I was wondering if there are any special considerations for the breed or other short hair dogs and your collars?

Your staff has been helpful, but they suggested I contact you directly with regard to buying a 2nd dominant dog collar for a Doberman stray, they mentioned you used to breed them, I picked up last year,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25276556@N05/3284791077/

I purchased a 13" dominant dog collar from your online store (as well as a video or two) and am pleased that it works as advertised with one slight issue, it's too long despite following the directions, measuring with string, and I am seeking to correct that mistake by ordering something ~2" shorter. However, even when pulled tight on him in the proper location, it slides down his coat on the slightest suggestion over the top lumbar vertebrae down to his shoulder blades, the base of his neck is softer and smaller in diameter than right behind the skull so the collar seems to seek that area once it slides past the top vertebrae. Obviously it becomes completely ineffective compared to what it does so well when in the proper position.

I am very hesitant to order something too short for him and, while I'm sure I could get one that was tight enough to lock into place, I'm concerned that he would practically be in a half choke to keep it there with as slick as his fur is. The one I have only has ~1" of slack when properly adjusted and under slight tension (as you show in many of your videos), but up to 3" between the rings when pulled taught in a proper front foot lift correction. The flesh compresses quite a bit and perhaps that's why my initial string measurement prior to ordering didn't end up panning out. I end up seeing a rabbit or cat before he does and manually lifting the collar into place, taking all the slack out and preparing for his high prey drive overreaction (which has been getting better and better thanks to the collar, thank you). In this function it works quickly, without hurting him, and immediately shakes him off target but you can see where he quickly learned that my attempting to place the collar behind the skull means there's something to anxious about in the area.

I was wondering if there are any special considerations for the breed or other short hair dogs and your collars. Is there such a thing as too much shorter than the string measurement? Right now, without compressing him, I can measure him at 13.5" high on the throat and right behind the skull (he is a small 55lb Doberman) and, when loose, the nylon / cotton between the rings on the collar measures 12.5". It should work, but his flesh just lets it slide right down to his shoulders under most conditions and is never in place for when I really need it. I don't want to order a 10" or 11" collar without getting the right advice first.

Respectfully,
Shannon