If you own a dog, then a dog collar is a necessity. A collar allows you to walk your dog on a leash and is a handy place to attach your dog’s identification and license tags. Of course, choosing a dog collar can be a challenging exercise, as they all pretty much look the same.
We've had lots of experience with dog collars, spending money on one every few weeks at Pet Fashion Week! We, therefore, set out on a quest to find the best dog collars to save you time and money.
So, which is the best dog collar available on the market today? Read our full review to find out more.
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If we had to point you in direction to start, though, it would be the Beirui Dog Collar. Excluding dogs with long hair, this option is going to work well for the vast majority of pups. It’s also durable, affordable, and looks great.
Here are some other choices:
The Beirui Dog Collar is made using high-quality materials that make it both attractive and affordable. It was an easy choice for our top pick.
The lightweight and adjustable straps on this collar make it the ultimate choice for dog lovers. The double-padded soft pads used on the collar protect your dog from injuries, and the collar comes with metal nameplates that are easily adjustable.
It is also brightly colored—your dog will be clearly visible—and it’s lightweight, which further makes it comfy for your dog.
Unfortunately, this collar is not suitable for dogs that have long hair. Some users have also complained that the whole collar isn’t made of leather, which seems like false advertising.
If you value the safety and comfort of your dog, then look no further than the Beirui soft-padded leather dog collar. It provides your dog with the ultimate security and support for an insanely low price.
The Blueberry Pet Reflective dog collar is designed to be both ultra-durable and comfortable—and in this case, it delivers, especially for large breed dogs.
We love the adjustable straps. They are essential to adjust the fit, preventing your dog from being able to slip or chew the collar. The materials are durable, too, with a super neoprene layer, which keeps your dog incredibly comfortable and supported.
This collar is easy to clean and adjust, as well, making it ideal for large dogs. It comes in ten attractive colors and four adjustable sizes that give you the option to choose the perfect collar for your best bud.
The straps are labeled as a medium, while in the real sense, they are large. This has resulted in many buyers returning the collars due to poor fit.
There is no better way to pamper your large breed dog than getting a fitting collar. Every dollar you spend on this collar is worth it as it is durable, easy to maintain, and comfortable.
Make your dog a pup star by crowning them with this Blueberry Pet Nautical Flags collar. It’s not only one of the best collars in terms of color options, but also made from the most durable materials.
We love that this collar comes with a seatbelt attachment. This consideration is crucial as it prevents the dog from jumping about inside the car and saves you the expense of buying an extra car harness. You can also use the adjustable straps and buckles to keep your dog as comfortable as possible.
Sadly, these collars are tailored for large breeds. You just can’t adjust them down enough to fit securely on smaller breeds, which results in lots of lost collars.
The Blueberry Pet Nautical Inspired dog collar is the perfect way to keep your pet safe in and out of the car. That irreplaceable feeling of seeing your dog wag its tail sporting this high-fashion collar on its neck is heavenly.
The Petface Signature Padded dog collar is a premium product developed to care for your dog's needs. It is made using high-grade material, which makes it very durable.
We like that this collar is made using flexible and padded neoprene material. The material also makes it very friendly to small dogs that are at a higher risk of trachea injuries from collar use. These collars come in a wide range of colors, too, and feature a large metal ring to attach the dog’s leash.
Some of the collars come with wrong sizing labels. For instance, we found collars labeled as a medium that actually measured appropriately for large dogs. They fit, but the overhanging extra collar material is unsightly and leads to premature damage.
The Petface Signature dog collar is one of the best dog collars you can find on the market today for small breeds. It is not only affordable but also comfortable and durable.
Is your four-legged friend hyperactive and stressed, and you are at your wit's end? This effective calming collar for dogs reduces stress in dogs by using a calming lavender.
We love the natural, calming effect this dog collar offers. It is safe and effective to use on nervous dogs or dogs experiencing challenging situations such as separation anxiety.
This collar is not chew-resistant and doesn’t have the same durability many other options in our review offer. It also has some plastic tabs that seem as they’d be uncomfortable during use.
If you have a dog that’s naturally nervous or that fears loud noises, this dog collar is safe and effective.
To enjoy your dog worry-free, you must first consider their safety, and that’s what this nylon Fun Pets Super Bright USB Rechargeable dog collar is all about.
We love the SuperBright F5 LED lights that give your dog high visibility. You can locate your dog quickly with this collar. For pet parents who walk their dogs in the early morning or evening, this collar is ideal.
This dog collar also holds a charge for hours and is easy to recharge via USB.
Some users complain about poor durability with this collar. The plastic covering has, on occasion, peeled, which releases the LED strip.
The Fun Pets Super Bright USB Rechargeable dog collar is the perfect choice for people who exercise their dogs in low light. It is highly adjustable, which also makes it comfortable for your dog. You can read about other similar types of LED dog collars that will give your dog visibility.
This cooling collar is bold and comfortable, and perfect for keeping your dog comfy on the hottest days. It features an innovative design and ice pack pocket that gives your dog the much-needed cooling action.
We love the simple yet innovative design. You just insert the included ice packs into the discreet Velcro-enclosed pocket on the inside of the collar or soak the collar in cold water for the ultimate cooling effect.
