DOG collars are functional adornments that a dog must, at some time in its life, wear.Originally, they serve as anchor to hook on a lead or leash (which in itself can be of any material to afford walking with the dog) or for the purpose of tethering.As the trends go, they have become fashion statements and net worth indicators. Collars now come in diverse shades and sizes often with matching paraphernalia that say more of the owner than the dog itself.Nowadays, it is sometimes safe to say that 'by their collars, you shall know them''- straight and succinct.However, because the use of collars has been universally accepted, they are also prone to abuse.As a rule, collars are best fitted to dogs with no real or apparent respiratory or trachea problems, as these may exacerbate an already bad situation if the dog pulls on a leash, which often results to choking.As simple as the use of collars is, there are some fundamental criteria that must be satisfied before they can be said to be perfect.Start early: You should allow your dog to know the importance of wearing a collar by fitting one quite early in life '- say about 10 weeks to 12 weeks without necessarily attaching a leash.Once the dog knows that something must be on its neck, it is easier to train them to use collars even as they grow.Size: This is the utmost consideration for every dog owner.It is especially true for rapidly growing dogs. You must know the right size that fits your dog and routinely check it for fitness as your dog grows.I have seen situations in which a dog grows over the collar. And, it was only a very delicate surgical procedure that saved the day-' with attendant psychological and financial stress and very importantly, the resultant painful condition the dog was exposed to for weeks.So, go by the size that best fits your dog. A one-inch wide collar on a Yorkshire terrier is too large and a 3/8 inch collar is certainly too little for a Rottweiler.Here, size matters and it must be accurately chosen in terms of width and length. You can accurately choose an appropriate length by measuring the neck of your dog and then adding two or three inches to it for a best fit.Otherwise, it dangles and becomes a source of injury.Tightness: This is most probably a very cogent feature of fitting a collar that must be regularly assessed as earlier stated. When fitting a collar, you must be able to slip a couple of fingers between it and dog's neck.A space of less than two fingers means the collar is too tight and can restrict breathing '-causing a lot of obstructive problems; a collar that is too big could easily slip off over the dog's head and this can readily present a dangerous situation as your dog could unwittingly free itself on a busy street to wreak havoc to itself or to other passersby.With these fundamentals in mind, you can begin the process of choosing your right kind of collars as they come in various forms to satisfy various needs.Usually, it is a piece of material that is put around the neck of a dog for control, identification, fashion and other purposes which can be contrived by owners.The most common ancillary use of collars is for the placement of identification tags and medical information of the particular dog.They are fitted with name plates; anti-rabies vaccination status of the pet can also be seen at a glance.Collars come in two forms: The basic collars and the training collars.The basic collars include the ordinary buckle collars, flea collars, adjustable collars (most economical and long-lasting depending on the material), breakaway collars, safety stretch collars and the Stud collars.The training collars include the choke chains, prong collars, martingale collars and the various forms of head halters.All these and some other equipment designed as collars and used for restraining purposes will be discussed next week.
Click here to read full news..
