Dog Leashes and Collars

Buying a dog leash  and a collar  is very important. Most towns and public places have laws against walking a dog without a leash. Leashes and collars can also help in the training process of a dog. Chain collars,  for example, can tighten and discipline a dog after misbehaving. The type of dog collar or dog leash that is best for your pooch depends on a variety of factors, such as your dog's size, strength, and lifestyle.

Which Dog Leash or Collar is Best for Your Dog?

• Quick-release  and buckle collars  are standard collars for everyday wear. The average dog can get away with wearing one of these.
• Flat collars  are the way to go for short-haired dogs, while dogs with longer hair should opt for rolled collars  to avoid hair breakage.
• Break-away collars  are great for dogs left alone for long amounts of time. Invented by a man whose dog choked to death when his collar got caught, break-away collars release when pulled hard. Although they do not release when connected to a leash, they are not the best collars for dogs being trained.
• Always have dog tags  on your dog. Even the best dog owner can have their dog make a mad dash for freedom (or a squirrel, apparently both are of equal importance to a canine). Be prepared and have a dog tag with your address and phone number. It's also a good idea to have the tag on your dog stating it has received its rabies vaccination.
• Keep in mind that leashes are primarily a method of keeping your dog in control. It's more important to have a leash that can keep your dog in line than one that perfectly expresses your personal style.
• Some public places have signs stating how long a leash can be. If you will be consistently bringing your dog to a local park or beach, it may be a good idea to get a leash that complies with their rules.
• The bigger the dog, the wider the leash should be. If you are buying a leash for a puppy, buy one according to its adult size.
• Retractable leashes  are great for training dogs and puppies or for giving energetic dogs extra room to run in safe places.
• Chain leashes  are usually considered to be dangerous for you and your dog.
• Nylon  and leather leashes  are the most common. Leather leashes should be braided for extra strength. If your dog will be around water a lot, go for a nylon leash instead of leather. Nylon leashes come in a variety of colours and patterns, but can make hands feel a bit raw if you are training a dog or have a dog that pulls.
• Have an extra leash around. Leashes can break often during training, due to old age, or if your dog is extra strong. Having a spare leash in the closet saves you an emergency trip to the store when such instances arise.
• Avoid decorations like glitter  and tassels.  These leashes are usually of less quality than plain leashes (although colours and patterns are acceptable of course) and tassels and other glued or sewed on items are easily chewed off and can be dangerous to your canine friend. If you really want an ornamented leash,  make sure the leash is of acceptable quality and all pieces are sewed on securely. Check the pieces often to make sure they don't get loose over time.
• Consider buying an adjustable collar.  They ensure that the collar is the perfect fit as the dogs grow and shrink (the neck size of dogs decrease when they loose weight). 

Types of Collars and Leashes

Nylon  is the standard material for leashes and collars. Sold in a variety of sizes and colours.	Cloth  makes a nice and soft collar for your pooch.	Leather  is a popular material for collars and leashes, but avoid leather if your dog is big on swimming or puddle jumping.	A chain collar or leash  is only recommended for those really tough dogs, when chains are the only material that will support them.	Reflective collars and leashes  are great for those right before bed walks.

Choke collars  are used when training dogs.	Retracting leashes  are safe and great for training dogs. Allows you to control how far your dog can roam.	Ornamented leashes and collars  are pretty, but make sure the decorations are securely sewn on!rhinestone dog collar spike dog collar	Obedience collars  are like choke collars, but they have spikes on the inside. Only for seriously disobedient dogs.	A harness  goes completely along your dog's body to allow for a more controlled walk.

Muzzles  stop angry dogs from biting and also seem to prevent lawsuits.	Bag Carriers  and doggy Poop Scoops  are great to have on hand. Use the bag to dispose of the waste, and the poop scoop to make the picking up process and little less gross.	Clickers  hook onto leashes and emit a short "click" sound that tells the dog when they are doing something good. The idea is that dogs drop their bad habits through lack of reinforcement.	Seatbelts  are important to make sure your cool pup is safe on car rides too!

Bandanas  can keep your dog cool and add to his or her personal style.	Vet Recover Cones  are usually on dogs after surgeries like spaying and neutering.	Leash Doublers  are great for people with two dogs. Double the fun!

External Links

• Canis Major -- How to get a well-fitting leash and collar and how to use them.
• Canis Major -- How to train your dog to follow your lead.
• City of Albuquerque -- Why to walk your dog.
• eHow -- How to get a properly fitting leash and collar.
• eHow -- More tips on how to walk your dog well.
• Good Pooch -- Dog walking etiquette.
• Humane Society -- Top ten essentials for caring for your dog.
• Perfect Paws -- How to get a puppy to accept a collar and leash.
• Pet Sit USA -- How to pick a dog walker.
• The Weather Channel -- A dog walking calculator to determine how many calories you burned on your walk.
• Clickertraining.com-- Explains how to clicker train your dog and how clicker training works.

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