I need opinions I've been through so many collars!

I'm after a large collar obviously for my Akita. One that won't hurt, looks nice, and helps to push the fur OUTWARDS from the neck, rather than matting it down!

Any ideas?? I've tried regular ones and even the choke chains....no use!

Hi Akita Lee. The only collar I've found really suitable for our Akita is called (I think) an American Choke collar. I've got one in front of me now, and will try to describe it !! The best ones are rolled leather, but you can get them in nylon as well. They look like a very short lead with a ring at one end, a clip at the other plus a ring which will run from one end of the collar to the other. You put it on like an ordinary collar, but attach the clip to the loose ring & the lead to the end ring. That way, it's not like a check chain, which is always too long because it has to be big enough to get over the dog's head (without pulling his ears off), but is short enough to be able to control the dog. Only problem I find with it is finding the 2 ends of the collar amongst all that coat!
HTH

Cheers! I'm going up to the 'Pets At Home' by me tonight so I'll have a look about for the one you've got!

I have malamutes and I find that rolled leather matts and tears the fur quite badly, as they pull when on lead.

I use the semi-chokes from the sled dog equipment site - www.culpeppers.co.uk -  as they have no chain on them, and are thick in width as well as coming in large sizes.

And they work very well for controlling the pulling :)

The leads on there are also really worth looking at.

Semi chokers the one that's mostly material, and a small choke chain attached at the back??

That's 90% what I was thinking of getting, as I've got a full choker at the mo and they really are great, only chain digging into his throat can't be doing him much good!

my friends elkie wears a slip chain,& she stopped him wearing it so much as it didnt do his ruff any favours at all. also if they are in & out of the water alot they stain any white that the dog has on collar or bib

What's that that stains the dog?? What type collar?

Ha, as my dog has a white collar AND bib....even tho he's mostly red!

slip chains leave a greyish stain,copper chains buckles leave a green stain,
only if your dog is swimming alot

No he doesn't swim haha!!

I don't know if any of you know, but the pure Japanese Akita, the Akita Inu? At shows u see the fur around their neck sticking RIGHT out, I know the Inu's fur does this naturally but it is enhanced at shows (so I've been told) by some sort of collar, I just wanted to know what these were so I could may be buy one for my dogs...

The only way you'll get your Akita's coat to stick out is if he's already got a good thick undercoat & has some length of top coat. You then just brush it the opposite way to the way it lies naturally. Rather object to the "pure" Japanese Akita bit! At present in the UK an Akita is an Akita!

You're my new best mate! haha go into the behaviour forum and look for a post by me which has a 'padlock' next to it and then get back to me and see what you think....

That's exactly what I said an Akita is an Akita.......KC will not seperate the breed, it'll cost FAR too much money to do so, people are saying Akita Inu's and Great Japanese Dogs u heard all this???

What I say is if u seperate em they're claiming to seperate Jap from American, how can u have an American Akita? Somewhere along them lines is a Japanese dog.....

If seperated, 90% of Akita's will just be mongrels!!!! Jap x American......

Don't bank on it Akita Lee. I 've only been involved with breed for around 10yrs and the main thing I know is - how little I know! Your interpretation is far too simplistic. I just stated facts:At present the KC only registers Akitas. The FCI has Akita Inus & Great Japanese Dogs (which is a ludicrous name!). I doubt if the KC will change in the near future but can't see why it will cost a lot of money. They've already changed the name in my dog's lifetime - he's registered as a Japanese Akita but is now an Akita.   If you want to breed the 2 types together it's up to you - do you really know what you are aiming for? Far more important is to breed Akitas with exemplary temperaments, hip tested, eye tested & clear of a history of thyroid & auto immune problems.
I'm not commenting further on the Akita/Inu debate. There are many people who have been in the breed far longer than you or me who are far more knowledgeable about the pros & cons.

I've only been involved a mere 1 1/2 years haha! I know I'm one of the least-knowledgeable people  involved like, but am VERY EAGER to learn more! As far as I knew when I started, an Akita was an Akita....Japanese Akita in fact, then Akita, and Akita Inu.....now Great Japanese Dog??? what's the FCI if u don't mind me asking?

I DO however understand what you mean by breeding Akita's with known health problems, anyone who does this just has money on their mind if you ask me! As far as my aims are.......at first I just pictured my perfect Akita as an 'Inu' with the American size! I really like the look of the 'Inu', but not it's size, I prefer the American type body-wise. But I've now learned how hard, and how many complications there could be along the way in doing this! Now I don't know what I want, I'll just be looking to the future first and what is ACTUALLY going to happen to the breed!

With reference to this seperation again...how would this work as I don't understand. I understand that the dog with ALL Japanese lines will be the Akita Inu but what will be the Great Japanese Dog? Those with solely American lines or the mix of both?