BIG DOG CHAINS

Long Term Review of Big Dog Chains: A vast majority of dog collars are cloth or fabric of some type. On large dogs especially if you have more than one dog, fabric collars don’t last long. The more durable fabrics can start to smell funny if your dog goes in rivers or lakes. Sometimes they can be cleaned in the washing machine. Leather collars last longer but at much more cost, but eventually they too must be replaced. My dog a Boxer/Lab mix went through 5 collars in just over a year at ~$20 apiece. At that point I had a hundred dollars in collars, which led me to search for a more durable chain collar that looked nice and would not be affected by the elements. I did not want just a simple chain choker. Enter Big Dog Chains dog collars. The following is my long term experience with the company and its collars. Some months ago I purchased a polished Magnum collar that I measured incorrectly even though I read how to measure my dog’s neck from the website. I did this as I wanted the collar to rest lower on my dog’s neck than shown in the pictures. Alas the collar I received was to long as an additional length is added by Big Dog Chains from the measurement you provide. Tip #1 make sure to give the measurement as described on the website from just above where you want the collar to rest and this will be good, they know what they are doing. I was also not happy with the Magnum links as they tended to twist fairly easily on my dogs neck and kink against one another due to the length not being correct. Fortunately this allowed me to test Big Dog Chains no hassle return and/or replacement policy. The next day I contacted Big Dog Chains through their website and made arrangements to send the collar back. They contacted me promptly and gave me instructions on how to return the collar. Aside from the initial purchase price of the collar, shipping the collar back to Big Dog Chains was all I had to pay thus far. Shortly after my original collar made it back to Big Dog Chains I got a call from Miguel the CEO of Big Dog Chains. We discussed my preferences and he was very cool about my dislikes and we had a conversation over a better collar choice. Miguel suggested a Caesar collar in matte which he later dubbed the Nato collar (I have the first one). You read that right Big Dog Chains agreed to a new length, collar, different (matte) finish, and return shipping. True to their statement this was all covered under the original purchase price of the returned collar. The turnaround time was about three weeks and I am very pleased with the new collar. The Nato collar having been on my dog for many months now stands out and I get lots of compliments! The cost sets some people back a little, but when I explain that I never have to buy a collar again and the collar has a lifetime warranty and resizing they are more impressed. Additionally I am saving money in the long run as I expect my dog to live past ten years of age. If I were to be conservative and replace only 50% of the collars I had my dogs first year that’s ~$60 dollars a year in collars, times 9 years that ~$540 dollars for collars that won’t look as nice or last as long. This will also be an heirloom to remember her by as I will always have a token from her life. The collar will outlast its owner. The matte collar may have one con in that the rough surface of the collar has some friction in the links which can cause a high pitch metal on metal squeak when your dog shakes. It does go away but it was a little bothersome (when your dog scratches) until the collar wears the rub points smooth link to link (a few weeks). Overall I believe the matte finish allows for very nice patina, individual to each collar, as no two will have the same wear marks in the finish. I now have a 7 month old Doberman that will be getting a gold Big Dog Chains collar on her first birthday. I will not own another dog collar. Regards, Brandon Sioux Falls, SD.
9 years ago (13-07-2016)

Awesome collars
8 years ago (26-12-2017)