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Custom-made designer dog collars are great choices for any dog. Your pet can have specific designs that are catered just for them. Custom-made collars allow you the opportunity to choose your own hardware for the collar.

There are several different materials that you can choose from for your custom-made dog collars. Designer quality dog collars can offer a lot to a dog collar. Each material is different, with varying advantages and disadvantages.

Using metal hardware on your dog collars makes them more durable. If you would like to have a dog collar with increased durability choose one with nylon webbing that works well with metal hardware. Both nylon and metal hardware are the strongest materials of their kind.

Webbing products need hardware that is strong and durable. Metal is the best choice. It is often used for a lot of dog products, which include leashes, harnesses, and collars.

Side release buckles are a very common metal hardware that is used with pet collars. Metal side release buckles are often used with big dog collars. Metal side release buckles are heavier because they are more sturdy, which makes them a great option for larger dog collars meant for larger dogs.

Snap hooks are another popular choice with webbing and metal hardware. Snap hooks are handy to keep webbing from getting knotted and twisted. Snap hooks are used a lot with dog leashes.

Swivel hooks are also used with webbing. Swivel hooks are not very strong, so they are not commonly used with dog items. Usually swivel hooks are more for holding keys or used for lanyards.

Keep your dog safe by choosing a safe, strong metal hardware product. Use nylon straps with metal hardware for the strongest dog collar combination. Decide which product you would like to use with your dog items – whether that be triglides, side release buckles, dee rings, or snap hooks.

It can be difficult to choose dog collars or dog leashes. It is hard to know what material works best and whether you should be getting the dog collar with the nylon straps or one with polypro webbing. Each of these materials are very different, but they have similarities as well.

Both are beneficial for dog collars and harnesses. There are advantages to both materials. Here are a few differences between the two.

Nylon straps are much more dependable than polypro straps. Why? It is because of strength. Nylon webbing is much stronger than polypro webbing. Nylon webbing has a tensile strength of 4,200 to 5,500 pound per 1-inch width, while polypro only has a tensile strength of 600 pounds per inch.

Nylon webbing is also very durable. Nylon straps will be able to withstand a lot of abrasion and be able to resist mildew, water and UV ray damage. It has a melting point of 300 degrees.

Most fabric-covered homemade and designer dog collars out there are made from nylon webbing, not polypro webbing. Nylon webbing is also a popular choice for dog leashes. Nylon webbing allows dogs and dog owners to feel secure because of the strength nylon has to offer.

Polypro webbing is not as strong as nylon webbing, but it has other strengths that make it a good choice. It is just as durable as the nylon webbing. It is waterproof, mildew and UV resistant, and also melts at 300 degrees just like nylon webbing.

Some advantages that polypro has on nylon webbing is that is less expensive. It is also stretchier and floats in water. Polypro webbing also holds up better under alkaline and acid.

Both nylon and polypro webbing are used in more ways than just as dog collars. Nylon webbing, in particular, is used a lot with boat rigging, luggage straps and climbing harnesses. Nylon straps are often used more because of their superior strength.

Nylon straps are very versatile and have many uses. Since they are made out of nylon, they are strong and resist stretching and abrasion. They also have a comfortable feel.

Nylon bands can be made in any color, and woven into many patterns. They can be very narrow, or as wide as needed. They can even be made to be fire resistant for use by the military and automobile industry.

Nylon straps are used in creating luggage, clothing, footwear, back packs, purses, watch bands, camera straps, dog collars, and leashes; as well as many other things. Strong straps can be used as tie downs to hold luggage on your vehicle. Even large trucks can be seen using heavy duty straps to hold their cargo in place.

Many nylon straps include a slide that allows the length of the strap to be adjusted. Most have buckles for quick attachment and release. With the buckles, another length of strap can easily be added on for even greater length as needed.

Nylon webbing is very useful for pet collars and leashes. With it’s strength, it can be made into leashes of any size and length. Using adjustable slides and buckles, collars can be made that will adjust perfectly to fit your pet’s neck.

Backpacks, duffel-bags or other bags used for carrying heavy items generally use nylon straps in their design. Adding padding to the area where the straps sit across the shoulder increases the comfort for the user. Adjustable shoulder straps make backpacks versatile for use by people of different sizes.

A strap is often attached to a valuable camera so it can be hung around the photographer’s neck. This prevents the camera from damage in case it accidentally slips out of someone’s hands. Most camera bags are also equipped with similar straps that can be worn around the neck, shoulder or waist.

You can see that nylon straps have many uses and great value. Their design depends on the purpose they are intended for. Their use is limited only by your imagination.

Sometimes, one article is not enough to relay all the information pertaining to a subject. That is the case with the recent column about Martingale collars and half check collars. The debate about the different types of choke collars was the subject but there was not space to discuss the proper fit and position of these types of collars, which is a very important aspect of using Martingale and Half Check collars.

In summary, Half check collars and Martingale collars are variations of choke collars that are considered to be more humane that the chain choke collar. These two types of collars were originally designed for sight hounds, such as Greyhounds, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, Bolzoi, Saluki, etc., which are breeds that have necks larger than their heads, but prevents any dog from backing out of a regular collar.

