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Collars
Collars are a matter of taste, however here are some general things I look for:
- A stiff material that stays wide across the neck when your dog pulls, nothing too soft or elastic feeling that may become narrow across the neck with tension.
- A relatively thick collar, ideally half the width of your dog's paw or thicker, to spread the pressure of the lead across their neck.
- Choose a material that stays light and comfortable when wet, or get two collars, so you can have one drying while your dog wears a dry one, so your dog isn’t sitting about with a damp neck.
- I prefer a collar with a secure buckle for Haku, however most people have no complaints about clip-on collars, just make sure they are from a reputable brand.
Haku's collar
I have found my favourite collars with smaller independent sellers, including the biothane option below. For Haku, it has been perfect, as he runs through a lot of wet grass and undergrowth. The smooth, waterproof texture of the collar stays clean and dry through all his advantures, and has been very hard-wearing, too.
Biothane collar
Biothane is a tough, light, waterproof material perfect for dogs that like going out in all weathers (or swimming!).
Haku's current collar is from Collared Creatures, who offer a buckle collar.
Purchase with Collared Creatures
For larger breeds: Tactical dog collar
Here is an example of a good supportive collar for medium or larger dogs. These collars are wider than normal so really spread the weight across your dog's neck. They also often come with a handle, to make it easier to hold your dog by their collar when needed.
Examples of client's dogs who have benefitted from these collars:
- An owner with a St Bernard who was too strong to be walked on a harness, but was escaping out of his collar.
- An owner with a husky mix with a long neck who choked when he got excited and pulled into his collar on walks.
both found this style of collar helped with confidence and managing their dog's strength safely on walks.
Head Collars
If you have a very strong dog and you are struggling physically, a head collar works like a horse halter - it stops the dog pulling by turning their head when they pull, in the same way a horse's harness pulls to the side. Dogs can find them unpleasant, so initially short practice sessions and lots of treats are recommended, otherwise you end up with a dog constantly trying to roll or rub the harness off their face, or having a sulk!
Gentle leader
PROS
- This head collar is easy to put on and remove (once you've practiced a bit), which makes it useful if you only need to pop it on for certain sections of the walk.
- It is easily adjustable to fit lots of different dog’s muzzles. It comes in three sizes and is quite widely adjustable.
CONS
- It is also easier for the dog to remove than some other chioces, so ensure you have done some training at home so your dog doesn't keep trying to take it off.
Halti head collar
PROS
- This head collar boasts being the most secure on the market, so your dog can't remove it as easily.
- It has a padded area around the nose to stop your dog's muzzle getting sore.
CONS
- While being more difficult for your dog to remove, this device is a bit trickier put on, or remove from your dog's head, so it can be more awkward to use if your dog is very fidgety or if you would like to remove then put it back on for different parts of the walk.
- The Halti is a more tailored fit and comes in quite specific sizes to control escaping. Some people struggle to find the correct size that works for them.