Not sure which Collar style to pick? Here's what you need to know:
SIDE RELEASE BUCKLE COLLAR
Classic and classy, the side release buckle collar is a staple in a dog’s wardrobe. Easy to put on with a quick clip, easy to undo with a pinch. One D ring for leash and tag attachment plus a slider for sizing adjustments make up all the components of a side release buckle collar. Most common style of collar you’ll find. Perfect for puppy to adult.
Martingale Collar
Originally designed for sighthounds (ie, greyhounds, whippets, Italian greyhounds, etc) as their necks are larger than their heads. Regular flat buckle collars can be slipped or backed out of, granting the little speed demons wide open spaces to run to their hearts content.
Martingale collars “cinch” tighter when pressure is put on the smaller loop, similar to a choke chain, but in a gentler way. This snugs the collar up on the neck, preventing the wearer from slipping or backing out of the collar.
*When sizing for a martingale, make sure it will fit over your dog’s head. Measure the widest part of their noggin and make sure the collar size will make it over their noggin.
How does a martingale collar work?
You’ll notice your martingale collar consists of two loops. The smaller loop with a D ring is the control loop – this is where the leash is attached and the part of the collar that will cinch when pressure is put on it.
The larger loop is the main part of the collar, complete with a slider for sizing adjustments and a second D ring for ID/rabies tags.
*If your dog wears a collar in a crate, make sure there are no tags on the control loop D ring. Were it to catch, it could cinch up and cause strangulation in a panicked dog. If the tags are on the secondary D ring, the collar won’t cinch & the dog will be able to slip out if caught.
Limited Slip Collar
A cousin to a martingale collar, limited slip collars are also designed to cinch up when pressure is applied to the collar. Each collar is limited in the amount of cinch it has – typically about 3 inches. This means you can’t over cinch the collar.
Additionally like the martingale collar you need to measure around the widest part of your dog’s noggin as these are designed to slip over the head.
How does a Limited slip collar work?
You’ll notice your limited has two D rings and an O ring (if you have a 2 inch wide collar, it will be 3 O rings). One D ring is static and acts as the “stop” for the cinch. This would be the D ring you hook your tags to. The other D ring slides through the O ring – this is the one your leash clips to.
Now, limited slips are a little funky when it comes to walking. Essentially the spare tag D ring needs to face side they walk on when the collar is at rest.
If your dog walks on your right, then the spare D ring would be on your dog’s left side. (Slide the collar over your dog’s head and make sure the spare D ring is on her left side – the D ring for the leash will be centered under her neck.)
If your dog walks on your left, then the spare D ring would be on your dog’s right side. (Slide the collar over your dog’s head – the spare D ring should be on their right side when looking at them straight on.)
*This is NOT a collar to wear in a crate. The main D ring could catch and cinch while your dog is in a crate. Slide it off before crating your dog.
Double D Ring collar
For those dogs who are super strong and prone to busting out of a flat buckle collar (and don’t want to wear a martingale or limited slip), the double D ring collar features a pair of D rings on each side of the flat buckle. The leash clips to these and the pressure of a super strong dog is transferred away from the buckle. Putting on the collar is easy – clip together the flat buckle and off you go!
You’ll note that there is also an O ring as part of the collar – this would be where you would put any tags! The O ring will eat a bit of the adjustability of the collar so if your dog is on the smaller end of a size you may want to opt to the size smaller. (We can also make the collar custom sized if needed!)