Collars And Leashes: Choosing A Suitable Fit For Your Dogs

Colour? Size? Length? Brand? With that many options out there in the Pet market here, it’s no wonder why Pet owners are so spoilt for choice! But like Pet bowls and beds, deciding on a suitable collar and leash would have to be pretty dependable on your Pooch. Why? Like humans, Dogs have different characteristics and forms, so what’s best for one may not necessarily serve the same purpose for a different pooch ☺

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We’ve decided to do a breakdown on a few collars and leashes most popular in the market, and also a few we never knew existed (they sound more like torture devices to us…*Shakes head*) What’s to avoid and what’s best? Here are our opinions of the good, the bad and the uglyyy.

Types Of Collars

Isn’t it amusing to watch the reaction of a person when someone says “Your necklace looks like a Dog Collar” You’d most probably get a dismissive retort because they’d take that as an insult. But collars for pooches have long served as a way of letting your Dogs feel the sense of belonging to someone (just like an engagement or wedding ring ☺)

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1. Rolled Collar — These are a little less common in Singapore, but they are actually said to be excellent for Long haired Dogs. Because the collars are rounded like a tube, they do not cause tangles as much as a flat collar might.

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Mostly made out of leather material, these Rolled collars are pretty durable, but they are also a little non-malleable and thin (they don’t come in many thickness), which could be rather uncomfortable for your Pooch. If you do decide on a Rolled collar, pick a good quality one made of soft leather instead.

2. Martingale Collar — A collar that is mostly used for working Dogs, especially in a sport like game hunting. These could also be used in training a Dog to walk with you, as it discourages the behaviour of pulling. Martingale collars function the same as Slip collars and Choke collars (see below), they tighten whenever your Dogs pull or stray off the leash during a walk.

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The only huge difference (which is much safer in our opinion) with the Martingale collar is that it comes with a stopper that prevents full closure on the Dog’s neck. Although this may be the safest and most humane of training collars, it’s not recommended for inexperienced owners.

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3. Standard Collar — Definitely our most preferred! Also known as Flat collars, these come in a variable of sizes, widths and colours. Most commonly made out of the material Nylon, which is not only easy to wash and dry, but also durable and lightweight. There are two types of Flat collars, one with a Quick-release clasp, and the other with a Buckle. As these collars are flat, they aren’t as damaging to the Dog’s throats.

Quick-release

Some owners prefer the Buckle because they find the Quick-release collars have the tendency to loosen and “slip” due to the material. While the Buckle Flat collars proves to be a much more secure mechanism (it acts just like a Belt buckle) But hey, We are using a Quick-release collar from Red Dingo, and it works fine, because we use a separate collar and leash setup when walking our Dog.

Buckle Collar

"Bad" Collars

Please excuse this header, no offence intended here, we are just trying to express how we’d never even consider these types of collars for our Furry companion. Neither are we too sure on why humans even came up with these, because these sound way to dangerous and inhumane when not utilized properly. We wouldn’t recommend these collars at all.

Oh no...

1. Slip Collar — Known as Choke collars and Slip chain collars, these collars are usually come in a piece joined with a leash on one end, and the other end to slip around the Dog’s neck like a lasso loop. While these may be kind of useful for training, it does not have a mechanism like the Martingale collar that prevents a full closure on neck when Dogs pull away.

Slip Collar with Stopper

As it may pose as a strangulation threat if left unattended or used incorrectly, there is also a chance your Dog may be able to loosen themselves from the slip loop and score a chance to escape, so pick one with a stopper. In our honest opinion, these are much more suitable for Dogs that are already well trained to walk by your side.

2. Prong Collar — Next to make it to the list of “Bad collars” is this particular one. Arguably one of the most disputed training collars out there, this collar claims to lightly put a “pinching” notion upon the Dog’s neck area by blunt prongs if the Dogs pull during walks.

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Most owners claim that Dogs do not figure this out themselves, in which we can imagine. That may result in more harm than good to be honest. Definitely not meant for novice owners, puppies, or aggressive Dogs. This one is also a NO for us.

3. Head Collars — Okay, we have not seen this collar in public before, sure looks as good as a muzzle if you ask us. Yet another collar meant for training that discourages pulling during walks, Head collars usually come attached with a leash as well, this loop fits around your Pooch’s muzzle below the eyes, allowing owners to lightly tug the Dog’s head to get its attention during walks, when they start wandering off track. Now that does sound a wee bit logical, but again, a no go for inexperienced owners. Without a doubt, a no for us too.

