Though the main purpose of dog collars has been to hold the dogs license and attach a chain or leash, modern dog collars have many functions. Some dog collars are used in dog training while others have safety features to give the dog owner peace of mind that the dog is safe.
There are numerous choices for dog owners who want dog collars to express their style. Dog collars come in many colors, patterns, and styles. Some dog collars can be personalized to show the dogs name.
Excessive barking can literally be a headache for dog owners. Some collars are designed to stop this behavior. Anti-barking collars spray the dog with citronella or administer a shock when the dog owner pushes a button. It should be noted, however, that these are not ideal training methods.
For dogs that wander away from home, there are dog collars that are used to teach the dog to stay close to home. These dog collars emit an aversive noise when the dog leaves the perimeter of the property.
The invisible fence system used a buried wire boundary that interacts with a special collar. The collar delivers shocks and noises to teach the dog to stay within the boundaries set by the invisible fence.
If a dog tends to run away, the dog owner has the option of using a new type of collar that uses a GPS system. The GPS system allows the dog owner to find a lost dog using the Internet or a cell phone to pinpoint the dogs location.
If a dog has the habit of pulling on the leash, some dog owners use choker chains. There are newer training collars that are considered more humane than choker chains. Dog harnesses are also used to give the dog owner more control over a dog that tends to pull on a leash.
Pinch collars are sometimes called pronged collars because they have metal prongs that apply pressure to the dogs neck. Novice dog owners should not use pinch collars. The purpose of dog collars that are designed to put pressure on the dogs neck is to train aggressive dogs or dogs that have not responded to positive training methods.
