10 Best Dog Collars in 2024, Tested and Reviewed

This stylish dog collar from Blueberry Pet is made from polyester webbing, features a side-release clip for easy on and off, and has 3M reflective strips woven into the fabric for nighttime visibility.

“The Blueberry Pet collar is the perfect balance of function and fashion,” says Chewy Senior Editor Kristine Cannon, one of our testers. “For us, the way the collar looks is just as important as durability and functionality, and the Blueberry collar is a sturdy and stylish collar that has it all.”

During the testing period, Cannon’s 3-year-old "super mutt,” Odesza, wore the collar on her daily 30-minute morning walks and a trip to her cousin’s house for a playdate.

Smart design choices that really impressed Cannon included: the 2 D-rings (one for Odesza’s ID tag and one for her leash when she wasn’t wearing her harness) and the placement of the D-rings next to the clip closure, so the clip was always positioned on the back of the neck instead of under the neck during walks, thus putting less strain on the clip.

Its on-trend olive and blue-gray color combo and reflective striping for visibility also helped give it a leg up over other collars.

The fit was true-to-size, though Cannon notes that the metal tri-glide slide can get caught on the material, which can make it difficult to adjust the size. “However, the upside is this ensures a secure fit‚ and we haven't had to adjust the collar since,” she says.

Though it lacked the thicker mesh padding of some other collars, its construction was solid, and Cannon says Odesza seemed very comfortable wearing it.

“Overall, it's a truly beautiful, well-made collar that's sure to get compliments from other pet parents,” she says.

Things To Consider: Two D-rings; true-to-size, secure fit; reflective; trendy colors; solid construction; and not heavily padded.

Leather dog collars are known for their durability, and the OmniPet® Signature leather collar was no exception. Cannon, who tested this collar with 45-pound Odesza, describes it as an attractive, no-frills collar that is strong but surprisingly lightweight and flexible.

“It's more than a pretty collar; we're even considering bringing this along with us on her next hiking adventure,” she says.

In fact, it was its lighter construction that made it “super-wearable” and helped push this collar into the top position for this category.

“The collar is lighter in weight and more flexible than we thought it'd be, especially when compared to other high-quality leather dog collars that have extra padding,” Cannon says.

Made from 100% genuine leather, it features a traditional buckle closure and one D-ring. Though Cannon appreciated the tough nickel hardware, she would prefer two D-rings.

That said, she usually only uses Odesza’s collar for her ID and opts for a harness to attach to her leash, making the one D-ring less of a concern.

It fit true-to-size, but Cannon says it’s important to read the size guide closely and pay particular attention to the adjustable length listed.

For Odesza’s 17-inch neck, she selected the 18-inch collar, which has an adjustable length of 11–15 inches, but she says she should’ve chosen the next size up, which has an adjustable length of 14–18 inches. Though the 18-inch collar fit Odesza on the very last notch, this may not be ideal for pet parents with dogs who are still growing.

Things To Consider: 100% genuine leather; well-made, sturdy construction; lightweight; fits true-to-size but pay attention to adjustable length; and one D-ring.

Martingale collars for dogs are ideal for escape artists who tend to slip out of standard collars, because they tighten when pulled. They’re especially well-suited for dogs with narrow heads, like our tester Paul Bujold’s smooth-coated Collie, Gemma.

Gemma wore the Frisco® by Chewy martingale collar during a two-week testing period, and Bujold reports it functioned well.

“We went on about 20 walks and the collar worked perfectly,” says Bujold, a professional dog trainer. “In no time at all, neither of us thought about it much.”

In addition to walks, Gemma hiked, visited the beach, played ball and Frisbee®, and romped with other dogs.

Bujold gave the nylon collar high marks for being easy to use and well-made, noting that it was both lightweight and flexible yet strong. He also appreciated that the plastic clasp made it easy to attach and take off, and it was unobtrusive.

Things To Consider: Sturdy yet lightweight construction; easy to use; true-to-size fit and easy to adjust; and two D-rings.

When it came to finding the best small dog collar, fit was a major area of concern for dog mom and Chewy Senior Editor Ciara LaVelle. In the past, she’s had issues with collars staying snug on her 14-year-old Chihuahua-Miniature Pinscher mix, Zeno.

The small-size patterned collar from Frisco® by Chewy won her over with its secure fit, among other desirable attributes.

Though it took a bit of strength and time to adjust the collar’s size, once the adjustable slides were set, LaVelle says it did not budge for the entire testing period, which for this senior pup included 30- to 45-minute daily walks plus leisurely play with the family.

“The secure straps are definitely an upgrade from previous collars we've had, which needed to be re-tightened regularly,” LaVelle says, adding the difficulty in adjusting the sliders may be a challenge for an elderly pet parent.