This collar would be perfect if it came in both small and large sizes to suit all dog breeds. As is, it’s likely to be too heavy—on top of not fitting well—for small dogs. Some users also complain that the icepacks crack and create quite the mess.
Dogs don’t sweat, they pant. This cooling collar will effectively reduce heat stress in your dog on those hot summer days.
This inflatable collar is designed to protect your dog from injuries such as rashes and post-surgery wounds. It keeps your dog from reaching and biting or licking that injured area.
We love the innovative yet simple design of this collar that allows your pet to recover from any injuries quickly and comfortably. This collar will prevent them from licking injured body parts, but will still maintain their line of vision. It also comes with a layer of short plush fabric that is comfortable to wear for your dog, but easy to wash and maintain.
Not that dogs ever like after-injury gear—such as the cone of shame—but many dogs don't seem to enjoy this collar much. As a lesser complaint, it also only comes in one color.
Have you got an injured dog at home? This perfect, comfortable yet sturdy inflatable dog collar will do the trick.
The Dexil Elite is a premium collar designed for handling your dog effectively. It is made from neoprene, which makes it incredibly strong and durable.
We love the color-coded awareness collars that inform passers-by important information about your dog, such as that they are deaf, not good with other dogs in training, nervous, or a service dog. While not all these colors are well known, you can also get a matching leash that has the meaning of the color printed on it.
The collar is not waterproof, which could lead to premature wear or odors if frequently exposed to water. There have also been some reports that the buckles are a bit weak.
The Dexil Elite is a premium collar for dogs that are a handful, making it easy for you to keep them under your control. These collars also help keep your dog safe by offering color-coded information for strangers.
If you’re looking for the best dog collar for your dog, it’s essential to pay attention to your dog's particular needs. A dog collar should ideally be functional, choke-free, durable, hypoallergenic, and adequately priced.
Your dog's age also plays a vital role in making a choice. The older dogs get, the more comfortable they need to be. Consider also how easy-to-use the collar is when looking for a dog collar. Collars with buckles tend to be easier to put on, but they also are more prone to breakage.
Here are some other vital factors you should consider before making your purchasing:
The best dog collars are made using dog-friendly materials. Mostly, go for materials with non-allergenic dyes that are durable and comfortable. These include:
Neoprene - Neoprene is by far the most common material used to make dog collars. It consists of soft rubber with added nylon to increase the durability of the collar. It’s waterproof, odor-resistant, and stands the test of time well.
Nylon: Nylon is very affordable, durable, and comes in many attractive colors. It is a standard collar material commonly found in budget collars.
Leather: If budget isn’t an issue and you need a collar that 100% will not break, then go for a leather collar. It not only retains its original color and shape but is a natural material that lasts. However, leather collars are costly, so be prepared to pay.
Different collars suit different purposes. The standard collar usually features buckles or snaps as fasteners, as these make the collar very easy to put on and take off. While snap-style collars often have plastic clasps, you can find them in metal. Buckle collars, on the other hand, are almost always metal.
If you have multiple dogs, you might want to opt for a buckle option. I tried several snap collars with my dogs, and one dog liked to tug and pull on my other dog's collar as they played, the snap would sometimes get pulled open. We lost several collars—and expensive engraved tags—in the woods near our home that way.
Halters and dog harness collars are also useful as they attach to the body of your dog. They serve large dogs particularly well, and can effectively stop your dog from pulling. They're also choke-free, which is essential for smaller dog breeds that are prone to tracheal injuries.
Another characteristic to consider when choosing the best dog collar is whether the collar is a choke-chain or slip collar. This collar consists of durable metal or nylon and has a metal ring attached at one end, onto which leashes are fastened. These collars are also known as dog training collars.
Additionally, consider special-occasion collars such as cooling summer collars or inflatable collars depending on how your dog is training or swimming.
Want to see more great dog collar options? Here are our thoughts about Seresto dog collar brand and our top flea collar picks.
A dog collar is the ultimate dog accessory. It can communicate so much about the personality, gender, and temperament of your dog. Since a collar will be on your dog’s neck almost every day, it’s worth putting some thought into the style, color, and patterns on the collar.
Pick one that looks great and fits your dog perfectly. There are numerous collars on the market, so you have plenty of options.
Dog collars are designed for different functions. Some help with injuries, some are for visibility, while others are used as training collars. Many options offer dual functionality, too.
Depending on your needs, you may need to buy more than one collar to fit all these purposes, but for your first collar, choose one that is durable and comfy, and which your dog can use every day with ease.
Always measure your dog's neck before buying a collar and compare it to the sizing chart for the brand you're considering. Not all "large" collars, for example, are the same size. An ill-fitting collar can cause injury to your dog, or at the least, result in a lost collar or two. Not only is that expensive, but it could leave your dog lost with no identification!
The easiest way to measure your dog’s neck is to either use a cloth measuring tape or a piece of string.
To sum up our review, the best dog collar is one that keeps your dog comfortable, secure, and enables you to handle your dog with ease—and which collar that is will vary for every dog.
But no worries. Buying a good collar is easy if you know what to look for. You’ll need to be mindful of your dog’s needs to choose the collar with the appropriate materials, designs, and functions.
Do you agree with our best dog collars choices? Have we missed out on any worthy mentions? Drop us a comment below if so, we’d love to know your thoughts.
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