Dog Training Collars and Leads

Know the types of dog collars and discover how to choose a training collar and leash

Also see training walking dog on leash and free dog training guide

Every dog needs a collar for the basic reason that dogs without collars look like strays.  Dog collars also show to the world that your dog belongs to someone and they can be used to identify your dog.

A good dog training collar and lead can be essential tools for training and keeping your dog under control under any circumstances.

There are several different types of dog training collars and leads to choose from.  Read about the main types of dog collars and choose which one will be best for your training needs and the comfort of your dog.
 

Nylon Dog Training Collars

Probably the most common collars are nylon buckle collars.  These collars typically fasten like a belt buckle or snap into place with a piece of plastic.  Nylon collars are a good choice for dogs that are well trained and do not pull when walking on a leash. 

Nylon dog collars can be found in a variety of designs and colors. This gives you a little more creativity when choosing a collar for your dog and you can also use it as a way to express your dog’s personality. 

Choke Collars for Dog Training

Probably the most used collar for training is the choke collar.  Choke collars are typically made from metal and have prongs that press into your dog’s neck when the collar is pulled tight.  These collars can also be made of nylon or rope using a slipknot that tightens around the neck rather than prongs.   

You may not like the idea of metal prongs digging into your dog’s neck.  We don’t particularly like this idea ourselves.  If this is a concern for you, consider a nylon or rope slipknot choke collar instead.  It will give the same general pressure to your dog’s neck without poking him.  And, the non-metal type of choke collar doesn’t look so scary.

Although choke collars seem to deter it, we have seen plenty of dogs pull on choke collars even when they are getting “choked.”  If pulling is a big issue for you, a halter collar may be a better choice.

Halter Dog Collars and Leads

Another type of dog collar is the halter collar or gentle leader.  A halter collar consists of a leather or nylon strap that wraps snugly around the nose and mouth area and also wraps around the dog’s neck. 

These collars can be the best way to overcome a dog that pulls on the leash because when the dog pulls and the leash becomes tight, the dog’s head cannot move forward.  When the leash is pulled, your dog can only look to the side or down and this prevents him from continuing forward.

The only trouble with these collars does not have to do with how they work, but how they look.  A halter collar goes around your dog’s head, so it may look like a muzzle to those who aren’t in the know.  But if you have a dog who is out of control on his leash, it looks bad anyway, so you might as well get control and forget what other people may think.

A halter collar can be the best way to control a dog that constantly pulls on leash.  But if you use this type of collar, be sure to only give your dog light tugs on the leash so as not to hurt his neck in any way.  You also want to use a leash that is 6 feet or shorter.

Harness Dog Collars

In some cases, a harness dog collar can be the best and most humane choice for controlling your dog.  Harness collars do not go around your dog’s neck.  They wrap around the ribcage and torso so when you pull on the leash you exert pressure on the upper torso area of your dog’s body.  

By nature, dog harness collars will never cause your dog to choke or have neck strain when the collar is pulled.  Also, since it does not go around the head, your dog will be free to sniff things during walks without a nylon strap in the way.

Dog harness collars come in nylon and leather and can make it easy to control your dog whether he is big or small.  Because the harness collar covers such a large area of your pet’s body, it is easy to grab it when needed to quickly get control of your dog.

When using a harness dog collar, be sure that it fits properly and doesn’t chafe underneath your dog’s stomach or front legs.