In some countries, it\u2019s the law for your dog to wear a collar, often with an ID tag too. It\u2019s the case in the UK anyway, so be sure to stick to the rules. Wouldn\u2019t want you to get in any trouble!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our Zigzag puppy training app<\/a>, we have a whole section called \u2018collars and harnesses\u2019 for you to have a read through. Of course, there\u2019s also loads of lessons on lead walking, recall, and other training you\u2019ll find very useful. Oh, and our team of puppy training coaches<\/a> will also be ready to talk to you at almost any time of day. Download and trial the app today, and get started right away on a new puppy training journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All done? Lovely.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re not just a way to accessorise your puppy. Puppy collars are used for a few reasons, mainly safety. They are one of the least fussy ways of attaching a lead and walking a dog. They\u2019re used for ID and license tags and used for getting a puppy used to having something worn around their neck when they\u2019re young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clip the lead on, and away you go. It\u2019s not really rocket science. Oh, if only teaching loose lead walking<\/a> or heel<\/a> was that easy, but you can do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may already be wondering about harnesses. Dogs don\u2019t necessarily HAVE to wear a harness, but you should teach your puppy not to pull in a collar<\/a>. You\u2019ll want to be careful if you choose to walk your puppy on just a collar, especially if you have a brachycephalic or toy breed, as the collar sits on their windpipe and could potentially do damage if misused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people, myself included, often use a soft collar as somewhere to fasten their puppy\u2019s ID tag on. In UK law and many other countries worldwide, your dog must wear an ID tag with the owner\u2019s name and address, plus the telephone number is always a nice to have. Why? Well, in case your puppy decides to pull off an escape plan or sprints into a run around the neighborhood (God forbid). With an ID tag, whoever finds your puppy can easily contact you and reunite you with your precious runaway pooch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When looking in your local pet shop, you’ve possibly noticed that the puppy collar sets are rather soft. This is for a good reason since we need to get puppies used to having something around their neck. When they\u2019re a bit older, you might opt for a sturdier collar, but something soft and gentle will do when they’re only babies. Even if you never plan to walk your puppy on a collar, they might still get walked on a collar somewhere like the Vets, so it\u2019s good to prepare them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What should you look for when shopping for a collar for your puppy? It\u2019s not that hard, actually. First, we have to choose a fabric. We suggest you look for a soft puppy collar that isn\u2019t too stiff or uncomfortable. Thick leather and studs can wait a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alright – this next step is entirely up to you. What color or pattern will you go for? Soft puppy collars come in all forms. Perhaps a lovely tartan or floral number<\/a>? Or would your puppy appreciate a bow on their collar<\/a>? Maybe they\u2019d like some skulls with a bow<\/a> to keep things a little edgier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One last thing you might consider is if you want a buckle or a clip. Clips are easier to get on and off and can generally be adjusted more than a buckle. But if your puppy is a bit sound-sensitive, then a buckle may be a better option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you first introduce a collar to your puppy, do it just for short periods throughout the day to give them time to get acquainted with it. Treats, of course, will help everything go much smoother. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy acts like they want to scratch the collar off when you first put it on, don’t worry about it – it\u2019s quite normal. The collar might feel like it\u2019s irritating them a little, which is why we recommend a soft collar – it will feel much better. Scratching can also be a clear sign of puppy body language<\/a> that they don\u2019t like wearing a collar, and that\u2019s fair enough. We probably wouldn\u2019t either, but just like us wearing clothes, it’s a bit of a non-negotiable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since your puppy wearing a collar is quite mandatory, you need to ensure it\u2019s comfortable to wear. That way, there\u2019s less chance they\u2019ll want to take it off, but also so they are happy to wear it overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, this happened to me. I had a white dog. She had a red leather collar. Then she went paddling, and well, you can guess the rest. A pink necklace appeared on my little snow dog\u2019s fur! It\u2019s worth checking your puppy\u2019s collar for color fastness after purchase to be sure, especially if your puppy is a water lover like mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should be able to get two fingers under your puppy\u2019s collar. If they fit, it means they\u2019re just tight enough, and it\u2019s not digging in. As they grow, you\u2019ll probably need to change their collar since they\u2019ll need a bigger one each time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While wearing a collar too tight is a problem, having one that is too loose isn\u2019t great either. Puppies may try to bite on their collar and get it stuck on their teeth or hooked on something which can be pretty dangerous. Not so fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Collars can hold onto water and soap, which you can only imagine can cause irritation to the skin if they\u2019re left on. If you must leave the collar on them when they have a bath or when they go for a swim, make sure you take it off and wash and dry it afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I won\u2019t get into the horrors that can happen when your puppy is home alone, but let\u2019s just say that when you\u2019re away, you\u2019ll want to either take your dog\u2019s collar off or use a breakaway collar<\/a> when they\u2019re home by themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breakaway or safety collars either have elastic under the buckle, which allows the dog to fit their head through if they get stuck, or the buckle comes apart <\/a>when put under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A pretty good solution that helps everybody\u2019s peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who knew an entire article about soft puppy collars could be written? We hope you\u2019ve found the information you were looking for, along with a few tips along the way. If you\u2019re looking for some more things to get for your new puppy, we\u2019ve also written a great article on choosing the right bed for your puppy<\/a>. Get ready for more decision making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have any questions about your puppy, whether it\u2019s about what collar color you should go for or whether to choose a collar or a harness, our puppy training coaches<\/a> in the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a> will always be happy to lend you a hand. They\u2019ve got heaps of great suggestions and advice – just ask them anything, really.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"dog](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tom-hills-zoF_dgsldlY-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>Why are puppy collars used?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Collars are the easiest way to walk a dog<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>A puppy collar will keep your dog safe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"golden](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/berkay-gumustekin-ngqyo2AYYnE-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/a>A soft puppy collar is excellent for getting your puppy used to a collar.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>How to look for a good puppy collar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Things to look out for when your puppy is using a collar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Your puppy may scratch when you put on their collar.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Check the collar doesn\u2019t make your puppy\u2019s skin sore or irritated.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Watch out for dyes in your puppy\u2019s collar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/shane-guymon-KCdYn0xu2fU-unsplash-684x1024.jpg\")
<\/a>Check how tight your puppy\u2019s collar is.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Don\u2019t leave your puppy\u2019s collar too loose.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Take the collar off to wash your puppy.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Choose a breakaway collar if leaving your puppy home alone or crated.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n