One of the first purchases that any first-time pet parent must make is a dog collar. Along with a leash, it is an essential accessory that no pet can go without. This is because dog collars are necessary for identification, training, and walks. However, there are so many options available on the market that it can be difficult to determine the best choice, especially if they’ve never owned a dog before.
Helping your customers pick the right type of dog collar for their pet can mean a lot to them. It’s a way to ensure smoother training sessions, safer and more enjoyable walks, and overall safety for their precious pup. From custom martingale dog collars to harnesses, here are all the options you should consider offering your customers:
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The Martingale Collar
Pet parents nowadays have higher expectations of the products they buy for their pets. Even something as simple as a dog collar should perform all the functions of one without hurting their precious fur baby. For this reason, the Martingale collar should be one of the first products you offer a customer. Also known as no-slip or limited-slip collars, they’ve been used by owners of greyhounds, whippets, and other long-necked dogs for years.
Though similar in appearance to a regular flat dog collar, the Martingale collar supports the pet parent by giving them more control over their furry friend in certain situations. A third of the length of the collar is a smaller loop with a D-ring attached. Because of the way that it’s designed, the collar constricts around the pet’s neck when it pulls on the leash. However, the beauty of the Martingale collar is that it never tightens too much. Instead, it does so just enough to discourage the dog from continuing the action.
Martingale collars are an excellent choice for all dogs, but especially for long-necked breeds such as the aforementioned. They are also ideal for use with dogs in training that have not yet learned how to not pull on their leashes or those that have a habit of backing out of their collars and escaping. If your customers have a pet that fits any of these descriptions, recommend the Martingale collar to them.
The Flat Collar
The regular flat collar is a common sight on many dogs. It is considered the standard and is the most popular choice for many reasons. Indeed, it’s an accessory that a pet parent can rely on to do what it’s supposed to. Flat collars are available in a wide variety of materials, from nylon to leather.
In general, flat collars are only suitable for use with dogs that have already been trained and do not have a habit of pulling or escaping. This means that they won’t be adequate for pet parents whose fur babies are still in school and learning. Since flat collars don’t differ much from one another, how a customer chooses one will be up to their personal preference. You can try to offer helpful advice about the strength of certain materials, or how well some collars will age over others.
The Slip Collar
Confusingly, the slip collar can also be called a slip lead or slip leash. That being said, these are just different ways of referring to the same product. Essentially a collar and a leash in one, this type of collar simply slips over the dog’s neck. It does not have a regular buckle closure and instead has a looped design. Like the Martingale collar, this dog collar offers pet parents more control over their dogs using the same mechanism. The loop around the dog’s neck tightens when they pull on their leash, which makes it an excellent tool for aversion training. However, just like the Martingale collar, the slip collar does not choke the pet or tighten so much that it would endanger them. A slight tug on the leash from the pet parent should also be enough to instantly correct their dog’s behavior.
This type of collar is recommended for pet owners who are still training their dogs to walk unassisted. It is also great for casual use as long as the pet does not have a habit of pulling out of their collar, as this is one of the easiest collars to back out of.
An Alternative to Collars: Dog Harnesses
In certain cases, you may find that a customer’s fur baby would be better served by a pet harness rather than a dog collar. Harnesses are ideal for puppies that have not yet learned how to walk on a leash, as it keeps the leash out of their way. They are also the best choice for pet parents who own very large dogs that need a higher level of management and control. Finally, harnesses are the ideal accessory for pet owners with very small dogs that could be injured from pulling and tugging on a regular collar and leash combo.
When recommending a dog collar to a customer, it’s important to listen to their needs and get as much information on their pet as possible. This will give you an idea of the dog’s temperament and behavior, which will then allow you to offer the best choice possible.
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