What type of collar is best for your dog? It all comes down to your dogs age, behavior and walking needs. So start with a list of your dogs characteristics which include breed, activity level and behavior.  Then there’s the “human” factors like aesthetics, colors and design appeal.  And most important to many is the quality or safety issue. The best dog collar will be one keeps your dog safe on walks and travel.  Below is a short list of questions that will help you find the best dog collar with all these considerations.

About Your Dog

Is your dog a puppy or rescue/shelter dog?  If you have had your dog for a while, you can skip this question and move on to the next. If you’ve got a new puppy, size matters. Understand that your puppy will grow, and the collar you buy today will not likely fit him/her as an adult. So the best collar for your dog today may not be the best collar tomorrow. Same for an adult shelter dog. He/she may have issues or needs you are unaware of. In both cases, think “temporary” and get something simple & safe to start. Dog collar nirvana will come after you’ve had your dog for a while and know his/her behavior and needs.

Is your dogs head bigger, or smaller, than his neck?  Sounds goofy, but dogs with narrow heads slip out of standard collars easily. If you plan on going anywhere with your dog, the best collar for your dog is one that he/she can’t back out of. While a standard collar is fine for around the house, you may be putting your dog at risk when out on leash. In this case shop for a martingale collar, which is a type of collar style for dogs with this physique.

Is your dog outdoors most of the time, or indoors?  This speaks to lifestyle, not tying your dog out on a tether (which we do not recommend). An active, outdoor dog is exposed to the elements so the best collar for your dog has features such as colorfast, durable, and for some, washable. For example, a leather collar is very durable, but not easy to keep clean.

Does your dog have any skin or neck sensitivities?  Some dogs necks get irritated easily by materials that are hard or don’t breath. If this is the case with your dog, look for soft materials, like nylon or polyester, which are durable yet soft . Cotton is good for dogs with allergies, so long as it is many, many layers thick to make it durable. Stay away from faux leather or waterproof (plastic) material that is stiff, unyielding, and for some dogs, uncomfortable. Also be mindful of the collar hardware – a dog with skin allergies can be sensitive to some metals. Last, you may want to ditch the idea of a collar if your dog is prone to neck or tracheal issues. Consider instead a dog harness, like the step-in dog harness, which is easy to put on/take off for walks.

Is Your Dog Well or Ill Mannered?  Is your dog the perfect gentleman in the house, but when you get him outside on leash is he a lunging, raving lunatic? The best collar for your dog in this case will provide you with some control. Traditional (flat buckle or quick release) collars are not designed for control.  If you need to do some training, martingale collars are perfect for that. Most trainers recommend this type of collar, but if you haven’t used them before and are looking to tackle the training yourself, read up on their use.

About You

Is your lifestyle active or laid back?  An important factor in finding the best dog collar is your lifestyle. If you live a very active, outdoorsy life with your dog, then durability takes high priority. If you dog is in the pool all the time, or you go kayaking with your canine, colorfastness is an important feature. Some fabrics fade or run with exposure to water. The color red tends to run if your dog is constantly in pools or at the beach. There are rope and paracord collars that will withstand all the outdoor elements thrown at you. But typically, nylon collars are both durable and colorfast.

Are you a casual dresser, or a fashionista?  Aesthetics may play a big part in the type of collar you chose for your dog. After all, a dogs collar is his/her clothes and one the ways we express their – and our – uniqueness. A design or color that compliments your dogs coloring brings out their beauty. While you may like a certain design or color, it may not look so great on your dog, so do a little research on finding the right color collar for your dog. Craftsmanship and brand are aesthetic features that can be very important, especially if you expect the collar to last.

How Do You Determine Whether a Collar is of Good Quality?  Whatever type of dog collar you decide is best for your dog, don’t forget about the quality of the product. Look for the hallmarks of a well made item – tight stitching, washable materials, durable hardware (military grade), customer reviews, and a guarantee. Sellers that don’t offer a decent guarantee usually don’t have a good product, and the return policy should indicate a companies position on this.

The Artful Canine has been making collars for 14 years and offers over 45 designs in every collar style you might need or want. Artfully crafted in the USA, our collars are durable, comfortable, washable and come with a 1 year guarantee.

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