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A dog collar is a is a piece of material put around the neck of a dog. A collar might be used for control, identification, fashion, or other purposes. Identification tags and medical information is often placed on dog collars. Collars are also useful for controlling a dog manually, as they provide a handle for grabbing. Collars are often used in conjunction with a leash, and a common alternative to a dog collar is a dog harness. Dog collars are the most common form of directing and teaching dogs.^[1]

Dog collar is also an informal term for the clerical collar used by Anglican vicars and other clergy^[2].

Basic collars

Buckle collars, also called flat collars, are usually made of nylon webbing or leather (less common materials can include polyester, hemp, or metal) with a buckle similar to a belt buckle, or a quick-release buckle, either of which holds the collar loosely around the dog's neck. Identification is commonly attached to such a collar; it also comes with a loop to which a leash can be fastened.

Flea collars are impregnated with chemicals that repel fleas. They are usually a supplementary collar, worn in addition to the conventional buckle collar.
Elizabethan collars, shaped like a truncated cone, can be fitted on a dog to prevent it from scratching a wound on its head or neck or licking a wound or infection on its body.
Break-away collars look similar to buckle collars, but have a safety mechanism installed that allows the dog to break free of the collar if excessive force is applied. These collars are useful in situations where a non-quick release collar could get snagged and strangle the dog.
Stud collars are leather collars fitted with dulled points and/or metal studs that traditionally prevented another animal from biting the dog's neck. In modern societies, stud collars are more commonly considered a fashion accessory.

Training collars

Several types of collars are used for the purposes of training dogs, though sometimes a collar is not used at all (such as in the case of dog agility training, where a collar could get caught on equipment and strangle the dog). Each training collar has its own set of advantages and disadvantages (briefly outlined below) which trainers might consider before using a select one. Training collars are typically used for training only and not left on the dog's neck all the time, as some collars can be harmful or dangerous if left on a dog unsupervised.

Flat collars

Some dogs are trained on leash using a buckle or quick-release collar.

Slip collars

Slip collars (also called choke chains, slip chains, or choke collars) are a length of chain or nylon rope with rings at either end such that the collar can be formed into a loop around the top of the dog's neck, just behind the ears. The ring which connects to the leash goes over the back of the dog's neck, not under.[1] When the leash is attached to the dead ring the collar does not constrict on the dog's neck. When the leash is attached to the live ring the chain slips (adjusts) tighter when pulled and slips looser when tension is released. A quick jerk with an immediate release, euphemistically called a leash pop, snap, or correction, is used to coerce the dog into a 'heel' position.

Prong collar

Prong collars (also called pinch collars) are a series of chain links with blunted open ends turned towards the dog's neck so that, when the collar is tightened, it pinches the naturally loose skin around the dog's neck. The design of the prong collar is such that it has a limited circumference, unlike slip collars, which do not have a limit on how far they can constrict on a dog's neck. The collar is designed to prevent the dog from pulling by delivering a pinch to the neck in the same way that the alpha dog would correct members of the pack or how a bitch would correct one of her pups.

Prong collars can also be turned inside out (with the prongs facing away from the dog's skin), to function like a martingale.[2] Rubber tips are occasionally placed on the ends of the prongs to protect against scratching or puncturing the skin. Like the slip collar, the prong collar is placed high on the dog's neck, just behind the ears, at the weakest point.[3]

Some dogs can free themselves from prong collars by shaking their head so that the links pop out, so some trainers have come to use a second collar (usually a flat buckle collar) in addition to the prong collar.

Martingale collar

Martingale collars are recommended for Sighthounds because their heads are smaller than their necks and they can often slip out of standard collars. They can, however, be used for any breed of dog. Their no-slip feature has made them a safety standard at many kennels and animal shelters^{[citation needed]}. A martingale collar has 2 loops; the smaller loop is the "control loop" that tightens the larger loop when pulled to prevent dogs from slipping out of the collar. Similar to a prong collar, the martingale has limited constriction on the dog's neck and applies even pressure.

