars are adjustable and offer several sizes.
Depending on the size and strength of your furry friend, you choose the width of the collar. The majority of collars will include information about the width and the recommended dog size. In general, the rule is the bigger the dog, the wider the collar should be for both comfort and control.
HARNESSES
For dogs that pull, it is recommended to choose a harness instead of using a collar as a harness will relieve the pressure from the dog's neck. Otherwise, a standard harness can actually train the dog to pull more. If your dog doesn't know how to walk beside you on a loose leash, there are many tools you can use to help him learn this behaviour - we will bring you ideas on how to train your dog in our upcoming blog.
TRAINING COLLARS AND LEASHES
There are many options to learn for puppies or dogs who never learnt how to walk on the leash. Notice, that some of these tools are best used under the supervision of an experienced dog trainer. Others are safe to try out on your own.
● Head Collar: such as the Gentle Leader, makes it more difficult for a dog to pull and as this collar works more like a horse harness, no pressure is put on the neck.
● Anti-Pull Harness: this type of harness is a much better choice for dogs with short snouts, like bulldogs and pugs, whose face shape makes a head collar impractical.
● Rope Slip Lead: some dogs need only a gentle correction to stop pulling this type of leash allows you to offer such reminders without fear of harming the dog
● Chain-Slip Collars: the dogs that require more than a small reminder, a chain collar might be necessary, but you must be properly trained before you try this option
EVERYDAY LEASHES
Same as collars, leashes are a matter of everyone's taste and preference. Only be aware of the longer the leash, the less control you'll have over the dog. Leashes are typically made of nylon or leather but other
materials are also available.
Find the pros and cons of each type:
● Cotton Web: inexpensive, medium-weight material that is strong enough for most dogs
● Nylon Web: inexpensive and more durable than cotton yet this material can be a bit hurtful to your hands
● Chain: a bit more expensive choice but great for dogs who chew on their leashes, it will usually have a leather or nylon handle to make it easy to hold
● Leather: a good quality leather leash will stand up to the strongest dogs, as well as chewers
RETRACTABLE LEASHES
This type of leash will allow your dog to choose how far away he can wander, usually up to 8 meters. A retractable leash is therefore a great option for a well-behaved, low-energy dog. Yet, many vets don't recommend these leashes as they give more control to the dog than to the handler. You can lock the leash at different lengths if your dog gets into trouble but when the leash is fully extended it is challenging to retract quickly and to get control.
If you're not sure what kind of collar or leash to choose, talk to your vet, trainer, or your pet store assistant.