With so many options, choosing the right collar for your dog can be a challenging task. This guide will help you choose the style of collar that will work best for your dog!
Standard Buckle Collar
You can purchase this style of collar here- https://bigbadwoofco.com/collections/collars/products/standard-collar
The first collar we'll talk about is a standard buckle collar. This is the most common style of collar, and the style that I recommend for most dogs. The buckle is strong and secure, there's no risk of it accidentally coming unclasped like a quick release collar (which we will be talking about next). If you plan to connect a leash to the collar, I recommend this style instead of a quick release collar. These are great everyday collars, and they're also great for holding your dog's ID & rabies tags or ID plate. Our standard buckle collars are adjustable between 5 sizes, each an inch apart, making them great for any size of dog. They are available in both 3/4" and 1" widths to accommodate dogs of various sizes.
Quick Release Collar
You can purchase this style of collar here- https://bigbadwoofco.com/collections/collars/products/quick-release-collar
Like the standard buckle collars, this style is also available in 3/4" and 1" widths and is great for holding ID & rabies tags or an ID plate. As the name suggests, these collars can quickly be removed thanks to the quick release buckle, making these collars a good option in multi-dog households or for dogs who frequent daycare. Most daycares require that dogs wear quick release collars so that they can be removed quickly if they get caught on something or another dog. Because of the quick release buckle, I do not recommend this style for leash walking. While many people walk their dogs with this style, it does have the risk of unintentionally coming unclasped, unlike a standard buckle collar.
Martingale (Buckle & Slip On)
You can purchase this style of collar here-https://bigbadwoofco.com/collections/collars/products/chain-martingale
You can purchase this style of collar here- https://bigbadwoofco.com/collections/collars/products/slip-on-martingale
Martingales are my personal favorite style of collar! What makes these collars so useful is the tightening chain. A properly fitted martingale will not tighten to the point of choking a dog, but will tighten enough so that the dog cannot slip out of the collar. This makes them an amazing option for fearful dogs that are known for backing out of their collars! As someone who owns dogs that occasionally struggle with fears, I can honestly say that these collars have been a lifesaver for my dogs. Both the buckle and slip on martingales function in the same way, but the buckle martingales are easier to adjust and can be easier to take on and off. If your dog is sensitive to collars being slipped over their head, then the buckle version would be best. Slip on martingales can be made to fit dogs with smaller necks than the buckle martingales will fit.
Slip Collar
You can purchase this style of collar here- https://bigbadwoofco.com/collections/collars/products/1-slip-collar
Last, but not least, we have the slip collar. These are very similar to the traditional choke chain, except they are a little more gentle on the coat and the wider width disperses the pressure a little more evenly on the neck. These are available in both 3/4" and 1". I would recommend the 1" collars for large dogs and 3/4" for small dogs, with either working well for medium sized dogs. The width can also be personal preference, some prefer to use the thinner 3/4" collar on large dogs, too. While a dog shouldn't be able to back out of these collars, I do not recommend them for fearful dogs or dogs that don't walk nicely on the leash. These work great for some people and dogs, but, like any collar, injury can occur due to misuse of the collar.
None of the collars mentioned in this article are recommended for training a dog. A loose leash walk is learned through training, and a collar will not train a dog on its own. When training a dog to walk nicely on leash, I highly recommend the use of a harness or Gentle Leader (please reach out to a trainer to learn how to properly use one) in combination with treats for positive reinforcement.