“Why do I have this befuddled look on my face?  Well, I’m confused. Is it really OK for me, a macho bit of a dog, to wear a pink dog collar? OK, it isn’t solid pink, so it has that going for it. But do you not see flowers around my furry little neck? Ern’t flowers a girlie thing? I’m anything but girlie. You should see me herd sheep!”

That’s what it seems my little fellow, Dudley, is saying in this picture right after I put the Flower Power collar by Lupine on him.

I love this collar because of it’s versatile colors. Pink, blue, green flowers against a dark blue background. More importantly, this particular model of collar is a quick release, which is my favorite type of collar. Dudley, the fellow in the picture, is an avid rough-houser and gets into all sorts of play matches with canine friends of his. If there were a case of needing to get his collar off while he were caught in the middle of play, perhaps another dog’s mouth catches on his collar, I would have a much better chance of getting this quick-release collar off him than a buckle collar. Never mind choke collars!

I know for a fact canine collar strangulations happen more often than one would think. I have two close friends which both had close calls with their dogs. One dog was playing with another, and the other’s jaw caught on the collar. I remember one telling me her dog’s eyes had rolled back into its head by the time she got the collar off. There was no way to get scissors down the collar because it was so tight against the dog. Mind you the other dog was thrashing and panicking with the collar wrapped around its jaw. My friend was lucky the quick release was not in the second dog’s mouth. She felt her way around the dog’s neck and found the latch. It was no piece of cake to release, but she struggled and managed to press the latch together thus releasing the collar. The dog survived. My second friend, who lives across the country, had a similar situation happen to her and her two dogs. It’s not uncommon.  How fortunate that both dog owners watch their dogs when they’re out in the yard playing. Imagine if not! In such a situation, seconds count.

When dogs actively play, the collar catching in another dog’s mouth is a very real possibility. I’ve seen my own dogs grab each other by the collar. Isn’t that what the collar’s there for? At least from a dog’s perspective. The collar’s a convenient handle for a dog to use. And because our dogs don’t know any better, we have to be one step ahead of the what-if’s.

As for Dudley, he’s a happening dude, who lives everyday actively, and playfully. And he may prefer a pink dog collar minus the pink. But whatever collar he wears, it will definitely be one with a quick-release.

Collars come in a variety of styles.   The choke collar is a piece of chain, cord, or other material on which a ring is attached to each end of the collar.  One end of the chain or cord slips into and through the other end, thus making a collar.

Imagine the letter P for Pink.  When placing a choke collar over your dog’s head, the letter P should face you as you approach the dog.

The collar goes over your dog’s head with the letter P  in place.

The lead is then connected to the free o-ring.  When the leash is attached to the active ring, and the dog’s handler is walking on the traditional right side of the dog, the force of the correction will start on top of the neck and tighten around your dog’s neck.  If the collar is put on upside-down, the initial force will go against your dog’s throat and windpipe.  A hard correction, a yank on the leash, could damage a dog’s throat or injure the dog.  Therefore, it’s very important to put the collar on correctly.

Choke collars should not be left on a dog when not being trained.  These collars are not meant for everyday wear.  Imagine if your dog gets caught on something when alone.  It could easily injure or even choke itself.  If two dogs are playing, one could catch a hold of the other’s choke collar, twist it, get caught and there could be irreparable damage done.  Be aware that this has happened and it’s a tragedy.  Cutting off a choke collar when a dog is panicking or two dogs are panicking is virtually impossible with a corded collar, and impossible if the collar is chain.  So please, do not leave a choke collar on your dog as an everyday collar.

If using the force method of training, here are a couple of choke collars available in pink.

Mountain Choke Collar in Pink
Engineered from Swiss Alps mountaineering rope, these collars are strong, durable and lightweight for comfort.  Sizing Instructions: Measure your dog’s neck and add 2 inches.

Petmate by Aspen Pet
Heavy Pink Mighty Link Comfort Chain Collar
Virtually eliminates hair pulling, skin pinching and chain noise while offering the same control and training as traditional chain collars. Offered in a variety of sizes.

And remember, for everyday use, there are plenty of beautiful pink dog collars available on the market that are safer and kinder to your dog.

May the pink be with you.

Put a pretty PINK DOG COLLAR on your best friend for a soft look and a dash of style.  If you are a small dog owner, a pink dog collar will enhance your little friend’s cuteness index and elicit smiles from everyone.  From hot to muted, pink is a cheerful, romantic color which is universally enjoyed.  Try one of these dog collars for fun or fancy and watch the compliments roll in.

Petmate by Aspen Pet Signature Single Ply Nylon Hot Pink Dog Collar Strength, style, and performance come together in Aspen’s Pet Signature Collar. Built on premium fade and fray resistant nylon, this pink dog collar features a heavy-weight metal buckle finished with the distinctive Aspen logo.

Petmate by Aspen Pet Signature Adjustable Hot Pink Nylon Dog Collar This beautiful Aspen dog collar is made of the same durable nylon as the dog collar above, but features a heavy-duty metal and plastic slide buckle finished with the distinctive Aspen logo.  It not only gives a fashionable appeal, slide buckles are a cinch to unlatch.

Bison Pet Adjustable Pink Maui Dog Collar This is a fun collar with a splashy shades-of-pink pattern from Bison Pet. This sturdy nylon pink dog collar is made with heavy duty, strong stitching and includes tough coordinating hardware, for that tough dog! In addition, Bison’s adjustable dog collar features built-in slides and a contoured side-squeeze buckle for a quick and easy fit. This collar is stylish and chic, and boasts a floral hibiscus print, ensuring that your dog will be the talk of the town.  Beautiful!

Bison Pet Nylon matching 6-foot Pink Maui Nylon Leash is sold separately. A must have if you buy the collar!

Bison Pet Nylon Adjustable Pink and Black Dog Collar Eye-catching and fun, this is what Bison Pet has for you. This durable nylon dog collar is made with heavy duty, strong stitching and includes tough coordinating hardware.  In addition, this adjustable dog collar features built-in slides and contoured side-squeeze buckles for that quick and easy fit.  Classic with a twist of color, this dog collar boasts a tartan plaid pattern in bold pink and black, ensuring that your dog will be the talk of the town.

Remember to pick up the matching Bison Pet Nylon 6-foot Pink and Black Dog Leash!
Sold separately.

Whatever your tastes, there is a pink dog collar to match!