There are tons of reasons to choose a specific collar for your dog, and there are dog collars out there to meet everyone’s needs. If you need something appropriate for day-to-day wear or sturdy for outdoor activities, there’s a collar that’s perfect for your dog. There are plain collars, patterned collars, customizable collars, and collars in every color of the rainbow. Reviews are a fantastic way to identify what type and look of collar you’re hoping to find. We’ve found the 10 top collars to help you pick the perfect one for your top dog.

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The 10 Best Dog Collars

1. Soft Touch Collars Leather Two-Tone – Best Overall

The Soft Touch Collars Leather Two-Tone Padded Collar is the best overall dog collar for its beautiful appearance and quality design. It is available in five two-tone color options and four sizes from 11 inches to 25 inches. This collar is also handmade from genuine full-grain leather and features sheepskin leather padding for comfort. The edges of this collar are sealed to maintain the integrity of the collar, and the solid brass hardware is designed to resist rusting. The D-ring is seated at the back of the collar for easy leash access.

Since this collar is made from genuine leather, it may arrive with a strong smell that will fade with time. This Soft Touch Collar is one of the more expensive collar options we reviewed.

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2. Frisco Nylon Martingale Collar with Buckle – Best Value

The Frisco Solid Nylon Martingale Dog Collar with Buckle is the best dog collar for the money. It is available in four colors and three sizes, and even though it’s a Martingale-style collar, it features a buckle closure, so you don’t have to slip the collar over your dog’s head. It is made from durable nylon tested for seven times the weight of the maximum weight limit for each size, which means the largest collar can withstand up to 700 pounds of pressure. The hardware is nickel coated to give an attractive finish and protect the hardware in the long run.

Many people report finding this collar to run big, so it may not be a good option for small dogs. Also, the Martingale loop is slightly long, making this a poor choice for short dogs.

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3. Blazin’ Safety LED Nylon Collar – Premium Choice

The premium dog collar pick is the Blazin’ Safety LED USB Rechargeable Nylon Collar, available in four sizes and two colors. This collar features rechargeable LED lights that allow your dog to be easily spotted in dark conditions, making this a good collar for walking in dim and dark lighting conditions. When not lit up, the collar is still bright and eye-catching in both the blue and green color options. The lights have three modes, allowing you to set them to strobe, blink, and solid on. It’s made from durable nylon, and the lights can run up to 8 hours on a single charge.

The collar is not waterproof, but the light control box is safe for all weather conditions. This collar sells for a premium price.

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4. Red Dingo Vivid PVC Collar – Best for Puppies

When it comes to puppies, the top collar pick is the Red Dingo Vivid PVC Collar, which is available in seven sizes and five vivid colors. The size range means this collar is appropriate for puppies and dogs of almost any size, and the waterproof PVC means it’s durable to your puppy’s antics. It can be wiped clean and is resistant to odors. The PVC is even resistant to fading and bleaching via sunlight. The hardware is chrome plated, which ensures it won’t rust.

Over time, this collar may stretch with use, which means it isn’t a good option for large or strong dogs that are prone to pulling.

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5. Blueberry Stripe Polyester Reflective Collar

The Blueberry Pet 3M Multi-Colored Stripe Polyester Reflective Collar is available in three sizes and eight color combinations. It features double D-rings that cross over the exterior of the collar’s buckle, ensuring your dog’s collar stays secure, even if the buckle somehow breaks or comes loose. It’s made from polyester webbing that has been embedded with reflective threads for safety in low-light environments. All of the hardware is either plastic or metal, and both are in muted black and grey tones, allowing the beautiful colors of the collar itself to shine.

The width of this collar is slightly narrower in larger sizes than other comparable collars. This may lead to it breaking at the seams if pulled too hard by a large dog. Some people report finding the length of this collar to run slightly small as well.

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6. Remington Waterproof Polyester Center Ring Collar

The Remington Waterproof Hound Polyester Center Ring Collar is available in four sizes and two color options. One of the color options is a green camouflage, and the other is bright hunter orange. The center ring design allows you to easily attach or detach your dog’s leash without having to turn the collar around, and it allows your dog to turn the collar over if he becomes snagged on something. The hardware is made from sturdy, rust-resistant metal and the collar itself is made from durable, waterproof polyester. It’s also resistant to other liquids, like oil and sweat.

