If you are a dog parent, you must be obsessed with their cuteness and playfulness. Speaking of playfulness, dogs need outside space for running and playing. This will help to promote their health and mood. When taking dogs outside, you will either need a dog harness or collar to control them and prevent them from escaping or getting lost. In the upcoming sections, we will clarify the dog collar and its benefits.
1. What Is A Dog Collar?
Before going into details, we must know what a dog collar means. For those who are adopting a puppy for the time being and haven't acknowledged it, a dog collar is a piece coming from numerous material types. It is worn by dogs around the neck. The collar can function while training, walking, protecting, identifying, and styling. Each dog collar will hold a dog's ID card. This comes in handy when your dog gets lost or escapes.
There are approximately 6 different collar kinds, and here is the list of them:
- Everyday collar: this type is for daily usage. It often has an ID card writing your dog's name and address. The everyday collar varies in colors and materials. It can be determined based on your dog's personality or your biased factors.
- Chain slip collar/choke chain: this metal collar serves training purposes rather than walking and playing outside. However, many dog trainers do not recommend this item. They can do great harm to your dog's neck because of their sturdiness.
- Metal prong collar/ pinch collar: this third type is similar to the chain slip collar since they are both used in training dogs. But the metal prong collar is easier to use and feels more comfortable on your dog's neck. Still, it can cause damage if used inappropriately or prolonged on your dog's neck. It also must not be left on your dog when alone.
- Smart collar: the smart collars are a must-have item for dog parents. They have more function than any other collar above. Apart from the protection, control, or training, the smart collars can help to detect your dog's location. It can also contribute to dog training because of its ability to adjust behaviors in dogs.
- Martingale collar/ limited-slip collar: the fifth collar type is best for preventing your dog from slipping away from the collar while running or walking. The slipping can lead to issues such as escaping or wildly running dogs.
- Head collar: unlike the mentioned collars, head collars are not for the neck but for the dog's mouth while walking. Its function also varies as it is used in training, preventing improper behaviors from dogs, and discouraging pulling.
2. The Advantages Of Dog Collars
The debate whether to choose dog collars or harnesses has been going for years. In our perspective, there is no exact comparison between these two items. The most correct answer would be the better one is the more suitable one. In this part, we will focus on the benefits of dog collars and when to use them.
Dog collars are affordable
If compared to dog harnesses in terms of budget, collars are likely to get one point ahead for their low cost. If you are a new dog parent with a small budget, a dog collar is not a bad idea at all. It offers protection, escape prevention, and styles. Dog collars' price tags vary from 6 bucks for one item to 80 bucks. The collars are diverse in colors and styles. You can pick from a simple to a sophisticatedly designed collar. They are, in most cases, cheaper than a harness.
Collars adjust dogs' behaviors and reduce their aggression
Collars are widely applied in training and controlling dogs. While using collars, you are more likely to get your dog's behaviors to go the right way as you wish. The punishment when you train the dog will also not come directly from you, which occurs for metal training collars.
Besides, if your dog is newly adopted and has not been well trained, he or she can have aggressive behaviors towards owners or other people as he or she meets. This is why controlling the behaviors are essential. Using a dog collar can partly reduce the aggressive statement. With you standing nearby and controlling, your dog will definitely behave more properly.
Identification is available for your dog
Getting lost is not something unusual happening among dogs. They can leave home to seek mates or hang out with other dogs. Dogs also run from their home when there is a stressful living environment. This is why you should always wear a collar with an ID card on it.
When getting lost, your poor puppy will meet with strangers, who may contact you through the information on the ID card. Through this, your dog can come back home less difficult and more quickly. It would be a pity if your dog gets lost and can't find anyone to contact you due to the lack of information.
Collars are effective even when you are not present
Some collars will conduct the task perfectly even when you are not by your dog's side to give commands and punish their bad behaviors. These collars are used in certain training and are not recommended to use without instructions from professional trainers.
In case you are busy and cannot watch your dog, a collar will build up a fence preventing your dog from running away or getting aggressive towards others passing by. The dog if held repeated will associate certain actions with either punishment or reward.
A little styling can never go wrong
Last but not least, a dog collar can be a stylish accessory for your adorable puppy daily or on holidays. For this Christmas, we have thousands of options relating to the holiday vibe to pick. On other occasions such as Halloween or Thanksgiving, you can easily catch sight of colorful and festive collars for your dog. If you are looking for something for casual usage, you can check the less vivid collars and select one.
What do you need to notice when using a dog collar?
The sizes are the first priority when using a collar on your dog. The collar can be too loose or too tight. If it gets loose, your dog easily slips away from it. On the other hand, if it is too tight, your dog gets neck damage and pain. There is a way to figure out whether the collar fits your dog. In case you have a small dog, the collar must fit your dog's neck and one finger. If your dog is a large breed, the same rule applies but two fingers are needed.
Some other notifications on using a dog collar is that collars can have a negative impact on your dog's throat and back. It also contributes to the discomfort. Lastly, compared to dog harnesses, collars put more strain on the dog's neck.
Final Thoughts
Dog collars are doubtlessly a supportive item if you are raising and training a puppy. It offers your puppy safety, identification, and styling. It is also cheap to purchase with thousands of looks. However, you should use a collar of a certain density on your dog to prevent any physical damage. Despite the drawbacks, we still assess dog collars as a helpful and must-have item when raising a puppy.
