Measure your pups neck!
When ordering a dog collar for your pup, there are several key factors to consider to ensure their comfort and safety. First and foremost, size is crucial. Although you can go off of breed averages and recommendations in most circumstances, there are dogs who will measure slightly outside of their breed average. We offer some easy-to-follow measuring tips that you can check out here.
Choose Collar Width
Next, consider the width of the collar. We offer three different widths for our collars - 1", 1.5", and 2". Smaller breeds and puppies generally do well with narrower collars, such as our 1" width models, as these are lighter and less restrictive. For larger breeds, a wider collar such as our 2" width models might be more suitable, as it distributes pressure more evenly across the neck, especially when your pup pulls on the leash. Our 1.5" width models are pretty universal and work for most dogs, but aren't a one-size-fits-all. For instance, a 1-inch OR 1.5-inch wide collar might look great on a medium-sized dog like a Cocker Spaniel, petite Lab, or French Bulldog, while a 1.5-inch OR 2-inch wide collar would be more appropriate for a robust breed like a large Golden Retriever/German Shepherd, Newfoundland, Cane Corso, or Bulldog. For dogs that are mid-large size, it really comes down to personal preference and the lifestyle/behaviors of your pup.
However, something to keep in mind while choosing widths based on breed is that some breeds come with many variations. Some examples of breeds that vary in size depending on gender, bloodline, sub-breed, lifestyle, and more are - Golden and Labrador Retriever, Pitbull, French Bulldog, Shepherds, Mixed breeds).
**Please note** Our Basic collars can only be made as large as the (17.5-23.5") range. However, our Extreme models can be made as large as you need! Either notate the larger size in the 'build notes' section while ordering, or reach out to our customer service team for help!
Collar Features
Should you add a handle to your pups dog collar?
Additionally, think about which features you need for your pup. All of our collars are made with military-grade nylon webbing that is strength rated at over 2,000 lbs of force and will not break with pulling on the leash unless the webbing is compromised. Nylon webbing is lightweight and flexible, but is also super strong and reliable. For our 1.5" and 2" width models, we offer the option of a handle on the collar, which can be helpful to maintain control of your pup on busy-street walks, crowded places, or simply to hold your pup back from tackling your guests to the ground when they visit your home. Our handles are constructed to be low to the collar, so they don't stick up much in order to avoid it catching on something or being tugged on by another dog.
**During intense/rough play sessions or while crated, we do recommend removing the collar (especially handle models) to avoid any potential danger to your pup. We haven't seen these situations with our collars thankfully, but freak situations can happen and we want to do our best to ensure that they DON'T.
Should you add a flag patch to your pups dog collar?
Most of our collars offer the option to add a hook-and-loop (Velcro) flag patch. Deciding whether or not a flag patch, or any patches, will work for your pup will be entirely based on their behavior/temperament. If your dog is consistently running through underbrush, escaping under the fence of your backyard, wrestling with other dogs, or rubs against couches/grass/etc - patches may not be the best decision for you. Although the hook and loop we use is super strong and withstands the typical dogs lifestyle, some particular behaviors can lodge dirt, hair, and debris in the attachments and can cause the patch to either get lost or continuously fall off the collar.
If your dog is on the high-energy side, we recommend either selecting 'no flag' while ordering, or use the collar only when on walks and not during playtime, dog park visits, or extreme zoomie sessions. You know your dog best, so its up to you to make the ultimate decision!
