Not so long ago it seems that one had the choice of a nylon collar, a choke collar or a leather collar. That was it. Today while the traditional leather and nylon are still available, added to them we have martingales, halters, harnesses, pronged collars, shock collars - the list goes on.

Choke collars are often misused and can easily cause damage to a dog's throat and spine. Shock collars - well, personally, I would not consider using a shock collar. Pronged collars are less barbabric than they look and less so even than the standard choke collar because of the way the prongs distribute pressure.

For a dog that pulls incessantly a martingale or halter would be most helpful and for those who simply want a smart new collar for their best friend then traditional flat collars are always popular.

When sizing a collar, you will want to be able to easily slip two fingers underneath it when fitted on the dog. You would not want too broad a strap on a small dog nor too narrow on a large breed. Puppies can be introduced to light collars early but the fitting has to be checked daily as it may surprise new pup owners how quickly they grow.