The first collar should be lightweight and inexpensive; it will eventually have to be exchanged for a larger size and will probably be chewed by its wearer. Leather, either flat or rolled, is preferable to plastic, and the collar should be fitted so that it cannot slip over the puppy's ears if he pulls back against it; the type of collar which forms a noose round the neck can be alarming for a puppy if the collar is pulled up tight, and it tends to fall off if left loose. Get the puppy accustomed to wearing the collar by fitting it for an hour or two at a time; after a while a lightweight lead can be attached to the collar and the puppy walked in the garden. Leather leads are satisfactory but easier to chew than metal ones; the latter should be of good-quality stainless steel or they will rust.
In Britain, the law decrees that all dogs must have a means of identification attached to their collars; this can be a plastic or metal disc, or a small screw cap container with a paper insert. The owner's name, address, and telephone number should be inscribed on either type; it is inadvisable to inscribe the dog's name as this might help a thief to entice him away. It is also possible to tattoo a dog, either in the ear or preferably in the inside of the thigh, with indelible dye as an identification method.
In Britain, the law decrees that all dogs must have a means of identification attached to their collars; this can be a plastic or metal disc, or a small screw cap container with a paper insert. The owner's name, address, and telephone number should be inscribed on either type; it is inadvisable to inscribe the dog's name as this might help a thief to entice him away. It is also possible to tattoo a dog, either in the ear or preferably in the inside of the thigh, with indelible dye as an identification method.
