A Guide to the Different Types of Dog Collars

From food to toys, you must sift through many decisions before settling on the right ones for your doggo. The dog’s collar might be the most important decision of all. This guide to the different types of dog collars will highlight popular kinds and their advantages and disadvantages that help you make the right decision.

Flat Collars

We can start our breakdown with an old reliable: the flat collar. The most well-behaved and subdued canines are fine wearing a flat collar.

On the other hand, if your dog is about as rowdy as Hank Williams’ friends on a Monday night, the flat collar can put you in a vulnerable position. The standard flat collar may not be as effective as training or corrective collars when you need to get your dog under control.

It is reasonable to use corrective collars when pups get excessively boisterous, particularly when dealing with bigger and more unpredictable breeds. An agitation collar is available for the more rambunctious breeds. It’s flattish but has 1.5 inches of width to aid the handler. Agitation collars are the standard for military and police dogs.

Ultimately, a flat collar acts as an educational certificate. If your dog switches to this sort of collar full-time, it acts as their diploma.

Choke Collars

Bad branding can have a negative effect on products, as we will learn later with “shock” collars. A choke collar has also suffered from an undeserved reputation as an overly harsh training aid, one that hinders a dog’s breathing ability. Meanwhile, the truth is that these collars do everything but that.

The word “choke” is problematic, but used properly, with a short, sharp pull followed by release once the dog obeys your command, the choke collar can be an effective, moderate correction.

Choke collars work because they have a slipknot design that tightens around a dog’s neck when it begins to pull. Ideally, the resistance should teach the pooch to refrain from lunging and tugging whenever they feel the leash tightening. Once the dog stops lunging, they are rewarded with an automatically loosened hold.

A choke collar should be higher on the dog’s neck if you want it to be the most effective and safe. The most sensitive area on a dog’s neck is underneath its jaw, where the collar should rest. It will take some experimentation to determine the best placement and force to keep them grounded.

Employing a choke chain is common when dealing with a powerful, untrained dog. These collars keep dangerous dogs under control and ensure they don’t get away.

Martingale Collars

A martingale collar gives you the best of both worlds, the comfort of a flat collar and the correction of a choke collar. Martingale collars function similarly to choke collars, with two notable distinctions.

The first difference is they allow you to regulate the degree to which you may contract. Second, they disperse stress uniformly over the cervical spine. You may alter the tension of the neckband to exert any amount of pressure at all or none at all.

One thing that’s certain about the martingale is that it will always contract, but it may be set such that the dog’s neck does not feel any pressure when it is at its tightest, if your dog no longer needs much correction.

As a result of its adaptability, it has gained widespread favor among pet owners, especially those who want to train their dogs with a bit of discipline in a comfortable fashion.

Head Collars

A head collar is an excellent tool when you want your dog to maintain their attention and trek straight ahead. This collar, with its distinctive noseband, is great for gradually teaching your dog to walk calmly “to heel,” or by your side.

A head collar, sometimes called a halter, reduces pulling and gives you more control than a traditional flat collar or choke collar. Dogs may initially resist this collar, so positive reinforcement is a good way to ease their apprehension.

Some trainers believe this collar harms the dog because it’s intimidating when something cumbersome is on their snout. Nevertheless, the most important thing about using this collar is that you cannot abruptly jerk a dog’s head. A significant injury is possible if your dog suddenly runs full bore and reaches the end of the tight leash.

Pinch Collars

As we continue from common and comfortable to tough and aversive, let’s talk about prong/pinch collars.

All the negative aspects of choke collars are also true with prong collars. A prong collar’s prongs and method of contraction set it apart. The concept is the same as before, but you’ll simulate a bite with the added sensation of another dog’s teeth this time.

Some people mistakenly believe that prong collars must rest at the very top of the neck. The fit should be rather loose. If you’re dealing with a big, strong dog, being up high may help. The high point drastically reduces the necessary power for effective authority. The moment the dog obeys your command, you release the tight pull, offering them relief and a signal that they are on the right track.

You won’t need as much force to inflict correction as a conventional choke collar since the prongs give a biting simulation with teeth. Start with a lower force and gradually raise it until you obtain the desired submission from your dog, akin to the choke collar.

Dogs, unlike humans, have thick furry, necks, and their necks are also much stronger than ours. If you know how to use it properly, a prong collar won’t hurt your dog.

E-Collars

There’s no question that the most debated dog collar is the infamous e-collar. Many dog lovers are strongly against using e-collars because they believe it will give the dog an electric shock to keep them in check.

The truth is that the dog isn’t getting an electric shock but more of a static shock. Static shocks are like the ones we get when we take a blanket out of the dryer and then touch something metallic. Understandably, many believe the collars will zap a bolt of electricity, swearing them off altogether.

An e-collar should be used only with the proper instruction from an expert dog trainer who fully understands the purpose of the collar and what it does. E-collars are most often used to keep dogs within unfenced private property and are not a substitution for a walking collar when on public property.

When the collar’s shock is applied properly, a dog will learn to modify its actions to avoid unpleasant experiences. When using this type of collar on your dog, your trainer will have you start with the lowest setting and gradually work your way up if necessary. 

This guide to the different types of dog collars highlights the pros and cons of several options. As you now know, the best collar depends on various circumstances, such as your dog’s breed, size, and behavior. If your dog likes to tug on the leash when you’re trying to take a pleasant stroll, then a tactical dog collar and leash from WOLFpak may be in order. Our collars and leashes will give you confidence and the appropriate authority over your best friend for the most enjoyable and calm walk.