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4. Shock Collars — Just…Why? Don’t ever use these, no matter they “seem” to be helpful for behavioural issues, it is a potential death-trap in the long term. To put it plainly, would you like to be hit with a jolt of electricity every time you step somewhere incorrectly? We’ll answer that for you, that’ll be a big fat NO.

Sigh

Types Of Leashes

Collars are usually paired with leashes, an unavoidable necessity for walking your Furkid. While some come attached with leashes, there are a number of leashes out there that are sold separately. Mix and match them to your Pooch's best interest and your liking!

Cord-type leash with lobster clasp

1. Slip Leash — As mentioned above, a Slip collar is usually a one-piece with leash. We’d like to emphasise again that these are not meant for inexperienced owners and should never be left unattended as it can result in serious damage and pose strangulation threats.

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During walk-training, Experts advise on lightly tugging leash sideways in a quick motion, just enough to get your Dog’s attention as opposed to pulling forcefully. Our take is to only use this if your Pooch is well-trained to walk.

2. Adjustable Leash — Just like a Standard leash, made of Leather or Nylon, Adjustable leashes have different loops or snap-ons that allow more room for adjusting length of leash and serve as a multi-purpose tool for training and also regular walks.

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Because of its flexibility, it also comes in handy when you have to secure it to a lamp post or stationary object. Needless to say, this function is meant for keeping your hands free when you are taking a quick break, you shouldn’t be leaving your Dogs unattended without supervision.

3. Standard Leash — A simple design that comes with a lobster clasp to hook onto your Dog’s collar, Standard leashes are one of the most commonly used in Singapore, it allows more room for movement during walks. You can find these in Leather or Nylon material, length adjustment is solely manual on the owner’s part, so bear in mind to always keep your eyes on your Furkid!

Leather Standard leash

Standard leashes are sometimes made as Multiple leashes, meant for walking more than one Dog at a time. This of course is a handy leash when you have to walk two Dogs or more, but some owners still prefer separate leashes to allow more freedom for each Pooch ☺

4. Retractable Leash — Second in line for most popular leashes in Singapore, Retractable leashes are usually made out of Nylon or Plastic cords, with the latter being less durable. The Nylon band retracts into a case with a handle and works exactly like a measuring tape. Along with a button that allows you to lock at any preferred length (depending on the maximum length provided) temporarily, or for long periods of time.

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This leash allows for absolute freedom during walks, but it is not recommended for training as some may say, for it encourages “pulling” for the furry companions. Much like any leash, never leave your Dogs unattended and out of sight, excess leash may pose as a strangulation hazard if your Dog gets tangled up in it. This leash is much more suitable for trained Pooches, also one of our favourites.

5. Harness — Modern lifestyle has introduced much convenience into our lives, including our Pets, such as collars and leashes as well. We’ve decided to place the Harness collar/leash at the last portion because these are meant for trained Dogs and have multiple functions as a collar (designed to look like cute clothing), and also ones that are like detachable Flat collars.

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Harnesses are meant for comfort as they are positioned around the upper portion of a Dog’s body, and are not meant for training purposes as it promotes less control.

Tips And Tricks

When picking out the right collar or leash, always take into consideration of your Dog’s safety and behaviour. These are deciding factors for providing your Furkid a much needed stroll or walk outdoors, while keeping them safe. If you do need one for training purposes, seek advise from a trusted Dog Trainer to get proper guidance.

Don't try this ☺

You may also wish to check in with your Veterinarian for a recommended collar or leash if your Pooch has skin allergies or any underlying issues, ultimately we don’t wanna hurt our much loved companions do we? Don't forget to clean them every once in awhile, and if they are worn-out, please replace them!

Fancy Customised IDs

Lastly, you don’t necessarily have to stick to a specific type or collar or leash, many owners like ourselves transcend from various leashes until our Pets are well-trained. For example, a harness paired with a retractable leash are our useful Doggy-walk essentials now, because our Dogs are already familiar with walking beside us. Throwing in a separate Standard collar for identification purposes keeps our Doggies happy, and safe ☺

You might also be interested in these:

Top 10 Dog Friendly Human Foods

What Is My Dog Trying To Say?

Ten Useful Hacks For Every Dog Owner

Nine Signs That Tell If Your Dog Is Depressed or Unwell

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Disclaimer

This article was written with informational purposes, as you know, we’d love to share our collective research and experiences as fellow Pet owners and lovers. It is not meant to alternate in any way as advice or diagnosis of Professionals. 

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