Which collar to choose?

[babywipessolveanything]

I'm totally baffled by the different types of collars and google isn't helping me much.

What would be the best collar for a medium/large dog? He's a mongrel, possibly a mix of Rottweiler, German Shepherd and something else. He's reasonably good on a lead although can pull a little bit.

Any suggestions on what's best? He's getting on a bit so I want him to have something that's comfortable but that he can be walked in every day. He has had a choke chain his whole life but I have read that they were never supposed to be used for walks.

I use a Ruffwear harness for my dog as he pulls like a train, but their collars are very soft and gentle to keep on all the time. They're robust too.

My sillybrowndog has a collar with skulls and roses on. I feel this may be more suited to your boy than mine! I think it says walk e woo on it, but can’t find it online. Urban pup seems to have similar.

And I neeeed a photo as my old boy used to be a rottie x gsd and he was the best dog in the world 💖

Thank you both! I like the look of the Ruffwear Chain Reaction collar so that might actually be the one! It's a half choke so hopefully more comfortable for him but still vaguely what he's used to.
The urban pup designs are ace! I could get carried away here...

I don't know how to add photos weasel or I would! He looks like a Rottie and a GSD crashed into each - he's a really lovely mix!

The first rule is - nothing that tightens when the dog pulls - so no choke chains, prong collars, martingales, check collars or many of the harnesses that market themselves as no pull training aids and, on closer inspection, tighten when the dog pulls. This essentially leaves you with what's known as a flat collar, which can be webbing or leather based, and fasten with a belt type buckle or a clip; which is your preference.

If you're considering a harness, the Perfect Fit harnesses regularly come out as being top quality - and even sceptic me thinks it has helped a bit with the last remnants of pulling (far from a cure, just an improvement)

Ultimately, however, the solution to pulling is training, not equipment. It had become a really ingrained habit in my dog, so it has been one of the hardest things to train out, but we've had a lot of success with the stop start method.

Thank you Avocados, that's really helpful. I thought the half-check styles might be a good idea as he's quite big, but I will have a look at those harnesses instead.

Thank you all for all your help!

If he’s pretty good on lead and only a bit pully, I’d just get a normal collar... you’re not really gaining any traction by having one that tightens, it’s just more uncomfortable for him and he’s obviously willing to pull through the discomfort anyway.

If he’s mostly rottie and GSD he should be pretty trainable...

There's a bit of info here on half check collars and how they can be fitted correctly so that they don't tighten unduly when the dog pulls, but the bottom line is that it cannot tighten around the neck even if the dog is pulling like a steam train www.apdt.co.uk/about-apdt/apdt-policy-on-half-check-collars

It's not particularly well written, but this article does reference the long term damage caused by choke chains and other collars that tighten. In a nutshell, such dogs are highly likely to end up with neck / spinal problems. Those problems are painful. Dogs experiencing pain are far more likely to develop problems with aggression (i.e. become reactive). Furthermore, if a dog is pulling and experiencing pain from a choke chain, the reaction is to try and get away... so the dog then pulls away more www.dog-games.co.uk/training/aversion-techniques/choke-chains-collars/

As you reference the size of your dog as being a key issue, you may like to consider a head collar as an interim measure, while you're working on training; ultimately you do need to be able to stop your dog dragging you across an A road because he spotted a cat! Again, it needs to be one that doesn't tighten when the dog pulls - a Dogmatic is a good option, but a Halti or Gentle Leader would be inappropriate. It does, however, provide more control, is better for the dog than a choke chain, and can be used in conjunction with a harness or flat collar, using a double ended lead.

I have a lovely half check from Essenjay. Sturdy enough for big pup!

I use Meggie Moo collars. It takes me 30 minutes to change collars on Collie because she insists on finding the muddiest puddle she can on walks to wallow in, meaning she gets to try out the newest collar her mug buys for her they need to be washed fairly regularly. Thankfully, they keep their colour very well.

Reasonable on the lead but can sometimes pull a bit sounds like battendog who at 23kg is not small.

For everyday walks when he is less likely to pull, I love the ruffwear crag collar which is light but robust and easy to clean. The clasp has a strong clip on it, so I definitely know it's done up properly.

For social walks with other dogs he is more likely to pull so I use a perfect fit harness. This makes it easier for him to pull even harder but at least I know he won't damage his neck.

For in town walks when he might pull but I need greater control, I use the harness and clip one end to the back d-ring and the other end of the lead to his collar. This gives me the option to move the strain from neck to harness.

Thanks everyone for all the info. I really like the Ruffwear crag collar but have been looking at harnesses now too. I definitely don't want to cause him any issues so will steer clear of the half/choke styles - at first I thought they looked good as he is already used to a full choke chain but he probably doesn't actually need it and I don't want to keep him in it. He doesn't actually pull too badly but I would worry about losing control if he saw something he really wanted to go after - at 35kg he is fairly big!

A half choke fitted properly won't choke at all. It does tighten but not tight at all. I wouldn't use a proper choke. It's sort of fitted at its tightest.
I also use a dogmatic when I need close control in crowds etc.

Posted too soon.
Ha at 35kg being big. Mine is over 50!
Perfect fit harnesses are supposed to be very good.