Half check collars, or half choke collars, are usually made of leather or nylon webbing and chain, while Martingale collars are made totally of nylon webbing. Both of these specialty collars have a two-loop design that works by tightening on the dogs neck when it is trying to remove its head from the collar, but will loosen again when the dog stops struggling against it. The unique, limited closure of the half check collar and the Martingale collar prevents it from becoming too tight. However, the fit and positioning of each of these collars is extremely important.

The Martingale collar, which is usually made of nylon webbing, has two loops. The small loop, also called the control loop, has the dee ring which is the attach point for the leash. The Martingale collar is adjusted with the second loop which allows the collar to be tightened or loosened to fit the dog perfectly. A buckle can be added to the collar so it can be buckled around the dog’s neck.

To properly fit and position the Martingale collar, slip it over the dog’s head and pull the collar up right behind the ears of the dog. The collar is adjusted here because this is the point where a normal collar slips over the head. The control loop should close when the dee ring is pulled. The two hardware pieces attached to the control loop should be a minimum of two inches apart or the standard two-finger allowance. The two pieces should never touch. If the two pieces touch, your collar is too loose.

The Half Check Collar is similar to the Martingale except part of this collar is made with nylon webbing or leather and the other part is chain. It also has two loops that have the same functions as the Martingale collar. The control loop on this collar is the chain which is a circle. The dee ring is in this circle of chain and is also the attach point for the leash. This chain is also attached to the webbing or leather part of the collar with metal rings. The adjustment loop is in the part of the collar that is webbing or nylon.

As with the Martingale collar, the half check collar is positioned and fit in the same manner. When the dog pulls or tries to slip this collar over its head, the chain slides through the rings, tightening the webbing around the dog’s neck. The chain itself never tightens around the neck. The dog only feels the webbing or the leather. The distinctive clinking noise also serves as a training tool as the dog pulls against the Half check collar.

When learning how to properly fit and position these two collars, it becomes apparent how similar the Martingale and the Half check collars to each other. These collars work virtually the same way to control breeds that would normally be able to slip a regular flat collar over its head. Also, it is apparent that these collars are a more humane way to control dogs that the plain chain choke collar or the prong collar. The owner of the dog must be knowledgeable about these collars and how to use them so that no injury comes to the pet.

A topic which will always start a debate among dog owners is the use of choke collars.  The opinions on blogs and forums are wide and varied about the benefits and disadvantages of the use of choke collars.  Many pet owners and trainers are proponents of choke collars for training and control.  Then there are the owners and trainers who think these collars are instruments of abuse.  Information about the different types of choke collars is essential for the pet owner to make an informed decision.

One type of choke collar is the chain choke collar also called a slip collar.  This type of collar can be made of chain but is also made of cord, webbing or cloth.  Despite the name, a chain choke collar is not intended to choke a dog – it is intended to press on the brachial nerve, much like pinching the funny bone.  This type of collar is intended for training purposes only and must fit correctly on the neck and not under it, so the chain will not to cause damage to the dog’s throat.

The design of this collar makes it dangerous to leave on an unattended animal because it can easily catch on something and accidentally strangle a pet.  Many owners suggest the choke chain or slip collar should only be used for training purposes or for safe handling of dogs when on a leash.  This type of collar is not recommended for puppies which are six months old or younger.  Also, if a dog is continually pulling against the chain, then another type of choke collar should be used.

Half check collars and Martingale collars are variations of choke collars that are considered by many dog owners to be more humane that the chain choke collar.  These two types of collars were originally designed for sight hounds, such as Greyhounds, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, Bolzoi, Saluki, etc., which are breeds that have necks larger than their heads.  Half check and Martingale collars have since become popular with many breeders because it prevents any dog from backing out of a regular collar.

Half check collars, also called half choke collars, are made of leather or nylon webbing and chain.  Martingale collars are made totally of nylon webbing.  Both of these specialty collars have a two-loop design that works by tightening on the dogs neck when it is trying to remove its head from the collar, but will loosen again when the dog stops struggling against it. The unique, limited closure of the half check collar and the Martingale collar prevents it from becoming too tight.

These specialty collars are also good for controlling dogs when on a leash.  Some dogs, even when properly trained, can be a problem when on a leash and these collars are a tool to keep the dog and its owner safe.  Choke collars are especially useful with extra large and giant breeds of dogs which can easily pull an owner off their feet.

One benefit of the Martingale collar over the Half check collar is that it will not tangle in the animals fur since it is made of webbing and has no chain.  All owners that are proponents of these collars stress that the fit and position of these collars is essential to making sure these collars do not injure your dog.  Instructions on the proper fit and position are easy to find at any pet store, on the internet or from any dog trainer.

The debate over whether or not to use any type of choke collar will continue among dog owners, but there is plenty of information available for an educated decision.  Ultimately, it is a decision that must be made by the individual owner and breeder for the benefit and safety of their dogs.