Different Styles of Collars and Harnesses for GSP
Most likely you consider your wonderful German Shorthaired Pointer a part of your family and life. As a result you take him out with you for a walk, for hunting, to visit friends, to the show, etc. In other words, you involve him into your everyday life. And choosing the best collar or best harness for GSP is a part of the process. And certainly your dog deserves the best for every occasion.
Best Basic Dog Collars for GSPs
For everyday use simple, bright, leather or nylon waterproof solid collars are the best. Personalized collars will make it safer for you and your pup, as GSPs may get lost rather often. Taking into account German Shorthaired Pointer neck size and choosing the appropriate collar will make it convenient for dog’s regular use.
My GSP is liver roan with liver patches on body, neck and head coat color. If your GSP has the same color type like mine, then bright collars will match perfectly. And remember – any collar looks much better on the healthy shiny hair.
Author’s Choice
Custom Catch Personalized Dog Collar
- Material: Nylon
- Size: XS, S, M, L
- Closure Type: Buckle
People’s Choice
GoTags Personalized Dog Collar
- Material: Leather
- Size: XS, S, M, L
- Closure Type: Buckle
Premium Choice
Soft Touch Collars Luxury Leather Dog Collar
- Material: Leather
- Size: S, M, L, XL
- Closure Type: Buckle
Best Budget
Blueberry Regular Dog Collar
- Material: Nylon
- Size: XS, S, M, L
- Closure Type: Buckle
Best Collar For GSP Puppies
Black Rhino Comfort Dog Collar
- Material: Durable, wth Neoprene Padding
- Size: S, M, L, XL
- Closure Type: Buckle
Best Luxury Dog Collars for GSPs
German Shorthaired Pointer is a hunting dog. So there is an opinion that some glamour collars are not natural on him. However, even if your GSP is a real hunter, there is much time he takes part with you in social activities. Such occasions like exhibition, birthday parties may require something exclusive. And we have prepared a selection of collars for special events.
Dean & Tyler THE ANTIQUE Dog Collar, Black
- Nickel Buckle and D-ring
- Solid Brass Hardware
- Full Grain Leather
CHALLENGER Dog Collar, Red Inlay
- Full Grain Genuine Cow Leather
- Naturally Tanned. No Harsh Chemicals or Dyes
- Lifetime Guarantee
ProRider Dog Collar, Brown Rhinestone Crystal
- Full Grain Genuine Cow Leather
- Naturally Tanned. No Harsh Chemicals or Dyes
- Adjustable
Best Hunting Collars and Trackers for GSPs
Hunting is one of the most important activities of the German Shorhaired Pointer. And the collars must be safe, long lasting, functional, with all modes, necessary for hunting.
Author’s Choice
Garmin Alpha 100, Multi-Dog Tracking GPS and Remote Training Device in One
- Tracks up to 20 dogs or buddies from up to 9 miles (TT 15) or 4 miles (TT 15 mini) away
- 18 training levels of continuous and momentary stimulation
- Preloaded TOPO U.S. 100k maps
You can see more options in our article about GARMIN Tracking and Training Collars
Peoples’s Choice
SportDOG Brand WetlandHunter 1825X Camouflage Remote Trainer
- Supports training up to 6 dogs with additional collars
- 21 levels of static stimulation with low/medium/high stim ranges
- Waterproof and submersible to 25 feet using DryTek® technology + Rechargeable batteries with 2-hour quick charge
Premium Choice
SportDOG Brand HoundHunter 3225 Remote Trainer
- Stimulation-vibration or stimulation-tone for all 6 dogs
- 7 instantly selectable static stimulation levels with low-medium-high stimulation ranges
- Waterproof and submersible to 25 feet using DryTek® technology + Rechargeable batteries with 2-hour quick charge
You can see more options in our article about GARMIN Tracking and Training Collars
Best Training Collars and E-Collars for GSP
Training plays a key role in raising a GSP puppy. And special electric collars can be very helpful. There are different opinions about using or not using electric shock collars. I couldn’t make my choice before I tried. Now I can say from my own experience.
I began to apply it when I was in despair 🙂 My dog’s behavior started to change with getting older. She became more and more confident. And the distance between us made her feel brave and independent. 🙂 But the worst and most dangerous is GSP’s natural instinct to collect and bring all staff, including food etc. And such training collar solved my problem within one month. I actually used shock itself only a couple of times. GSPs are very smart and understand how it works very quickly. The most important that you can control and direct your puppy from the distance. Using the correct chain: beep – vibration – electric shock you can correct your dog’s behavior quickly and effectively.
I described my problem which brought me to such collars. But in fact there are more, depending on the character of your dog. Reliability, safety, easy management are the main features for them. Here we offer our selection of best shock collars for pointers.