When selecting the best size for Zeno, she was pleased to find that the sizes overlapped. This, she says, is ideal for dogs who tend to be in between sizes, like Zeno.

For example, the extra small collar is for dogs with 8–12 inch necks, while the small is for dogs with 10–14 inch necks. Zeno, who has an 11-inch neck, fit perfectly in a size small.

Another big plus was the second ring for ID tags. The additional ring meant not having to double up on one ring with both the ID tags and leash. Its special design, which is similar to a standard D-ring but with a bump-out in the center, helped reduce jangling noises.

“It doesn't totally eliminate the sound of her tags, but I definitely noticed a difference compared to other collars we've had, especially on walks,” LaVelle says.

The nylon material makes for a durable collar, and it stayed clean and bright, though LaVelle admits she is not the biggest fan of the polka dot grosgrain ribbon, which is a bit too cutesy for her taste.

“It's not my specific style, but the other aspects of the collar make up for it,” Lavelle says. “She's still wearing it!”

Things To Consider: Secure, true-to-size fit, once adjusted; overlapping sizes ideal for dogs in between sizes; two D-rings; durable, well-made construction; and limited patterns to choose from.

The large and extra-large sizes of Leashboss®’s collar adjusts up to 31 inches in length and comes in two widths, 1.5 inches and 2 inches, to fit big dogs. Features include padded lining for comfort, a handle for more control, a large metal D-ring, and a heavy-duty metal buckle.

Our dog tester, Stella, a 72-pound Great Pyrenees-Shepherd mix, wore the large size, 1.5-inch width collar every day, except at night when sleeping.

Stella’s mom and Chewy Managing Editor, Bre South, says the collar is “extremely well made” and held up well during all her energetic, 3-year-old pup’s activities, which included playing Frisbee®, running around the backyard, and twice daily 1-mile walks.

Though South used Stella’s regular dog harness to attach to the leash, she especially appreciated the collar’s handle, which she used to help hold Stella back during excitable moments.

“Stella gets very excited when she sees other pups, and we're still trying to get her to sit down when she's excited,” South says. "It helped to have an extra handle to secure her back.”

The metal, quick-release buckle was another standout feature. While a bit on the heavy side, it was “more functional than her previous plastic buckle collars.”

The addition of reflective piping was a nice touch, providing better visibility during evening walks.

Things To Consider: Sturdy and durable for big dogs; padded handle for better control; reflective; durable, quick-release buckle; buckle may be too heavy for dogs with smaller necks; one D-ring; and limited color choices.

Collars that glow or light up help make you and your dog more visible to motorists during early morning or nighttime walks.

The Nite Ize® dog collar, made with optical fiber and two high-powered LED lights, provided exceptional brightness for tester South, who also tested this collar with her dog, Stella.

“It has great color intensity and kept Stella visible during early morning and dusk walks,” South says, adding that it also performed well in the rain.

There are two lighting modes—one static and one that flashes. A big bonus was that it comes pre-charged so your dog can wear it right out of the packaging, though South notes that it does not come with a USB charger.

That means you’ll have to provide one on your own when the rechargeable battery dies, which according to the manufacturer typically is after six hours of usage.

Aside from the visibility factor, South also found the collar to be well-made with thick fabric and a metal buckle; sturdy yet comfortable enough to wear all day; and easy to adjust, thanks to the five buckle notches.

Our tester highly recommends it for pet parents who do a lot of camping with their dog and/or who take their walks closer to evening and early morning, “especially those of us on the East Coast who have longer winters.”

Things To Consider: Intense brightness for visibility in darkness; easy to use and can be used immediately‚ due to fully charged battery upon arrival; durable, well-made construction; true-to-size fit and is easy to adjust; no USB cord included for when you do have to charge it eventually; two light mode options; and limited color options.

For adventurous, water-loving dogs (we're looking at you, Labs!), you can't get much better than this Red Dingo® collar. Made from durable PVC-coated webbing, it’s waterproof and easy to clean—just a couple of the reasons why it took the top spot for our tester, Maria Christina Schultz.

And Schultz knows a thing or two about adventurous, water loving dogs. A certified dog trainer, she regularly goes stand-up paddle boarding with her dogs—and even teaches other dog parents how to do it.

For this test, her 4-year-old Australian Shepherd, Willow, wore the collar 24/7 for over a week, which included daily walks, games of fetch in the backyard, hikes, and two SUP outings on the river.

“This collar is a great value,” Schultz says. “It does what it says and it's competitively priced.”

In addition to the collar’s waterproof and stink-proof properties, its construction won her over with its strong-but-lightweight design and the fact that it held its shape during all the activity.

