The humble dog collar is much more than just a fashion accessory or somewhere to hang the little embossed bone with your phone number on. A dog collar helps you walk your dog and is also there in case of any emergency where you might need to grab them quickly. Before micro-chipping animals was introduced, the dog collar was the only means of identification. By putting a simple name tag with some basic details you could usually be assured that if your beloved family pet went missing it should not be long before they were returned to your loving arms once again.

It is important that you fit a dog collar properly. This doesn't just mean that you should make sure the buckle is done up properly, you should also make sure you have the right size of collar and one that is adequate to your needs. There are a wide variety available but presuming that you have a well behaved dog who is good on the lead and doesn't pull too much you should be able to take your pick. Choker chains are not necessary for dogs unless they are particularly badly behaved when walking on the lead.

A choker chain is a series of metal loops that attach around the dog's neck and tighten when they pull. The action of the chain tightening will usually be enough to stop any pulling. However, some dogs do not react well to choker chains. The metal links banging together can make a particularly harsh noise that some dogs will find disturbing. This will not only stop them pulling but could also lead to them dreading walk time, instead of looking forward to the exercise and fresh air.

Find a dog collar that sits snugly around your dog's neck without being too tight. You want to prevent them from slipping the collar but you don't want to strangle them in the process. Buying an ill fitting dog collar will inevitably mean that you will struggle to get it to fit properly and in turn this will lead to problems when walking and potentially much greater problems in the long run.

Specialist dog collars are also available that help with difficult dogs. A harness should only be used while walking your dog and if you have a dog who pulls a lot then a harness or a halter will prevent too much pulling. Again, this should be fitted properly otherwise you may be causing more problems than you are actually remedying.