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Does your dog really need to wear a dog collar?
A dog collar may very well be the most important accessory your dog will ever own.
Let's forget, for a minute, the cute little bows, ribbons, jackets and boots that
you can adorn your pet with. Let's focus on FUNCTION over form.
A dog collar serves several important functions in the life of your dog.
Grab that little gremlin!
First, it helps give you a handle to grab hold of him by. If you've ever snagged
your dogs collar as he was about to lunge out the door, slobber wet kisses on a
timid toddler or jump on the counter to see what everyone else was having for dinner
(and see if he could join in the gourmet feast!) then you know how much
the collar can come in handy.
However, the fun doesn't end there. A dog collar is also the ideal place
to attach a leash when you go out on walks and, in the case of a chain or choke
collar, it can be pretty good at administering corrections to your dog, too.
Who was that masked man?
Last but certainly not least, your dog's collar is the way to make sure he's
always got his dog tags with him. These important pieces of identification
let the world know your pup's name, as well as his address and phone number,
and sometimes vaccination information. If, God forbid, your dog ever goes missing
you will thank your lucky stars if he's wearing a collar with all his ID on it.
However, despite the usefulness of the collar, it may not make sense for your dog
to wear it all the time.
When to avoid a dog collar
While most dogs get used to their collar and forget that they're wearing it, it's still
nice to give their neck and fur a break from the dog collar at night when they're asleep
in the kennel. This is especially true if your dog's fur is prone to breaking or becoming
discolored by the collar. Second - a choke-style dog collar is not safe for your dog
to wear unsupervised. He could snag it when playing outdoors or even while scratching himself
and give himself an inadvertent and nasty "correction." When your dog is unsupervised, it is
best to leave him with a plain buckle collar that will not tighten up too much and injure your dog.
Fitting Fido
Last dog collar tip: Make sure the collar fits. Some narrow-headed dogs, like collies and gray hounds
are very hard to fit with a collar. Generally speaking you want the collar to be loose enough
that you can fit two fingers between the collar and the dog's neck. If the collar is so loose that
your dog can squeeze his head out of it when you attach the leash - beware! You could lose
control of your dog if he slips the collar on his next walk.
If this is a risk for your small-headed dog, consider a halter or slip collar that will not come off your
dog even if he wiggles and wriggles his little heart out.
Whatever type of dog collar you choose, make sure it is well made and comfortable for your dog. It's
probably the only accessory he'll wind up wearing every day!
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