7 Common Dog Collars and Their Uses

There are many different types of collars that you can use with your dog. Some will offer you more control than others. Here is a brief explanation of the different types and what they are used for.

Common Dog Collars

Buckle Collar

This is the most common collar. It is the flat fabric or leather collar with a buckle of some sort to keep it on. Usually this is the collar that you would hang the tags from. This collar is not a working collar and does not offer any type of correction. You can use it with your service dog as long as he/she is under control while wearing it.

Harnesses

There are several types of harnesses no pull, easy walk, or regular harness. Unless your breed of dog has breathing issues such as a bulldog, pug, or other short nosed breeds, it should not be using a harness for service work. They spread the tension of pulling across the broadest, strongest part of the dog’s body his chest. This is why a sled team wears them! There is no corrective ability. Most dogs will get worse on leash wearing these.

Gentle Leader or Halti

These are head harnesses that work like a halter on a horse. The leash is attached to a ring under the dog’s nose. When the dog pulls forward, the handler pulls back on the leash turning the dog’s face back toward him. This does give more control than a buckle collar but there are several problems with these. First off it is a big distraction for a dog to have something on his face. Many dogs can’t focus on anything else. Secondly, the band across the top of the dog’s nose presses on his sinuses which can cause stress on the eyes. Third, if your dog lunges forward unexpectedly, his neck can be wrenched back causing injury to all the muscles and tendons as well as spinal cord injuries.

Martingale and Check Choke Collars

Martingale collars are made completely out of fabric. They have an extra loop that the leash attaches to which tightens the collar so that the dog cannot slip out. Check choke collars are much like these except the extra loop is made out of metal links. The only corrective action is the noise that the chain makes.

Choke Chain

These collars are circles of chain links that fit over your dog’s head. They are a working collar whereas it will give a correction when pulled in a quick popping motion. The hard part with these collars is to keep it in the proper position you have to be vigilant in holding it tight so that it is sitting high on the neck just under the chin. If the collar falls to the bottom of the neck (where it is mostly seen) you risk causing damage to the trachea, larynx, and spine when correcting. If the dog continuously pulls while the collar is sitting in this position, you will hear hoarse panting, “choking” sounds. This can cause pressure on the ocular nerve which can lead to blind spots. Choke chains are not recommended.

Plastic or Metal Prong Collar

Many people see these and believe they are medieval torture devices, that they cause pain and even puncture the dog. If fitted properly and used appropriately this collar is the best training collar and gives the quickest results. First off this collar can be fitted better because it opens up like a buckle collar. It should sit high up on the neck just under the chin. The prongs should rest comfortably against the skin but loose enough, when in a relaxed position, that you can fit a finger between the prong and the dog’s neck. The correction given is a quick pop and release. This is not a strong yank! The collar is created to mimic the mother’s corrective bite from when they were with the litter. It has a more instinctive feel and reaction. When used along with positive training methods of rewards and praise it is very effective. It cannot be stressed enough to make sure this collar is fitted properly, corrections are given appropriately, and it is only worn while working so that it is associated with the dog’s job.

Electric Shock Collars

All training collars have a time and place for their use. These collars should only be used under the supervision of a trained professional. They can do lifelong damage to a dog’s nervous system if used improperly.

There are many choices for types of collars. Discuss which you are comfortable using and the pros and cons of each one with your trainer! Leashes are important too, please do not use a flexi lead (retractable), they are dangerous for any dog.

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Thank you to Shelly Cote of “Mutts Mending Military” for helping us with our educational material.