Natural pest prevention. No chemicals or poisons, completely non-toxic.
What it is:
Our PEST collars are made with raw baltic amber beads, hand-strung on heavy duty fishing line. This method of construction makes them extra durable while also maximizing effectiveness by eliminating buckles and ensuring proper fit for the specific wearer.
Our collars are also available with a mini s-biner clip for dogs with head sizes much larger than their neck sizes. A loose fit is acceptable, but the collar should not be so loose that it is dangling. The clip options allows for a more precise fit while maintaining a low profile and effectiveness. This option also allows the bead portion to be replaced as needed, the clasp can be reused.
How it works:
Let me begin by saying I know this is going to sound a little farfetched. When our vet first recommended it to us I was quite skeptical myself. However, the visible results we’ve seen since then dispelled all my uncertainties. This collar combined with our PEST spray has been by far the most effective bug repellent we’ve tried for Fawkes - and we’ve tried many. I’d go so far as to say the collar/spray pairing is 95-98% effective, whereas other methods of prevention we’ve tried have only been about 75-80% effective.
Amber is fossilized tree resin formed long ago which contains an aromatic property (too subtle for human’s to pick up) called terpenes. When worn by an animal their body heat combined with the friction of movement causes the amber to release the scent into their fur and skin which repels pests. When raw amber beads rub together in an animal’s coat the friction also causes an electrostatic charge that is undetectable to anything larger than a bug. The static stuns the insect which then flees or falls off.
I can personally attest to seeing all manner of bugs react this way after landing on Fawkes. Most importantly, I’ve observed ticks scurrying down his legs to the ground or waving their arms at the tips of his ears trying to hitch a ride out of his fur.
Some sources say it can take several weeks of full-time wear to reach maximum effectiveness. That was not our experience, ours was obviously effective within days.
Amber collars should be replaced when the beads become polished and no longer activate by rubbing against each other. Based on my own research as well as our real life experience, we recommend replacing every 4-6 months depending on if the collar is worn full-time or only on occasion. We live in a heavily tick infested area (meaning it’s worn daily almost year round) so I replace ours roughly around the beginning of April, July, and October.
Please note:
Ticks are generally not killed by winter weather. Only in temperatures below 10° F does some of the population die off. They simply become dormant at temperatures colder than 45° F. They are likely to hide in piles of leaves and under snow cover. If you go out in an area that is likely to have ticks during the winter we recommend wearing the collar throughout the season as needed.
Source | Source
Full disclosure:
This type of collar is available from a number of other online retailers including Amazon. Until recently that’s where I acquired ours. All the other one’s we’ve purchased have come on a very flimsy cotton string which broke nearly immediately and the buckles were very insecure due to poor quality. I’ve taken them apart and restrung them the way you see here for the last year and a half or so and we’ve never had one break. All that to say, what sets Para PEST collars apart is the durability and exact sizing.
