Pit owners, collar question

I'm hoping some of our pit owning members can answer this question for me. I've seen quite a few of these dogs wearing huge, about 2-3 inch wide collars.

I'm wondering why. Is this just a trend or do these very wide collars serve some other purpose? Usually I only see this size on sighthounds and even then they don't appear to be as big. I know the Pits I've worked with have done just fine on a regular leather collar, so just wondering if I'm missing something?

I'm not a pit owner, but I do put 2" wide collars on my dogs. I actually prefer them on large dogs.

I use them because I find they're much easier for me to grab and keep a hold of if I need to hold a dog by the collar. I also find they're much less likely to slip over a dog's heard. And honestly, depending on the breed of dog, I think wider collars look quite nice. The width makes quite a statement and gives plenty of room for all kinds of decorations. I'm a sucker for decorated collars, LOL!

A 3" collar on a pit bull is a too wide for my taste, though. At that point it just looks uncomfortable for the dog.

But I've seen some mastiff breeds, like Neos and filas, that look absolutely amazing in those wide collars. Check out these jaw-dropping collars:

http://www.everythingneo.com/collars.html

I love the way the 2 in collars look on some dogs...

Those collars you linked too are great and they certainly suit the dogs very well!

The ones I'm talking about are closer to 3 inches and they just look very out of place to me on a medium sized dog. But like I said, perhaps I'm missing something and they serve a purpose. Or maybe I just have bad taste.

I really would like a 3" collar for Verde, I think it would really look good on her. Also it would make it harder for BD to play his colar grabbing game. Im kinda tired of that game, it makes it to easy to switch to a cheek or skin grabbing game.

I have a pit and use the 2 inch collar, think the 3 inch is too big, however they may t hink that the 3 inch collar is sturdier, and safer as far as controlling their dog, and in confinement when used with a chain, as many do. My dog is a house dog and there is no chain, or being kept outside.

I've had a customer recently order a 2" decorated leather collar, which she said was for protection of other dogs grabbing her dogs neck and collar while playing. Also, it looks FABULOUS on her dog.

I really want a big collar for Bailey (A staffy one with the brass knots and all) but i want to wait until he is done growing b/c they are expensive and i want one to last as long as possible.

Yes the wider collars do serve a purpose. A few purposes actually. Having more material, they are of course stronger as we all know that the Pit Bull is a shockingly strong dog (I think it is the strongest pound for pound breed) and can easily snap a lot of the cheaper, thinner collars.

Also if the dog is pulling (either on leash or while tied up) it is easier on his neck if the collar is wide than if all his pulling power is tapered down to a thin strip of leather or nylon around his neck. There is less chance of damage.

Ooooorrr people could work more on leash behavior so their dogs wouldn't pull that much

I like the wider collar for larger dogs for all the reasons listed. if your dog is trained well- the wide collar is not nessesary. My pit mix is strong and we are working on training -she likes to pull. See her picture at officialdoghouse.com for 1.75 inch wide width leather dog collars.

amen.

my dogs generally wear 1" collars (though luce has a rolled leather collar on right now that is narrow and a i do have a 2" leather collar somewhere). i don't attach the leash to their tag collars anyway.

i think a large collar is very visually overbearing on my dogs. all i see is collar.

other than easy to handle and security,,, a big collar is more of a fashion accessory,,,but you alway want to make sure all wearable items are in good working condition and replace what is wore out

Exactly!

I don't have APBTs, but for an everyday type collar, Dakota wears a 1" flat leather collar. 2" looks BAD on him. It pushes his hair to the side and makes it stand straight up. Ugly. Yuck. Even though it looks hideous I tried one on him, and he didn't act comfortable with it on.

I've seen 3" collars look good on the large dogs like the Neos Gempress posted that link to, even medium-large ones like American Bulldogs. I think they look horribly uncomfortable on a 45lb Pit Bull. Even a 2" collar is pushing it with the really little guys, especially if they wear it 24/7. Just my 2 cents, though.

I could not agree more! Seeing seomthing like that on a Pit reminds me of the giraffe women in Africa (?), lol.

Lol!

I do have to add that I have no problem with functional wide collars on working Pit Bulls, for things like hog-hunting. Those are for protection, not a tough look.

I also can understand the need for a big collar if the dog is tied to a big chain (keeping my opinions of 24/7 chaining to myself, lol!) but if the chain is that heavy why not use a harness? I'd think it would be more comfortable for the dog.

Re: the pulling, from what I've observed, a dog is more comfortable pulling against a broad surface that can't cut into his neck the way a thinner collar can. I hate seeing a big dog in a broad collar for that reason - I've seen a lot of people getting yanked and dragged around, usually right up to another dog or person. They're similar to harnesses in that they limit the effectiveness of a leash. If the dog is trained well, fine, but if you have a dog with any stopping issues or anything (chases bikes, etc.) it's asking for trouble.

I use wider collars, and prong collars along with it.

Pulling gives the dog a better workout. It all depends on what you want. I have collars for behaving, and collars for having fun. My girl wears a 1.5" job when we're going out for a fun run, and she knows she's allowed to pull and be crazy. Dutch, the mutt we're watching, wears a 2" collar for her tie-out.

Because its easier for a dog to back out of a body harness than a properly-fitted collar. And it really has nothing to do with the weight of the chain. A dog can pull against a cable tie-out and hurt their necks if the collar is too narrow. The purpose of a wide collar is solely for the comfort of the dog.