What makes a good collar for a dog?

You see all kinds of collars on dogs’ necks. There are narrow leather collars and stiff synthetic collars, choking chain collars, fully tightening slip collars made of round rope. There are unpadded nylon webbing collars and collars that appear to have some kind of lining, but upon closer inspection the lining turns out to be hard and/or rough.

I believe many may unknowingly and completely unintentionally choose an uncomfortable collar for their dog. Although the product is for sale and seemingly intended for dogs, it unfortunately doesn’t guarantee the product's quality and true suitability for them. For some, the aesthetics that appeal to their own eyes weigh more in the balance than the dog's well-being when selecting a collar. However, a wide, soft, and non-choking collar is often the best choice for daily use from the dog's perspective.

A dog is a living being, and its neck is a sensitive part of the body. You can quite reasonably compare a dog's neck and its structures to a human's neck. I've sometimes told those asking about the benefits of a wider and softer collar to try the collar they have chosen for their dog (or a strap/belt of the same width and hardness) on their own neck and have a friend pull on it, then consider how that feels. After that, they can reflect on whether they want their beloved family member to experience the same thing daily.

I understand that very large dogs can be difficult to control without equipment that causes pain, but still: controlling through pain and discomfort is not right. There are other methods, but I will not go into them here – plenty of good information is available from professional dog trainers.

I created the accompanying image to illustrate the anatomy of a dog’s neck – in other words, what lies under the collar. We all understand how serious the consequences can be if any internal structures of the neck are damaged.

A dog’s neck is not a solid, rigid column that can withstand endless pulling, choking, and the point pressure of a narrow collar. The structures of the neck consist mostly of soft tissue and cartilage, and although the vertebrae are bone, they are also connected by softer tissues.

When forces caused by narrow, hard, or choking equipment are applied to these structures, injuries can occur immediately or later – and they cannot always be repaired, even surgically.

To keep a dog's vital neck healthy, the collar should be:

For a dog the size of a Jack Russell Terrier, this means about 4.5 cm in width at least, and for larger or long-necked breeds (like sighthounds), collar can be even 10 cm or more wide. A good guideline is that the collar should cover at least two neck vertebrae to distribute pressure more evenly.

It’s essential that the collar is padded and soft, including on the edges, so it adapts to the neck's movements while still being sufficiently supportive. A wide but hard collar is a poor choice.

The lining material comes into direct contact with the dog’s fur and skin. Each hair follicle has a nerve ending, and if the collar rubs, sticks to the hairs, or causes static electricity, it will not feel good for the dog. The lining should be smooth, low-friction, and gentle for both the fur and the skin.

I’ve heard this comment a few times from people whose eyes are used to seeing non-ergonomic, narrow collars on their dogs. And yes – the collar is supposed to function somewhat like a neck brace, as its purpose is to protect the structures of the neck. But if the collar is extremely wide and hard, and/or constantly tight, that’s not a good choice either, as such a collar restricts neck movement, causes discomfort and stresses the dog.

Puppies are often offered narrow collars, even though their collar should be wide and soft. A puppy does not yet know how to walk on a leash but darts and spins around – and a narrow collar can permanently damage the developing structures of the neck. Silko Dog slip-on collars are also well suited for puppies. As the puppy grows, the collar naturally needs to be replaced with a larger one, but a solution for this is in development – the design table is bubbling!

Our collars are:

Thanks to the slip-on construction, the collar is easy to put on and take off, and it loosens comfortably when the dog is not pulling.

A collar fits properly when it is snug at its smallest setting – it does not choke the dog, but also does not allow the dog to pull its head out.

Note: The size number of Silko Dog collars refers to the inner circumference when the collar is at its smallest.

How to measure your dog’s collar size:

If the dog’s head is significantly larger than the neck, you can choose a slightly larger size—the main thing is that the collar should not fit over the dog’s head when it’s at its smallest. For dogs with very thick and fluffy coats, a slightly larger collar than the skin-tight measurement may work better.

Silko Dog collars have a tightening strap with a stopper that allows you to adjust the collar’s opening by a maximum of 7-10 cm, depending on the size.

Wishing you softness in your day,

Designer Kana

Silko Dog

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