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Dog collars are an important accessory of man's best friend ' they include your dog's registration tags, ID, and even leads (for leashes). When looking for the right collar for your pet dog, it's nice to know you have lots of options. Here are some tips to guide your shopping.

You need to find a collar that will fit around your dog's neck exactly. And as long as this is the case, you can basically choose whatever color, pattern, or style you like.

For small dogs, pick out a collar that is neither too heavy nor too light. For puppies, a thin, leather collar or a soft, nylon collar is ideal. As for bigger, stronger dogs, wider and heavier collars are best. To make sure that a collar is the right fit on your dog, make sure you can squeeze at least two fingers in between the dog's neck and the collar. It should be a tight squeeze though, as you don't want to the collar to be too loose. Finally, you will want to cut off the excess length of strap because otherwise, the dog might chew it.

A snap-on type fastener is the most common replacement for buckle collars, because it makes for easy adjustment of a collar's length. As for choke collars, they are cool looking but shouldn't be used on younger puppies ' gentler, training collars are better.

Moreover, leather collars are long-lasting and are naturally softened by the oils of a dog's skin and they come in a variety of styles, widths, and colors. Nylon collars are washable and durable and are perfect for dogs that like to swim and for smaller dogs and puppies that need a softer touch. For bigger dogs, a nylon collar is okay, but it will need to be one with heavy webbing.

There are other collars that suit very specific kinds of dogs. For surfers, there are collars that are made out of the same material as wetsuits! And for those impatient dogs that pull on your leash during walks, head collars are the best option and are often used in training. A harness can come in handy with an anxious or hyperactive dog as well, as it is positioned around the dog's chest and ribcage to prevent choking ' some harnesses even allow you to buckle your dog into your car!

There are all sorts of colors and patterns to choose from and most collars come with matching leashes. Because it is important for your dog to feel as comfortable as possible, put careful time and consideration into your search for the perfect collar.