Finding the right dog collar and pet ID tag combination can be tricky. You might have had the cutest little collar and bone-shaped ID tag all picked out for your pup, but upon putting it on your dog, it didn’t go down so well.
We know how that feels, clothes can be restricting. If you’ve ever had to wear brassiere you KNOW the relief of taking it off at the end of the day. How do we know it’s not the same for our puppy pals? When I take my dog’s collar off to give her a good brush, she seems to relish in her nakedness. I feel bad putting the collar back on, but I know it’s necessary for her to wear. After all, it has her personal ID and immunization records, so if she’s found wandering away from home (fingers crossed this never happens) the kind stranger that finds her will know her name and to whom she belongs. Though just as an extra safety measure, she’s been microchipped too.
Understanding Your Pooch
Like humans, dogs have unique eccentricities. Some like to run through a dewy field and others would prefer to lie in front of the stove all day—keeping their paws nice and toasty. Some dogs adore playing fetch for hours at the local dog park, others show absolutely no interest in rubber balls. No two dogs are the same, so why would we expect them to be happy with the same uniform collar and tags? I know what you’re thinking…different styles appeal to the dog owner’s taste. Fido may not have our delicate fashion sensibilities. To keep our dogs and ourselves happy about canine accessories it’s fun to check out personalized pet ID tags and collars. It’s fun mixing and matching to find a favorite combo.
What’s in a Lifestyle?
The comfort of a dog collar first depends on your dog’s fur type. Typically, rolled leather collars are best for dogs with long hair, and flat collars are ideal for dogs with short hair. However, the material of the collar and the design of the ID tag depends on the activity levels of your pooch.
For the active dog, the flat nylon collar would be the most durable, particularly if most of the pup’s movements have to do with water sports. The nylon collar forms well around the dog’s neck, and its flathead buckle keeps from being a hindrance. The only problem with the nylon flat collar is that it only lasts for about a year before showing considerable signs of wear and tear. And because the material becomes weakened over time, sewing in a flat, engraved ID will cause it to weaken that much quicker. Thus a nylon collar requires the traditional ID tag.
One way to keep the traditional, dangling ID tag from bothering your four-legged fur baby is by framing the tag in a rubber tag holder. That will keep the tag from bouncing around as much and will silence the clinking of tags, proving to be less of a distraction for your puppy in training.
You can get a flat leather collar for the active dog too, but it requires more care. When leather gets wet, the oils of the leather bind with the water, making the leather more brittle. If the wet collar is not removed and cleaned properly, the water will damage the leather beyond repair. This is about the only drawback of the leather dog collar. Leather collars are more form fitting and move with the movements of the dog. And unlike the nylon collar, you can sew a nameplate tag into the collar without fear of weakening the material.
Here’s to a new year of fun with your dog!