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Frequently Asked QuestionsMy dog goes on a tie-out. Should I use a collar or a harness? How do I pick the right size collar for my dog? A 1/2" collar for a new puppy is a great way to introduce the concept of wearing a collar. It's lightweight and will give you a way to quickly attach a lead for those frequent trips outside during house-training. Early on in life, the dog has to be taught about being on a lead, and what it means. The 1/2" leads are going to keep the pup' connected' to you, but not be so heavy as to be annoying. There are many full-grown larger dogs (like Labs and Retrievers) that wear a 3/4" width collar at maturity. It's important to remember that with the rapid growth rate of all young dogs, what fits in the beginning will almost certainly be outgrown before it wears out, much like kids' clothes! Buying with room-to-grow is OK to a point, but a collar set to it's smallest size has the most webbing doubled back and becomes somewhat bulky. To determine collar size, use a dressmakers tape to measure around the middle of the neck. Measure snugly, against the skin, not how you'd like it to fit. Whatever that measurement is, add in 5% extra for wiggle-room. This gives you a good approximation of the current size of the dog. Should I get an Adjustable collar or a Combo collar? The Adjustable collar is the best all-around collar. The dog can wear it all the time, although many dog pros recommend removing any collar when the dog is crated. The Combo collar is designed specifically to prevent a dog from 'backing out' of its collar. It has a 'martingale' loop of webbing. When tension is applied via the lead, the martingale reduces the size of the collar. It's not an infinite amount of closure, as with a choke chain, but enough to prevent the dog from slipping out. The Combo collar should not be left on when the dog is off-leash or unsupervised. Wearing a Combo collar off-lead increases the potential for getting caught on some object, or even another dog's jaw. To determine what size of Combo collar to use, measure around the widest aspect of the head and jaw, as well as the mid-point of the neck. Take whichever measurement is larger, and add in an additional 5% to ensure a comfortable fit. My dog pulls like a train! Should I try a harness? What's the difference between an H-Harness and a Roman Harness? If you are considering a harness for a dog, and your main objective is to relieve pressure on the trachea, neck and spine, the Roman style is best. This harness relieves pressure from a dog's throat, and puts it on the shoulders and chest. All harnesses should be removed when the outing is over as they are too accessible for chewing for dogs and may present an additional risk of entanglement or injury for cats. We do not recommend any of our products be used for tie-out. How do I know what size harness to buy? My dog can wear a 12"-20" Harness. Should I get a 1/2" wide or a 3/4" wide Roman/Adjustable Harness? |