Author’s Choice
Dog Care-Training Collar - Rechargeable Shock Collar
- 3 modes including shock, vibration and beep for dog
- Security keypad lock to prevent accidental shock
- 100% Waterproof
People’s Choice
Petrainer-PET998DRB Rainproof Dog Shock Collar
- 3 types of safe humane corrective stimulation modes including shock, vibration and beep for dog
- provides 0-100 levels of intensity for Vibration & Shock Stimulation, plus a standard Beep Mode
- Waterproof
Premium Choice
TBI Pro Professional K9 Dog Shock Training Collar with Remote Long-Range
- Protective mode eliminates the possibility of accidental shock
- Developed in The USA K-9 experts
- 100% Waterproof
Best Waterproof
Hardcraft-Training Rechargeable Dog E-Collar
- provides 4 extremely efficient and safe training modes (beep, vibration, LED light and static shock)
- Soft silicone contact points prevent dog’s skin damage
- 100% Waterproof
Best Lightweight
GoodBoy-Small Size Remote Collar for Dogs
- Small and Lightweight, Beautiful Design
- The remote for this collar is about the size of a cellphone and easily fits into your pocket
- One intensity level for sound and nine levels for vibration and shock modes
Best Dog Harness for German Shorthaired Pointer
There are different opinions: to use Collar or Harness. We are sure for GSP you can use both for different purposes. For everyday use Collar is perfect. But there are several cases when we recommend to use best harness for GSP for safety reasons:
For Sports
If you do sports with your GSP, like cycling for example, you should better choose a harness. This will help to distribute the weight between chest and shoulders evenly and eliminate pressure on back and throat while running. They are also good for hiking, camping, walking and other outdoor activities.
For Travel
Travelling in car with a dog requires special safety measures to be taken. There is a number of accessories you can use. And vehicle harnesses are among them.
For Convenient Walking
Sometimes you definitely know that your dog may pull. For example, a dog walker will walk out your pet for a couple of days, or maybe your friends. No matter how good they are your GSP will not obey them as perfect as you. And harness will help to avoid pressure on the throat. Pay close attention to German Shorthaired Pointer harness size.
For Safe Hunting
It may happen that hunting area is rather dangerous. If your dog gets caught in an awkward position, falls into a pit or is stuck somewhere else, you can get him out by the harness. Also you can assist a dog over water and obstacles. If you know this can occur, let you GSP wear harness, or both collar and harness simultaneously.
When choosing the best harness for GSP, pay attention to the main points which we have selected for you below.
Author’s Choice
SlowTon Dog Car Harness
- The buckle featured on the leash is compatible with most seat belt latches
- Breathable Mesh
- Dogs can sit on the car’s seat without the need of a booster
People’s Choice
Premium Choice
EzyDog Drive Safety Travel Dog Car Harness
- Safety tested and meets all standards
- Smart lock-unlock system
- Made of durable, light and strong materials
Best for Active Dogs
Kurgo Dog Journey Harness
- Padded V-neck design reduces strain on neck and chest
- Back handle for better control
- Strength and durability is ensured by steel nesting buckle system designed after harnesses for rock climbers
Best LED Collars and Reflective Collars for GSP
All GSPs like evening walks, and sometimes you walk with them in the dark areas. As a result you may let your dog out of your sight. Special collars may help greatly to solve this problem.
LED Collars
These are good for quite deep darkness like field, forest, empty street. Especially the areas where it is vital for a dog to be visible by vehicles in advance. Here are some well-proved brands.
Illumiseen LED Dog Collar - USB Rechargeable
- Lightweight
- Durable materials
- Lifetime guarantee
Blazin Safety LED Dog Collar – USB Rechargeable with Water Resistant Flashing Light
- Slim bulb strip
- Long distance visibility
- Lifetime guarantee
Reflective Collars
They are more universal. You can use them as a main collar. However, their reflective stripping increases visibility in all light conditions.
KONG Reflective Dog Collar offered by Barker Brands Inc.
- Strong durable hardware
- Reflective for increased visibility
- Adjustable
Mighty Paw Waterproof Dog Collar with Reflective Stripe
- Reflective Striping For High Visibility
- PVC-Based Nylon Coated for Active Hunting Dogs
- Flexible and Soft
Best Collar and Best Harness for GSP – Buyer’s Guide and FAQ
What to Look for When Buying a Dog Collar or Harness for GSP
You can’t reach the best results with this breed with only one basic collar. GSPs are very active, with lots of energy to be burnt, and with hunting instincts to be properly ruled. Let’s see what are the main types of collars among which you can choose the best for your pup.
Types and Functions of Collars for German Shorthaired Pointer
- Basic Collar
The choice of Basic (or Regular) Collar is of primary importance. Your dog wears it all the time. So it should be soft, comfortable, fitting not too tight (measure GSP neck size), and yet durable and simple to maintain. We suggest to have minimum two basic collars for a change. This way they stay in good condition for longer time, as you can in no hurry wash and clean them properly.
