Advice needed on a collar please

I would like some advice please. When we got Maddie she was in a hand-me-down collar from the rescue kennels that was too big so on the way home we dropped in the local shop and bought her a collar. To paraphrase Anne Boleyn Maddie has 'such a little neck' and all of the collars her size were so thin! We ended up getting a hound collar (I didn't know ) as at least she wouldn't garrote herself every time we went for a walk. However, it isn't ideal (not surprisingly) and I want to get her another one. Poor hubby has had to get his wallet out so many times now for Mads that all of the moths have flown off so I want to get the right collar this time, rather than increase my collection of not-quite-right ones.
So, what do people think of this one? http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_collars_dog_leads/leash_collar_sets/nylon_set/60255
We also want a new lead as the one we bought last week is really slippy if your hands are wet. A bit worrying with a DA mini-hippo on the end of it!

Many thanks

Ohh the amount of collars we have gone through with Rocky. Ended up at this one which is very reasonably priced. We always have Rocky on his harness so the collar is only on him for his ID tags etc. This collar is quite narrow so not really suitable for everyday walking on the lead with but can do if pushed:

http://www.wild4pets.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=89_29_33_117&products_id=279

Some synthetic collars seem to rub at Rockys throat and he ends up scratching all his hair of his neck. This one has been great, he has has this one for about a year now.

I use a half check, but that's no good for a mini-hippo!

If she's a real puller, have you thought about a harness?

I like the ezydog range of collars, they are robust and come in a nice range of colours. No collar can control a mini hippo but these are strong and wide so it distributes the pull allong the collar and lesens it if that makes sense. I see a lot of the dogs on here wearing them and they are washable http://www.amazon.co.uk/EzyDog-ZCOMPNK-Collar-Pink-M/dp/B002Q9RHEK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351089414&sr=8-2. My girls have pink camo and red ones.

I use a halti training lead with mine.

I have 2" collars for my boys and they have over 20" necks they are simple buckle collars

Ezydog collar and harnes and an Ezydog Cujo lead , xmas sorted early

http://www.innerwolf.co.uk/collars/ezydog-extra-wide-collar.html

http://www.innerwolf.co.uk/harness/ezydog-harness.html

http://www.innerwolf.co.uk/leads/ezydog-cujo-leash.html

Great advise given, I would also try a harness, my collars are made by a member here

Thank you all for your advice. I have been advised against a harness as they give the dog something to pull against and can cause pulling according to the trainers I talk to.
The Ezy collars look good. I want something wider like that, not a string-thin pink sparkly creation. The cujo lead looks a bit odd, I can't work out how they work! All that springyness
As for the halti, well that is one of the things the trainer who is helping me will bring for Maddie to try out on Friday. Maddie is just so difficult when she sees another dog, I do think a head collar might help.
I shall have another look at the Ezy, and see if anything else catches my eye too

have you tried using a head collar if she's such a puller

ella wrote:have you tried using a head collar if she's such a puller

That is the next plan but someone has kindly offered to let me try a few before we buy one, to see which is best. I hope to be able to try them before the weekend, time permitting. We will still need a 'normal' collar too even if it is just to hand the tags off.

Halti headcollars work for a mini hippo

I bought an Ezydog collar for Stan this year.

Very good build quality, but it's a bit too chunky to have him wear all the time i.e in the house.

If your dog likes to get dirty and roll about in the grass a lot, that means taking it off to wipe it down all the time too.

Also Stan didn't like the click of the plastic buckles locking into each other, so I had to slot buckles together with the side prongs held in, that's just being picky though!

Sar H wrote:

ella wrote:have you tried using a head collar if she's such a puller

That is the next plan but someone has kindly offered to let me try a few before we buy one, to see which is best. I hope to be able to try them before the weekend, time permitting. We will still need a 'normal' collar too even if it is just to hand the tags off.

I use a head collar alongside a normal collar or harness, just use a double ended lead attached to both

We have the same collars that ella has they are very strong and we also have the ezy dog collars which are great.
A Harness will not help with anything only help your girl too pull you, harnesses are only good if your dogs do not pull, if you do decide on a harness thou i would recommend the ezy dog harness the chest plate one as the control point is quite far up further up than any harnesses i have ever had.
If you want too stop the pulling trainning her too heal is the only thing that will stop it i would recommend a slip lead too train her too heal thats how i have trainned stan and he can walk on the harness and dosnt pull.
Things such as the halti only mask the problem it dont stop it.
The wide ezy dog collar range are great prices and very strong .

Hope thats of some help. x

I also use a head collar for mine, gives you much more control with a DA dog, just make sure you desensitize her to it like you would a muzzle or she'll just be trying to get it off all of the time. Bis took ages to get used to hers initially! I use a halti double ended lead so one's attached to the head collar and one the normal collar. She's never gotten out of either

If you need custom made collars I would have a look at etsy.com
I got a custom made suede and leather one (this one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/113515984/one-inch-adjustable-and-customized-o-so). They are available in different widths and colour combinations and then you measure your dogs neck and the make it to fit perfectly!
There is also plenty of other sellers that custom make collars.

Also in terms of pulling etc. I really liked the ezy dog chest plate harness but it only made my dog pull more.
I taught her to heel within a day with a correction chain and now only use the harness in the car. She still pulls towards other dogs sometimes (she can get aggressive), but the correction chain gives me much more control, and I can show her I don't approve.

What do you think about this one
http://www.ezydoguk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=117