While she’s a fan of the collar’s bright color, she did find the number of color options a little lacking. She also would prefer a quick-release buckle for water-based play in case the collar ever gets caught on something.

The D-ring for attaching ID tags and a leash was a bit on small side, but Schultz says that probably means it’s less likely to be caught on something, like a tree branch, which is especially ideal when in the water.

Things To Consider: Completely waterproof; stink-proof; sturdy construction; bright colors; traditional buckle closure may not be ideal for water-based activities; and one (smaller) D-ring.

Head collars are designed to help give pet parents more control over dogs who pull on the leash.

Made from strong-but-lightweight nylon webbing, the Halti® Headcollar features a padded neoprene noseband for comfort, adjustable straps, reflective elements, and a safety strap, which attaches to the dog's collar.

Head collars require up-front training for both the dog and dog parent, but our tester, Vic Gasser and her dog, Dougal, already had a lot of experience using one. Dougal wears one normally, and Gasser is a certified dog trainer.

During the full week of testing, which included twice daily, 45-minute walks, Gasser says the Halti Headcollar made it much easier to turn Dougal's head away from triggers, and it helped decrease his pulling.

“He is very persistent and was still able to pull at times—those darn squirrels! But this made it much easier to get back control,” Gasser says.

The overall fit seemed just right too. Gasser reports that Dougal was able to open his mouth fully while wearing it, but it never slipped off and he wasn't able to paw it off.

She especially liked the width of the strap that goes over the nose, because it didn’t dig into Dougal’s skin when he pulled.

It also was easy to get on and off. “My boyfriend usually struggles putting head collars on but found this one was the easiest to use,” she says.

Another standout feature was the safety strap that clips to the collar. Gasser says it gives you a sense of extra security, though she notes that the clip was on the smaller side, and if you have a big dog who wears a big collar with a big D-ring, it may not be able to clip it on.

The color options are limited—only red or black, which Gasser felt were a little too “aggressive” for her taste. “Not a look I want for my pittie!” But overall, the functionality, fit, ease of use, and durability were top-notch.

Things To Consider: Decreased pulling; easy to get on and off; thick and sturdy straps; safety strap with (smallish) clip to attach to collar; and limited color options.

Being able to print your dog’s contact info directly on their collar offers several benefits, like never having to worry about their ID tag falling off and no more of that familiar jingling of the tags.

This personalized dog collar from Frisco® by Chewy allows you to add one line of text to include your dog’s name and your phone number.

Our tester, longtime dog mom and pet industry expert Melissa Kauffman, reports that the personalization was easy to do. Just type in the info you want, up to 24 characters long.

She was pleasantly surprised at how well the custom-printed text fit on the size small collar. Even when she adjusted the collar's fit, the adjustable slider did not rest on the text, though the manufacturer warned her that it might.

Murphy Brown, a Chihuahua-Miniature Pinscher mix, wore the collar daily on romps in the backyard as well as walks through the neighborhood and on local trails.

Kauffman says the collar, made from durable polyester webbing, fit and held up well, and she especially liked its reflective properties and the two D-rings for leash connection and tags.

The sporty aesthetic and colorful border garnered the custom dog collar high marks for appearance, though Kauffman says she wished the reflective strip came in more collars than gray.

Things To Consider: Easy personalization; sturdy, durable construction; reflective; two D-rings; sporty look; true-to-size fit; and ray is the only color option for reflective material.

Coming in at under $10, the WAUDOG QR Passport dog collar is a very practical collar with some special bonus features.

Made from re-claimed cotton, it comes in 10 colors, sports reflective stitching, and has a safety lock on the side-release clip. But perhaps one of the biggest standouts is the QR code that comes on the included tag.

You can use the QR code (and a special mobile app) to create a pet profile. Should your pet ever go missing, whoever finds them can scan the code to get your pet’s contact info. When they do, you’ll immediately receive a notification with the dog’s location.

Our tester, Melissa Kauffman, chose to use both the QR code and her dog Murphy Brown’s regular ID tag for added security. She was concerned some people may not be tech savvy enough to use the QR code should they ever come across a runaway Murphy.

This also meant she had to put both the leash and regular ID tag on the one D-ring since the ring for the QR code was too small to hold the ID tag.

The collar itself is lightweight and sturdy, and Kauffman says it functioned well when attached to the leash during long trail walks almost daily.

As you might imagine, the collar got plenty dirty during walks and outdoor playtime, but Kauffman says it was easy to clean. “Even if it gets wet, it dries easily, and also washes well if it gets muddy,” she says.

In fact, she recommends it for dogs who like hiking and get their collar dirty.

Things To Consider: Eco-friendly; “smart” tag with QR code; safety lock on side-release clip; dirt washes off it easily; lightweight yet sturdy; and comes in 10 great colors and has reflective stitching.