Dog Collars

[ModernTails]

Any advice or tips on buying collars and harnesses for your dog?

[ModernTails]

To find the right collar size for your dog, make sure that you can fit two fingers (one on top of the other) underneath comfortably when measuring around his neck.

After getting the neck measurement, you should choose the size where your dog’s neck measurement falls somewhere in the middle. This extra room is especially important for growing pups.

[ModernTails]

When you purchase a leash, make sure it is the right length for your dog. A very long leash will get tangled in a small dog's legs and a short leash will impede a big dog. If your dog likes to hold the leash in her mouth while walking, avoid leashes with decorative items glued on them, as they may detach in your pup’s mouth.

[ModernTails]

Adorable as they are, collars decorated with rhinestones or glued-on embellishments have a tendency to be quite delicate. They are made for decorative use, for things like trotting around at cocktail parties or lounging at home, not for daily walks or strenuous play. For the most part, decorative collars are not built for restraint, and every tug can result in rhinestones coming unglued.

If you’re lucky enough to have one of those rare little pups that is good on a leash and doesn’t pull, then you’d be fine with a decorative collar. But if your dog, like most, is a “puller”, then you might want to consider using an ordinary choker collar along with the decorative collar. By using both, you don’t have to sacrifice style for control. Remember that if you use the decorative collar on a regular basis, it’s going to wear out quickly, so we suggest you save it for those special occasions.

[ModernTails]

Something else to consider: those beautiful metallic leather collars and leashes won’t last as long as the ones made out of matte leather. They are created by adding a thin metallic sheen on top of leather, and this tends to wear over time.

Leather is lovely, but if your dog loves to swim, you should consider a nylon collar. Nylon is very durable, and holds up well when exposed to constant moisture. Ditto for doggies that are always getting into mud puddles and other fun, but messy adventures. You’re going to have to wash that collar a lot, so think durability.

[ModernTails]

Harnesses are much more comfortable and safer than a collar on smaller, energetic dog breeds. If your little dog has a tendency to pull a lot, a harness might be the best option. If you use a collar, you run the risk of collapsing the dog’s trachea due to the excessive pulling. With a harness, the pulling is not around the neck but dispersed evenly though the shoulders.