Choosing the Safest Dog Collar: A Guide to Keeping Your Canine Comfortable and Secure

When it comes to ensuring the comfort and safety of a furry friend, making sure that you choose the right collar for their needs is one of the most important parts of the job! A collar that is high quality and well fitted not only helps your pup to look great when out on their walks, but it can also be the difference between them being safe or not on a daily basis. Keep reading for a guide on exactly what you need to know and do in order to guarantee you make the best possible collar decision for your beloved canine companion. 

Understanding the Purpose of a Dog Collar

It’s fair to say that a dog collar serves three main purposes in your and your pup’s life: safety, identification, and training. To achieve all of these in equal measure, you want to make sure that you address the following three key areas.

Comfort: Comfort is of concern because you want to prevent things like irritation and chafing that could cause harm to your pup’s skin.

Durability: Any collar you choose needs to be able to withstand the rigors of everyday wear and tear from things like dog walks and active playing.

Suitability: You want to make sure that your collar fits the particular breed, size, and temperament of your furry friend.

Combining these three factors will help you to find a collar that best suits your pup, and also offers you the biggest peace of mind.

Highlighting the Best Type of Collar: Flat Leather Collars

In our opinion, there is no better option for a wide spectrum of dogs out there than a flat, vegetable-tanned leather collar. Not only are they regarded as the safest and most comfortable, but they are also among the most stylish! Here are just a few of the many reasons why!

Hypoallergenic: Vegetable-tanned leather is perfect for all dogs, particularly those who have sensitive skin, as the tanning process does not use any harsh chemicals that could be harmful.

Durability: Again, it’s the much-needed durability factor! This kind of leather can effortlessly take all of the wear and tear that your pup wants to throw at it, remaining flexible and strong all the while.

Comfort: Vegetable-tanned leather is super soft and pliable, which guarantees that your dog will feel at ease wearing the collar, even for extended hours.

Even Pressure Distribution: The flat design of a collar like this means that pressure is much more evenly distributed across your pup’s neck. This massively reduces the risk of injury or discomfort.

Perfect Combination With Brass Hardware: Brass is also a hypoallergenic material, along with being rust resistant, and this makes it a wonderful pairing with vegetable-tanned leather. Unlike all of the nickel plated metals you see on the pet store shelves, brass won’t risk causing any kind of allergic reaction or dermatitis.

What Types of Collars to Avoid 

So, now you know what you should be buying, but what should you be avoiding? Our answer to this question is rolled leather collars, prone collars, and spike collars. Some of these options might look sleek and chic or match whatever kind of aesthetic you have in mind for your pup, but the truth is that they do come with a number of quite significant drawbacks!

Concentrated Pressure: The rounded design of a rolled collar might have aesthetic appeal, but in reality what it does is focus more pressure on a smaller area of the neck, resulting in increased risk of something serious like damage to the trachea when dogs pull on their leashes.

Not Suitable For All Dogs: Rolled collars can be particularly problematic for dog breeds that have delicate necks, as well as dogs that have a habit of pulling. 

Selecting the Right Collar Width

The width of the collar that you choose is an essential part of getting the right safety and comfort for your pup. Getting the width wrong on your dog’s collar can cause a lot of issues. A collar that fits perfectly guarantees even pressure distribution and minimizes the risk of unnecessary injury.

For Long, Delicate Necks (Whippets, Greyhounds, etc.): For pups with longer, slender, more delicate necks, a collar between 3 and 4.5 cm wide is ideal to evenly distribute pressure and reduce the risk of injury.

For Tiny Breeds (Chihuahuas, etc.): If your pup is on the smaller side, then you only need to go for a collar that is 2 cm wide or narrower, as this will ensure a snug and comfortable fit whilst remaining unbulky around the neck.

For Medium/Large Breeds (Labradors, German Shepherds, etc.): For a medium or large dog that doesn’t have a particularly delicate neck, you can feel free to select a collar anywhere between 3 and 4.5 cm wide. This will provide the right amount of support.

Comparing Dog Collar Materials

Something to remember is that not all materials are created equally! Here is a helpful breakdown of some of the must-know facts about the most common dog collar options.

Vegetable-Tanned Leather: As we’ve already highlighted, vegetable tanned leather is hypoallergenic, really durable and really comfortable. It’s great for everyday wear and is also super practical for dogs with sensitive skin.

Nylon: There is no doubt that nylon is a very lightweight and practical choice for dogs that are more active, but the sacrifice is that it is less gentle on the skin and is much more prone to fraying over time.

Waterproof Collars: Waterproof collars made from synthetic materials are great for any dog whose favorite outdoor activity is swimming, but it is worth remembering that these types of collars are nowhere near as hypoallergenic as leather alternatives.

Chrome-Tanned Leather: There isn’t much positive to say about chrome-tanned leather. The reason for that is chromium-6, which is a carcinogenic substance that can leach out when exposed to too much heat or water. In particularly sunny or humid conditions, chromium salts actually transform into the aforementioned chromium-6, which gets absorbed by leather very easily and is incredibly unsafe. Obviously, this poses a health risk to any dog and humans, too! It’s best to completely avoid any collars that are made from chrome-tanned leather.

Why Brass Beats Nickel-Plated Metals: And to finish off this section with another nod to our favorite metal, brass is super safe and durable, and in contrast to nickel-plated hardware, it won’t degrade over time and won’t cause allergic reactions for your pup. To help you see how serious this can be, we’ve included an article that goes into all the detail you could possibly need about the ways in which nickel can be a bad allergen for dogs.

Safety Features to Consider

When choosing a collar, we think you should prioritize the following safety features in your decision-making. Buckles that you can feel are going to provide a strong and reliable fit. Adjustable straps that provide the opportunity for the most comfortable fit. Steer clear of designs that could be unnecessarily harmful, like prong, choke, or shock collars. Make sure that the collar you are considering is going to be snug enough to stay in place but loose enough to allow two of your fingers to rest between the collar and the dog’s neck.

Caring for a Dog Collar

To ensure that you get the best possible longevity out of your chosen collar, follow the following simple steps.

Clean Regularly: Get into the habit of wiping down a leather collar with a damp cloth and mild soapy water. Don’t use any harsh chemicals.

Condition Leather: Use a good quality leather conditioner to keep the collar as supple as possible, preventing it from unnecessary and premature cracking.

Inspect Frequently: Make sure to regularly check for signs of wear and tear like cracking, fraying, and weakened hardware. Once you do notice something irreparable, the collar should be replaced.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the top mistakes to definitely avoid when you are selecting your next dog collar.

Incorrect Fit: If a collar is too tight, it is going to cause discomfort and even breathing difficulties, and at the other end of the spectrum, a collar that is too loose can easily slip off or risk getting caught on things.

Weak Buckles: A weak buckle can very easily break or come undone in a dangerous environment, which will obviously put your pup at risk.

Leaving New Collars On Unattended Dogs: It is important to make sure that you supervise your dog when introducing a new collar. It might take some time for them to get used to a new feel.

Conclusion

Overall, we’ve laid out exactly why we think a high-quality, vegetable-tanned leather collar with brass hardware is the best possible combination you can have for your precious pup. By avoiding harmful chemicals and choosing the perfect width and design, we can promise your furry friend will be happy and healthy.

To explore a wide range of great quality, durable, stylish, and hypoallergenic dog collar options, visit The Lille Bjorn site to see what we have to offer. After all, your pup deserves nothing but the very best!