Dog Collars, Leads & Harnesses

Dog walking accessories come in all kinds of shapes and designs – be they power harnesses, simple collars or even muzzles. You can find a huge range of walking accessories in our bitiba dog shop – and find out more about the different types and materials for dog collars. As well, we inform you about familiarisation and the right age for dog collars.

Common dog collars are used in conjunction with a lead for safety and to prevent dogs from running away. In addition, there are special collars with several special functions, including reflective collars and flashlight collars with LEDs for improved visibility in the dark. Flea collars are a preventive health measure and protect dogs from infestation by fleas or other parasites like lice and ticks.

Leather is a popular material for high-quality dog collars. As a natural material, it is attractive in appearance and feel with a pleasant smell. As well, leather is robust and durable if you regularly grease the collar. You should thoroughly dry leather collars that get wet. Affordable, robust alternatives to leather collars can be made from synthetic fibres. These include, for instance, nylon or polyester, which are renowned for being easy to clean. Collars with a broad support area, soft padding and no metal parts offer additional advantages in terms of comfort.

There is no minimum age for using dog collars. Using them early on has the advantage of them being less likely to encounter resistance. Some breeders already use collars with their puppies, so the matter of the appropriate time for you to start doing as the buyer of the dog becomes irrelevant. If this isn't the case, you should keep an eye on your dog's skin in the throat area to recognise potential allergic reactions early on. This primarily concerns collars with nickel. As with humans, this metal can trigger a contact allergy, although this is rare.

Dog collars shouldn't be fixed too loose or too tight. The maximum width is determined by the circumference of the head at its widest point. It should always be well below this. The lower limit is always more than the natural width of the throat. You can do the finger test to check that the collar fits well. Place two fingers beneath the collar. If it can still move easily, the tightness is acceptable to ensure your dog's wellbeing. Make sure too that there are no clasps or other metal parts on the underside of the collar.

Wearing a collar is new and unusual for dogs, so choose a familiar situation and surroundings. If you buy or adapt a dog that still hasn't worn a collar, first give it time to settle in with you. Besides, it's useful for the dog to already be familiar with the collar, so let your four-legged friend sniff away at it to its heart's content. You can also create positive associations with the dog collar by rewarding voluntary contact with a treat. If your dog shows any resistance the first time you put it on, abort the attempt and prolong the familiarisation phase.