What collar is right for your German Shepherd and how to choose the best one?
German Shepherd Dogs
One of the most beautiful dog breeds out there, it’s imperative to choose a suitably matching collar for your German Shepherd. Big dogs originating from Germany in the 1800s, they were originally bred for herding sheep, and are well known to be very smart, trainable dogs.
There are many different types of collars for your German Shepherd, and each depends on what you are trying to achieve with them. For example, if your GSD (German Shepherd Dog) is being rambunctious and hard to train, then your collar search and choice will greatly differ from if you were simply looking for a GPS tracking collar to keep tabs on your pup when you’re not with them.
German Shepherd dogs are large and muscular, and they also have a distinctive head shape. They have pointed, erect ears that are flexible and are adjusted by the dog during motion, alongside a domed forehead, lengthy protruding snout and powerful teeth and jaws.
They also have sizable necks, of which the positioning changes depending on the behavior or activity. This includes keeping it close to the ground when running or hunting, and straightening up if happy or intrigued. On top of their necks, German Shepherds have thick, double coats which add an extra layer to the sizing needed of the collar.
German Shepherd Collar Sizing
Your GSDs collar will have a lot of important information on it, including its name, contact information and address if you are ever parted. Therefore, it is crucial that you get the sizing right when choosing your collar!
To find the correct collar size for your GSD, follow these simple steps:
- Get a soft tape measure, string or ribbon.
- Place it around your German Shepherd’s neck at the position where the dog collar will be.
- Take down this measurement, this is the circumference of your GSDs neck.
- Add 1 to 3 inches (depending on the size of your Shepherd here) to this measurement, in order to make sure that the collar isn’t uncomfortable or too tight on your dog.
It’s also worth noting that you should follow the ‘Two Fingers’ rule when fitting your dog collar onto your German Shepherd. This helps to ensure that it fits correctly and isn’t too tight, and means that you should be able to comfortably fit two of your fingers under the collar while it is on your dog.
German Shepherd Collar Options
There are lots of different collar options for your GSD. We’ve highlighted several different types of collars, telling you how they work and why they’re different, and providing a recommended example of each. We suggest taking a look at all of them and finding the best fit for you and your Shepherd.
Best Martingale Collar For German Shepherds
Ray Allen Manufacturing’s Nylon Martingale Collar
Martingale collars are a great choice for stopping your dog from pulling on their leash, and allowing you to do so in an entirely safe, humane way. The two loops attach together in such a way that it tightens the collar on your dog as they pull, and you’re able to control the sizing and threshold of this restraint in a way that is suitable for your pup.
Ray Allen Manufacturing’s martingale collar gives you a lot of adjustability and durability, which is perfect for a muscular GSD. The nylon material is made from tubular webbing, meaning that it’s actually two layers woven together to provide extra strength. They’ve also ensured that all of their sizing adjusters and hardware are metal, to provide even more security here.
The collar comes in one adjustable size, which allows for spacing between 16-24 inches, which is perfect for GSDs. It also comes in a wide range of colors, including black, blue, purple, pink and more.
These collars are used by thousands of professional trainers and military dogs across the world so take a look and see if the martingale is right for your German Shepherd!
Best GPS Tracking Collar For German Shepherds
Known as the smartest dog collar ever built, the Fi Smart Collar is the only option here that offers you more than just a dog collar. With GPS tracking, it allows you to see your German Shepherd’s location on your phone, and know where they are, and who they’re with at all times.
The activity tracking counts your GSDs steps and compares them to other German Shepherds of the same age, meaning you can know exactly how much exercise your dog should be getting each day. And with escape alerts sent to your phone, if your dog ever gets out unexpectedly, this collar will let you know.
With the best battery life of any smart collar, the Fi Smart Collar is designed for the outdoors. It has an IP68 waterproof rating and an armored aluminium faceplate for resistance to your GSDs typical rough and tumble. It’s also perfect for nighttime walks, with a built in LED light that you can control from the Fi app.
If the Fi Smart Collar interests you, we also recommend checking out their Makers bands. These are high-quality collar bands from top quality third-party vendors that attach to the GPS tracking module, and come in a wide range of colors and styles.
Best Gentle Leader for German Shepherds
PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar
Gentle leaders, also known as head collars or halters, are collars that help you take back control of your dog walks. If you find that your German Shepherd is pulling too strongly or you find yourself being carried along on your walks, this is a training option that can help you solve that.
How it works is that the back loop fits around your dog’s neck like a standard collar, and the front loop goes over your dog’s nose. This means that if your dog ever pulls, chases another dog or tugs on the leash, it will avert his focus and turn him back around towards you.
PetSafe’s Gentle Leader comes in a range of sizes and colors to suit any GSD, and they also offer you a detailed training instruction manual and DVD to go with it as free additional extras to help you have your German Shepherd adjusting to this in no time.
Best Personalized Collar for Your German Shepherd
Tactipup Extreme Personalized 1.5" Dog Collar
Tactipup are known for their ‘over-built’ dog gear that is strong and built to last and this collar is no different with equally incredible durability. Locally built, their materials come from US based suppliers and you have the option of adding a US flag to the collar as shown in the image above.
The buckle used for this collar is another example of their incredible durability. It is an AustriAlpin Cobra buckle, that provides great strength and security with a pull rating of over 2,000 lbs. This strength is perfect if you have a German Shepherd that gets over excited and distracted when on walks, and is also simple and easy to open for you.
The personalization here comes from the embroidery on the front. You have the option of adding a word, and while most use their dog’s name, it can be anything. If you do choose your dog’s name, as well as being stylish, it also becomes one less dog tag you need to attach to the collar!
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of great collar options out there for your German Shepherd, and each are better for different scenarios. So, have a think about what your biggest needs are with your GSD, take a detailed look at all the options and decide which is best for you!
