Other than the bond that you form with your dog, his leash and collar are your only connection for communication. While most collars are humane and effective in training, some can be dangerous if they’re not used correctly. Here are a few tips on how to choose a collar that will provide proper training aid and allow your pet to be perfectly safe.

Nylon Collars

• A nylon or leather collar is the only type of collar that is safe for your dog to wear at all times. It should be firmly tightened so your dog cannot get it off, yet loose enough for you to easily insert two fingers between it and your dog’s neck. This type of collar has a metal ring on it for ease in fastening a leash, dog tags and other identification tags.

Buckle Collars

• Flat buckle collars are safest for puppies, but may not provide adequate control for some dog breeds.

Choke Chains and Slip Collars

• Choke chains and slip collars have metal links with a ring on each end. It is important to make sure that these types of collars fit properly. Take your dog with you if you are planning on purchasing either of these.

• When used properly, choke chains and slip collars allow the trainer to correct the dog with a “popping” movement to the leash. This quickly tightens the collar and releases just as quickly. A choke or slip collar that is improperly used or doesn’t fit correctly can choke your dog and put painful pressure on his neck.

• To properly fit your dog’s choke or slip collar, stand on his right side and loop the chain through the link and hold the collar like a lazy “P.” The straight part of the “P” must go across the top of your dog’s neck.

Gentle Leaders

• The hottest rage in the dog collar industry is head collars, also called “gentle leaders.” These are not muzzles. A muzzle is a mesh cup that fits over a dog’s nose. It is attached to his head with a strap behind his ears. A muzzle completely covers the dog’s nose and mouth. He cannot drink, bark or bite. It is never attached to a leash, or used as a training aid. A “gentle leader” or halter lets the dog pant, drink and bark and yes, even bite. It  is used as a training aid and they work wonderfully. Essentially, the “gentle leader puts steady but pressure on the back or your dog’s neck (scruff,) which is the way his mother would discipline him. Pressure at the scruff of the neck and the  muzzle is a correction and leadership method that your dog understands perfectly. Another type of head collar is called a “Promise Halter.” These are very similar to the gentle leader and are perfectly safe for your dog.

Electronic Collars

• Electronic collars are a source of debate. They give your dog a static shock or blast of citronella spray. They are sometimes used to stop excessive barking. With some, the blast or shock is triggered when your dog barks. Others are operated manually – you have to administer the blast or shock. There are also shock collars that confine dogs to a specific area. If he tries to overstep the boundary, he gets a shock. One type of such a devise is called an “Invisible Fence.” Though these collars can, and do, have their place in dog training and control, they won’t help your dog to learn to behave on a leash.

Prong and Pinch Collars

• Prong and pinch collars are used to handle dogs that are very hard to control. The prong collar lies flat on your dog’s neck until he pulls or you give a correction. Pressure from either your dog pulling or from you giving a correction, cause blunt metal prongs to poke into the dog’s neck. Never use a prong or pinch collar without the supervision of a professional dog trainer. Trainers use these only when all other methods fail, and then for only a short period of time. If you use one of these collars incorrectly, it will cause your dog to become very aggressive. This can result in him biting or attacking someone, which could mean that he will have to be put down.

Harness

• Some dogs require the use of a harness. This is strapped onto the dog’s body across the chest and around the ribcage. There is a ring on which you can attach the dog’s leash at the top, between the dog’s shoulder blades. A harness doesn’t allow you to direct your dog’s body, nor can you give correction when it is on. Your dog can pull when he feels like it and if he is a northern breed, this can be often. They were bred for the specific purpose of pulling a sled. This can cause pulled muscles and tendons in your arms if your dog decides he’s going to pull in excess. A harness is recommended only for dogs that have a medical problem of the neck.

Caution

• Never chain a dog who is wearing any type of collar other than a buckle collar. Tying a dog on a chain that is wearing a choke or slip collar is sentencing him to certain death. When you and your dog have finished a training session or walk, remove all training aids except his buckle collar, which he should wear at all times.

• All collars should be fitted properly in order to be an effective training tool and to keep your dog safe. If your dog is a puppy, you will have to buy a new collar several times over the next few months, as he will rapidly outgrow them. An adult dog’s collar will last for months, but should be checked often for signs of wear and replace as needed. This will ensure that your dog will not get loose to run in city streets or get hit on a busy country highway. After all, you want your dog to be safe and assuring his collar is the right one for his breed will allow you to meet that goal.