Has your dog become a nuisance and is constantly chewing your shoes, barking too much, or digging too many holes in the backyard? If so, you may need to use a shock collar to train your canine into becoming more obedient.
However, when it comes to using the e-collar, it easy to make it too tight with the false hope that it will deliver better results. Alternatively, you may also make it too loose with the fear that the prongs are hazardous to the pet.
Do not worry if you make any of the mistakes we have mentioned since you are not alone. For this reason, we came up with this article to guide you into fitting your dog’s e-collar perfectly and other issues regarding the accessory.
Read on to find out.
How Do I Know if My E Collar is Too Tight?
The first thing you need to watch out for is signs that the necklace is too tight and causing discomfort to your canine. If the dog constantly pulls against the collar, whining, barking, or displaying any other sign of pain, you should know that something is not right.
And when you take the collar off your dog and notice signs such as swelling, bruising caused by itching or cuts, this should tell you that the collar was probably too tight for the canine.
Another way of getting the right fitting collar is by measuring the width of the canine’s shoulders, neck, and underside. You can then match these dimensions with the sizing chart, which will help you find the ideal fit for your pet.
Lastly, you can use the simple two-finger test whereby if your two fingers do not fit into the space between the neck and the collar you have put on your dog, it is too tight for him.
Besides the visible injuries, an overly tight collar can cause your furry friend to vomit or even pass out.
The Strap Length and Tightness
Besides finding the correct length of the probes, the length of the collar strap should also allow for proper adjustment. Note that e collars have to be adjusted to a snugger fit compared to the regular dog collars.
The importance of this snug fit is to ensure that the unit functions properly while not compromising the canine’s health and comfort.
Should the fit be too loose, the result will be the collar and the probes rubbing against the pet’s neck, leading to skin irritations and discomfort.
Further, a loose-fitting collar would lead to inconsistent skin contact, which translates to inconsistent and ineffective stimulation.
Trimming A Collar to The Perfect Fit
This process is normally necessary for the smaller dog breeds, whereby the collar strap is too big for the canine and needs to be cut down to the perfect fit.
But before you embark on cutting down the collar to the right fit, you should keep in mind that not all models are designed to be cut safely. You may find the collar’s antennae are built directly into the strap, and trimming it would cause lasting damage.
When to Take Off The Collar
We advise that you avoid leaving the shock collar on your furry friend for more than 12-hours continuously. Since the unit is only meant for training purposes, you should take it off, turn it off and then store it safely when you are not engaging in any active training.
If you are worried about the pet wandering off, you should have a regular collar by the side to serve as a backup plan.
Further, you should make a point of readjusting the collar on the neck every one or two hours in-between the training.
You should also avoid using the e collar as a regular collar even with the shock level turned off.
Final Verdict
It is normal for pet owners, especially the new ones, to be easily confused when it comes to finding the ideal tightness for their dogs’ e collar. You should always know that this type of collar is quite controversial, and even the mildest shock can traumatize your pet more than you can imagine. We hope that our discussion has taught you something new so that you can fit a shock collar safely on your canine without hurting the pet. And if you notice that the dog is not responding well to the training or is uncomfortable, consider using other methods that may give better results.
