The Best Collar Types for Most Dogs (And Which to Avoid)

You want the best for your dog, and that includes finding the right type of collar for them. Since they’ll wear it often, you want something that is comfortable, but also safe and secure. Here are the best collars for most dogs as well as which collars you may want to stay away from.

When choosing a collar for your dog, you should consider how well behaved they are as well as their physical features (short nose, bulging eyes). Here are the pros and cons of three common collars:

Flat and rolled collars: Great for attaching all your dog’s tags and ID to them and fairly comfortable, but these can get caught (and potentially choke) during play with another dog or exploration of the yard when unsupervised. Using this type of collar to walk your dog can also cause pressure to rise in the eyes (from pulling on the leash), which can exacerbate eye conditions like glaucoma.

Pinch collar: This collar has pointed prongs that push into the dog’s neck when it pulls on the leash or when you (or a trainer) pulls as a behavior correction. You may not want to use this type of collar to train your dog because it can cause it to associate the pain with good things (like another dog approaching since your dog may pull against the leash to say hello) as well as behaviors you’re trying to correct.

Harness: While not technically a collar, a harness that fits over your dog’s chest and back can be a good alternative. Harnesses with an attachment for the leash at the front (chest) rather than the back because it tends to be more effective in training dogs not to pull. If your dog has breathing issues (short snout or delicate trachea), a harness will be the safest and most comfortable option for them.

Which option is right depends on your dog’s behaviors (do they pull a lot when you walk them?), their physical and health situation, and what you feel comfortable using as their owner. Hit the link below for detailed descriptions of each collar option.