- Training E-Collar
You can start to use this collar from 6 months age, not earlier – this is important! Using different modes such as light, beep, vibration and shock you can train your dog to come, not to collect food from the ground, etc. Choosing this collar, pay attention to conveniet control unit with security keypad lock, eliminating false shock activation. The collar works properly when you place it tight around dog’s neck. During long walks GSPs may run rather distantly, so long battary life and remote range are important features for shock collar for better control.
- Bark Collar
Some Pointers are pretty loud, and may bark at people, other dogs and noises outside. There is a special collar which helps to prevent unnecessary barking even if you are not near your dog. There are collars with shock or without. They detect vibration on your dog’s neck and get activated. You can adjust activation modes according to your needs and manufacturer’s instructions.
- Tracking GPS Collar
This special collar is necessary for hunting and hunting training. With one device you can even control several dogs. You can also integrate a map with your location. Preloaded maps are an advantage. This allows to identify dogs’ location, send them signals and many more.
- Visible at Night Collar (Reflective or LED)
For night visibility you can buy a separate collar and put it only when it is dark outside, or choose a regular collar with integrated reflective strip. Anyway, you need one of these solutions. GSPs with their special hair color are hardly visible in the daytime, and almost invisible at night. For safety reasons we recommend to illuminate you pup and make him visible for you, other people and car driver.
- Harness
This is an alternative to a collar when it is necessary to distribute weight between chest and shoulders evenly and eliminate pressure on back and throat. It is applicable for long runs and cycling, for cars trips, for pulling dogs.
Material and Design of Collar and Harness for GSP
German Shorthaired Pointer breed is a hunting dog that spends a lot of time outdoors, very often in water and dirt, running in the field or forest. We recommend to choose collar with the following criteria to make it convenient for you and your dog:
- Durable real leather or nylon
- Waterproof
- Easy to clean
- Simple design
- Sturdy closure
- Personalized
Why to Use a Dog Collar or Harness
Dog collar or harness is an important instrument to manage dog’s behavior and to build relations between a pup and his parent. There are many reasons to use a collar for GSP:
- Basic obedience training
- Building awareness of the dog that he is a part of family, and not on his own
- Correction of behavior
- GPS tracking
- Walking on a leash
- Regular control of the dog at home and on a walk
How to Select the Right German Shorthaired Pointer Collar Size
See detailed information in our article devoted to How to Choose a Perfect Collar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best collar material?
There are several main types of collar material: Leather, Nylon, Metal Chain, Biothane. Each of them has its purpose, and therefore best in its way. For everyday use choose natural soft leather or durable nylon. For water games - biothane. Waterproof is very essential for GSPs. Reflective strip is always a bonus for night visibility.
How to choose a collar for puppy?
You should train your puppy to wear a collar as early as possible. We recommend soft leather or nylon collar with padded inner part. Keep in mind your puppy grows rather fast. So choose an adjustable collar where you can regulate the length.
What is better - a collar or harness?
For everyday use a collar is ideal. But there are cases when harness is a must. Its main aim is to distribute the weight between chest and shoulders of the dog evenly and to eliminate pressure on back and throat. This pressure occurs from running or pulling. Or may happen in car accident. So use harness if your dog is pulling while walking, if you cycle or run with your dog, go hiking or hunting for rather long time. And definitely use a special crash tested car harness for travelling.
Do I have to take the collar off the dog when we get home?
We recommend to keep the collar on all the time, especially with puppies. Collar is also a training instrument, with the help of which you can control and manage your pup's behavior. And home is not an exception. For example, your puppy got too much excited. Thus you can just slightly shake him by collar and calm him down, etc. This way you train your dog to obey in a proper manner.
Why do I have to personalize a collar?
No matter what a nice and well-mannered dog you have, there is always a chance that your pooch may get lost. This may happen in a crowded place, in a forest or park. Your dog can't say his name or your phone number or home address. So, if main data are on the collar, this will help to return your pup home as soon as possible.
You Сan Also Consider the Collars
I often go shopping for my dog. And I try to imagine this or that color of the collar to understand how it will look like on her. But reality always gives surprises. The last and worst color in your imagination fits unexpectedly perfect.
That gave me an idea to make it visual for other GSPs owners, how different collars look on the dogs in reality, and to help them in making their choice.
Deep blue is perfect if dark brown prevails
Simple Red makes your dog bright and visible from the distance
Turquoise on your dog makes you feel fresh breeze around:)
A Combination of Blue and Red is absolutely fantastic. Your dog will always attract attention
Bright Orange Waterproof is great for Summer water games.
A white basis collar with bright print. Solid liver and clear white GSP types will have a great look in it.
Pink is nice on every young GSP female
New Rainbow Style in all-you-need color, for all GSP types
And remember – we are here to help you with your choice. So do not hesitate to ask any questions. We will answer them.
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