My Pet Specialties

This is the eighth and last in a series of posts delving into the pros and cons of different types of dog collars.

When choosing the right collar for your dog, a variety of factors must be taken in to consideration in order to make a good decision.  There is no such thing as the perfect answer for every situation, nor is there a perfect collar for every dog or dog owner.  As a matter of fact, many owners will find the best choice will be a multiple choice- owning more than one collar type.  This allows the owner to make a collar choice based on the activity the dog is currently engaged in.

Below is a list of questions for owner assessment along with recommendations.

• Do I have more than one dog?  Do they like to play rough with each other?
• Does my dog spend unsupervised time outside?
• Is my dog allowed to run off-leash when we hike in the woods?
• Is my dog always getting into things?
• Is my dog kept is a crate during the day?

If you answered yes to one or more of the questions above, your dog or dogs are at higher risk of potential entanglement and a Breakaway Dog Collar should be considered for daily wear.

• Do I walk my dog at night or in the early morning hours?
• Does my dog bolt through the door every time it opens, day or night?

If you answered yes to either or both of these questions, a reflective dog collar that glows in the dark may be in order for daily wear.

• Do I sometimes have to grab for my dog to restrain him or prevent him from bolting through a door or gate?
• Are there children in the home who might leave gates or doors opened?
• Does my dog slip or back-out of a traditional collar easily and escape?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it might be an indication for you to consider a martingale collar for daily wear.

• Does my dog drag me around when he is on a leash?
• Does my dog lunge unexpectedly when on walking on a leash?
• Does my dog jump on people?
• When we are walking, does my dog bark at other people or animals?

Answering yes to these questions indicates that a Gentle Leader Headcollar should be considered as a secondary collar to be used on walks.  It can be worn with another collar, so if you walk at night you can still utilize the benefits of a reflective dog collar.

Again, I would like to emphasize that there is no perfect collar for every situation.  Each owner must assess their own situation and base their decision on that.  For example, if you have a dog that bolts through the door every time it opens, which collar is the better choice.  Is it more important that you or your neighbor be able to quickly grab and restrain the dog by the collar?  Then use a martingale collar.  Or is it more important that the collar releases if the dog becomes entangled while wandering?  Then the breakaway dog collar might be a better choice.  If the dog has a habit of running out the door at night, a reflective dog collar that glows in the dark might be the best choice of all.  It will make him easier to find and if he runs in the road, he will be more visible.

Each owner must evaluate their own personal situation and choose a dog collar or dog collars that offer the greatest benefit for their dog’s health and happiness.