Some people have reported these collars breaking if pulled on too hard by large dogs. Although this is uncommon, it can occur, and these collars are best for hunting dogs or outdoor dogs that are not commonly on a leash.

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7. WAUDOG NASA Nylon Standard Collar

The WAUDOG NASA Nylon Standard Collar is a very cute option that is available in four sizes. It’s only available in one color, but it features a cute NASA print, ideal for the space enthusiast in your life. It includes a smart tag with a QR code that is unique to your dog, potentially allowing you to get your dog home faster if they get loose. The collar itself is made from fade-resistant nylon, and the D-ring is made from rust-resistant steel. The plastic buckle features a locking mechanism that keeps the collar securely in place.

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8. Buckle-Down Polyester Caution Collar

The Buckle-Down Polyester Caution Collar is available in three sizes and can be customized with your dog’s name and your contact phone number directly on the collar. It’s bright yellow with black lettering that spells out “CAUTION,” as you might see on caution tape. This is a great collar pick for dogs that need extra space in public places as the bright color and lettering will let others know to give your dog breathing room. The D-ring is made from sturdy metal, and the collar itself is made from durable polyester. This collar sells for a higher price than most on this list, though, due to its customizable nature.

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9. OneTigris Nylon Military Collar

The OneTigris Nylon Military Collar is available in two sizes and three colors. This sturdy collar is made from padded nylon and contains metal hardware that’s made to last. It features a Velcro panel that allows you to add your own patches to customize it. It also features parallel holes at each adjustment point to ensure a secure fit. This is an ideal collar for strong dogs and medium to large dogs. However, it only goes up to 20.9-inch neck circumference, so this is not a good option for dogs with thick necks or very large dogs.

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10. GoTags Waterproof Reflective Collar

The GoTags Waterproof Reflective Collar is available in five sizes and three colors, each of which features a reflective strip around the circumference of the collar. You can customize the interior of the reflective strip with your dog’s name and your contact phone number.  This collar is made from biothane-coated polyester webbing, which is waterproof and resistant to dirt, odors, oil, and moisture. It’s easy to clean as well, only needing a wipe down or rinse in water. The hardware is non-corrosive and made from sturdy metal.

Since it is a customizable product, this collar retails for a higher price than most on this list. These collars run large, and the customized print may wear off over time.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Dog Collar

How to Choose the Best Collar for Your Dog

Choosing the best collar for your dog can be complicated, especially if your dog is very large or very small. It’s important to choose a collar that fits your dog properly to ensure a secure but safe fit. If you have a breed with a large neck and small head, like a Greyhound, then a Martingale-style collar is a great pick. For dogs with heads larger than their necks, then a normal collar is likely to work well.

Choose a collar that will fit your lifestyle and the activities you and your dog participate in frequently. Suppose your dog regularly plays in the water. In that case, a waterproof or water-resistant collar is going to prevent unpleasant mildewy odors in your home, as well as prevent moisture from being held against your dog’s coat or skin. Large, strong dogs that tend to pull on a leash may need a sturdier collar than a smaller dog or a dog used to being on a leash.

Almost all collars have a tag ring or D-ring that can also hold collar tags. However, dangling tags don’t work for all settings. If your dog hunts and needs to work quietly, for example, a customizable collar may work best because your dog can still be identified and returned to you if they get loose, but without the distracting sounds of jingling tags.

Conclusion

From the products we reviewed, we found the best overall dog collar to be the Soft Touch Collars Leather Two-Tone Padded Collar, a beautiful, high-quality collar that is available in multiple colors and made with your dog’s comfort in mind. The budget-friendly collar pick is the Frisco Solid Nylon Martingale Dog Collar with Buckle, which brings you the function of a Martingale collar with the convenience of a standard buckle collar. The best option for a puppy is the durable and waterproof Red Dingo Vivid PVC Collar.

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Featured Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock