Lovely Pet Supplies

Please be aware  that this article is all about dog collars designed for everyday use only. There’s a wide variety of pet supplies on online, including dog collars, specially manufactured for training purposes, but those are not covered here. However, they will be thoroughly discussed in a future post.

TYPES OF DOG COLLARS

Let’s begin by talking about the two basic materials most used for dog collars:  leather and nylon. Leather collars are preferred because they are stronger and last longer but if your best friend loves the water, or if he is a fast growing puppy, a nylon collar is more practical as it is cheaper to replace and easier to clean. The only exception being when dealing with an aggressive chewer, requiring a leather collar and leash.  Whether it is nylon or leather, look for the thinnest dog collar available that matches your pet’s size for maximum comfort.

Dog collars can be either flat or rounded. Flat collars are designed for short hair dog breeds, while round ones eliminate the breaking of hair around the neck and of hair lying flat against the coat of long haired dogs.

Also, you have a choice of purchasing a buckle dog collar or one of the snap-shot variety.  The buckle type is much preferred as it more secure with little chance of coming undone. Puppies should only wear buckled collars.

In order to make sure the collar around your dog’s neck is not too tight and restricting his breathing or it is too loose and possibly slip over his hears, you should be able to fit two fingers between his neck and collar.  You can also measure you dog’s neck and add on 2 or 3 inches to the measurement. This is the way to do it if are ordering online, the way we recommend because the variety is greater and at discounted prices.

If you own a puppy , it is important to check the fit of the collar every week or so, and occasionally under the collar of a mature dog for signs of irritation like redness or hair loss.

One thing you and your dog cannot do without is the tag. Every collar should have a name tag attached to it with the dog’s name and your complete contact information.

Harness-type dog collar

If you want your pooch to walk in maximum comfort, you get him a dog harness. When a dog pulls on a leash, the collar exerts pressure on the throat and trachea and if the pressure becomes excessive, it can cause sever irritation and even a collapsed trachea.  For dogs that have not been trained properly and pull hard while being walked, or any dog having upper respiratory problems, or an older dog suffering from aches and pains,  a dog harness is ideal.

It attaches around the chest as it goes around the neck and shoulders and behind the front legs, so there is no pressure on the neck at all.  Materials used in a dog harness are leather, nylon, and/or fabric.

Seat belt type dog collar: If you travel with your pooch in the car often or if take him along on long trips,  there is also available a dog seat belt harness especially designed to reduce the possibility of your pet being injured from a sudden stop while riding in the car.

Halter-type dog collars

For dogs that like to pull, this type of collar is very effective, because whenever you have control of the dog’s head, you have control of the entire dog, no matter how big.  These collars look very similar to a horse’s halter, with two bands, one around the nose and the other around the back of the head. The leash is attached under the chin, so when you pull on the leash, the head of the dog moves to the side or down, and he immediately stops pulling forward.

Dog muzzles

Having a dog muzzle around and teaching your dog to accept wearing one is necessary and it has nothing to do with training. In the unfortunate case of your pet being attacked by another animal or injured in an accident, he may not allowed to be picked up and carried. So there may be a time when the use of a dog muzzle might be urgently needed.

For this particular purpose, the best muzzle is the basket style. It is spacious enough  for the dog to pant and drink water, and has large openings on the side that allow the feeding of treats.

Fancy dog collars

The latest trend is the LED lighted dog collars and harnesses, which is illuminated by pulses of light powered by batteries. Lighted dog collars are 4 to 5 feet in length, and they definitely make walking your beloved pooch at night safer and more fun.

Among the fancy dog collars are the luxury ones, those featuring swarovski crystals, rhinestones, turquoise studs, etc. These are strictly for the total showoff.

Information on other pet supplies like dog toys, dog carriers, clothes, leashes, pens, beds, etc, can also be found here in this website.