Head halters

Head halters, sold under the brand names Halti or Gentle Leader or Snoot Loop, are similar in design to a halter for a horse. This device fastens around the back of the neck and over the top of the muzzle, giving more control over a dog's direction and the intensity of pulling on a leash than collars that fit strictly around the neck. Pressure on this type of collar pulls the dog's head towards the handler.

Controversy

Proponents of the head halter say that it mimics the way a higher-ranking wolf shows dominance by grabbing a lower-ranking pack member around the snout with his jaws^{[citation needed]}.

Opponents of the head halter say that some dogs find it unnatural and uncomfortable^{[citation needed]}. If the collar is too tight, it may dig too deeply into the skin or the strap around the muzzle may push into the dog's eyes^{[citation needed]}. Injury can result from improper use of the head halter; if a dog is jerked suddenly by the leash attached to the head halter, the dog's neck is pulled sharply to the side, which might result in neck injury.

E-Collars

Shock collars (or training collars, remote training collars, e-collars, electronic collars and hunting collars) are electronic training aids developed to deliver an electrical signal, vibration, tone, through contact points attached to a dog collar.

At best, these collars give a false sense of security due to addressing the symptoms and not the cause of the behavior. At worst, they produce dogs that are fearful and/or aggressive due to the nature of the method.

Wolf collars

Wolf collars or protection collars are metal collars fitted with large spikes radiating away from the dog, usually worn by dogs protecting livestock in case they are attacked by wolves or other predators. Such collars protect the neck of a dog from direct attack. It is rare to see these collars being used in modern societies.

JASA Force Collar

A force collar is a leather collar with metal prongs staggered along the inside; similar to a prong collar.

References

^ Hodgson, Sarah (2006). Teach Yourself Visually Dog Training. Wiley Default. ISBN 0471749893.
^ BBC item using "dog collar" to refer to clerical collars

External links

Misuse of Choke Chains - article by Des Hawgood
The Problem With Head Halters - article by Suzanne Clothier
Training With the Prong Collar - article by Suzanne Clothier
A gallery of wolf collars
A gallery of many types of collars (including the rarer wolf and force collars)
Leather Dog Collars Cleaning and Maintenance
A History of Dog Collars from Ancient to Modern

en:Dog collar

[1] Hodgson, Sarah (2006). Teach Yourself Visually Dog Training. Wiley Default. ISBN 0471749893.

[2] BBC item using "dog collar" to refer to clerical collars

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 === Prong collar ===
 [[Image:ProngCollar wb.jpg|thumb|Prong collar; the looped chain limits how tightly the collar can pull in the same way that a Martingale functions.]]
-'''Prong collars''' (also called '''pinch collars''') are a series of chain links with blunted open ends turned towards the dog's neck so that, when the collar is tightened, it pinches the naturally loose skin around the dog's neck. The design of the prong collar is such that it has a limited circumference, unlike slip collars, which do not have a limit on how far they can constrict on a dog's neck. The collar is designed to prevent the dog from pulling by causing pain and/or discomfort.
+'''Prong collars''' (also called '''pinch collars''') are a series of chain links with blunted open ends turned towards the dog's neck so that, when the collar is tightened, it pinches the naturally loose skin around the dog's neck. The design of the prong collar is such that it has a limited circumference, unlike slip collars, which do not have a limit on how far they can constrict on a dog's neck. The collar is designed to prevent the dog from pulling by delivering a pinch to the neck in the same way that the alpha dog would correct members of the pack or how a bitch would correct one of her pups.
 Prong collars can also be turned inside out (with the prongs facing away from the dog's skin), to function like a martingale.[http://www.neilsnet.com/archives/collars/collars.shtml] Rubber tips are occasionally placed on the ends of the prongs to protect against scratching or puncturing the skin. Like the slip collar, the prong collar is placed high on the dog's neck, just behind the ears, at the weakest point.[http://www.leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm]