Choosing a Puppy Collar

So you've got a new puppy and you're smart enough to know that you need to purchase a dog collar for it. But what kind? What size? How much should you spend? This important decision should never be made without doing a little research first. Don't head into the pet store and expect answers there - it will be too overwhelming.

The dog collar may be the most important thing you acquire for your new canine. It will enable you to help your new best friend walk and exercise. You will be able to use it to attach dog tags for identification purposes. You will be able to gently hold it still for grooming and medical treatment.

It's not something you should take lightly!

There is a broad range of collars for dogs out there. There are collars that are simply designed to be functional. There are collars that are literally fashionable - designer collars to make other dog owners think you're leading the high queen of canine fashion around on a leash. And there are also training collars which can work with particular harnesses and leashes to help educate your dog.

Training collars - which in and of themselves come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, depending on what you intend to use them for - are not generally recommended for puppies.

What do you need to know when you head out to purchase a collar? First and foremost, you need to know the neck size of your dog. Take a measuring tape and loosely hold it around your dog's neck, closer to its shoulders. It should be snug but not tight - if the animal can't breathe, that's obviously bad. And if it is constantly aware of the collar and uncomfortable wearing it, then they're going to try and get it off. That's not ideal, either.

For puppies, you want to focus on what most dog owners call the "every day collar." It's a simple collar made of nylon or leather and is designed to be on the dog most of the time. It will have buckles to secure it. Look for plastic buckles that can break under pressure. This could be important if you dog is caught and need to break away rather than choke. The collar should have o-rings that allow a leash to be fashioned to it.

For the puppy's sake, keep it simple! Choose a sturdy, well-fitting basic collar and the two of you will be off to a great start in your relationship!

Jasper Bailey writes about pets such as dogs and cats and horses.

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