Dog Collars
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Comfortable, Secure, Ready for Every Walk
A good collar is the one thing your dog wears every single day, so it is worth getting right. Whether you are kitting out a new puppy, replacing a worn favourite, or looking for something tougher for an escape artist, this collection is built around comfort, durability, and a proper fit, not just colour and pattern.
What to Look For in a Dog Collar
Not every collar suits every dog. The wrong choice can mean chafing, slipping, or a collar that will not hold up to daily walks.
- Material. Nylon and webbing collars are light, affordable, and easy to hose down after a muddy walk, a solid everyday choice for most dogs. Leather collars soften with wear and can last for years, but need a bit more care to stay supple. Waterproof collars, often a coated webbing, suit dogs who swim, dig, or get filthy, since they do not hold onto smells the way fabric can.
- Buckle type. A quick release side buckle is the easiest for daily use. Dogs who pull hard or back out of a standard collar often do better in a martingale style collar, which tightens slightly under pressure without choking.
- Width and size. Narrower collars around 15 to 20mm suit small and toy breeds. Medium widths of 20 to 25mm work for most dogs. Wider webbing of 25mm and above gives more control and durability for large or strong breeds.
- Reflectivity. If you walk early mornings, evenings, or through UK winters, reflective stitching adds real safety on unlit roads and pavements.
Collar Safety: When to Take It Off
A collar is a daily safety item outdoors, but it can turn into a risk indoors. Take your dog's collar off during crate time, and during unsupervised play with other dogs. A collar can catch on a crate bar, a piece of furniture, or another dog's jaw, and this can lead to a serious injury in seconds. This applies to any collar, including a leather or tweed collar you might otherwise leave on all day.
Do Dogs Legally Need to Wear a Collar in the UK?
Yes. Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, every dog in a public place must wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it, either engraved directly on the collar or on an attached tag or plate. The law, published on legislation.gov.uk, applies across England, Scotland, and Wales.
There are a small number of exceptions. These include packs of hounds, dogs working with livestock or vermin control, dogs on official duty with the armed forces, customs, or police, dogs doing emergency rescue work, and registered guide dogs.
The offence sits under the Animal Health Act 1981. Reports on real cases show fines are often modest in practice, from around £50 to a few hundred pounds, but the legal maximum is six months in prison or an unlimited fine. It is worth treating the collar and tag as non negotiable rather than relying on the low end of what courts have handed out.
Microchipping does not replace this requirement. All dogs in England, Scotland, and Wales have needed a microchip since 2016, but this is a separate legal duty from the collar and tag rule. You need both. A harness on its own does not satisfy the law either. If your dog wears a harness for walks, they still need a collar with ID on it.
What Collars Do Vets Recommend?
For everyday identification and calm walking, most vets recommend a flat collar wide enough to spread pressure evenly across the neck, rather than a narrow strip that concentrates force in one spot.
For dogs who pull hard, many vets suggest pairing a collar, worn for ID only, with a harness for the actual walking. This keeps the legal requirement met while taking leash pressure off the neck entirely.
Flat faced breeds need particular care. According to veterinarian Dr Jennifer Coates, writing for PetMD, brachycephalic dogs such as Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Bulldogs already have narrowed airways, and a collar's pressure on the trachea can make breathing harder still. A 2025 study published in Veterinary Medicine and Science measured this directly and found that tension on a collar raised pressure inside the eye in brachycephalic dogs, a risk linked to their shallow eye sockets. For these breeds, a harness for walking is the safer everyday choice, with the collar reserved for its ID tag.
Choosing a Collar by Breed
- Labrador. Large, friendly, and strong. A wider webbing collar of 25mm or more holds up to daily pulling and wear.
- French Bulldog. A brachycephalic breed. Use a light, well padded collar for ID only, and walk on a harness to protect the airway.
- Cockapoo. Responsive to training. A standard buckle collar suits daily wear, with a martingale collar useful while lead training is still underway.
- Cocker Spaniel. Friendly and energetic. A martingale collar gives secure control in busy, stimulating places, alongside a standard buckle collar for calmer walks.
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Powerful and affectionate. A wider collar, 25mm or above, spreads pressure comfortably around a broader neck.
- Whippet or Greyhound. These breeds have a neck wider than their head, so a standard collar can slip off. A martingale collar solves this without choking.
Collar Care and Cleaning
A collar that gets washed regularly lasts longer and stays more comfortable against the skin. Nylon and webbing collars can usually be hand washed with mild soap and left to air dry. Avoid a tumble dryer, since heat can warp buckles and stitching. Leather collars benefit from an occasional wipe and a leather conditioner to stop them drying out and cracking. A waterproof or coated collar needs little more than a rinse or a wipe down, which saves this hassle almost entirely.
Choosing by Lifestyle
- Everyday walking. A light nylon or webbing collar with a side release buckle covers most dogs comfortably.
- Muddy walks, water lovers, or smelly dogs. A waterproof or coated collar wipes clean in seconds and will not hold odour.
- Strong pullers or narrow headed breeds. A martingale collar reduces the risk of your dog slipping out.
- Growing puppies. Choose a fully adjustable collar so it can grow with them, rather than sizing up every few weeks. If you are kitting out a new puppy for car journeys too, our puppy car seat range follows the same idea of a fit that grows with them.
- Low light walkers. Prioritise reflective detailing for extra visibility on dark mornings and evenings.
Anti Bark and Training Collars
Some collars in this range are built for bark control or training rather than everyday wear. It is worth being clear about what these do and what UK law says about them.
Spray, vibration, and beep style anti bark collars work by interrupting a dog before or as they bark, without an electric shock. These are legal to use across the whole of the UK. The anti bark collars in this collection use vibration and beep signals, not an electric shock, and we will not describe them otherwise.
Electric shock collars are a separate category. They have been banned in Wales since 2010 under the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations. A ban was drafted for England in 2023 but never approved by Parliament, so as things stand, shock collars remain legal to buy and use in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, though the UK government has said it is reviewing this again. Whatever the law in your area, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 still applies, meaning any training method, shock or otherwise, that causes unnecessary suffering can be an offence on its own.
If you are training a dog to stop barking, a vibration or beep collar is the option least likely to raise welfare concerns, and it is legal everywhere in the UK.
Complete the Set
A collar handles identification, not restraint or control on a walk. Most collars include a D ring for quick lead attachment, so check this is included if you plan to clip a lead straight to the collar for calm walkers.
- Need a lead for everyday walking?Shop dog leads
- Dog pulls, or a brachycephalic breed?Shop dog harnesses
- Walk over, journey home?Shop dog car seats
Real Owners, Real Dogs
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a dog collar fits properly?
You should be able to fit two fingers flat between the collar and your dog's neck. Any tighter risks rubbing or restricted breathing. Any looser and your dog may be able to back out of it, especially breeds with a narrower head than neck.
Is it illegal to walk my dog without a collar in the UK?
Yes. Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, dogs must wear a collar with the owner's name and address in any public place, even if they are on a lead or wearing a harness.
Do I need a collar if my dog is already microchipped?
Yes. A microchip and a collar ID tag are two separate legal requirements in the UK. Having one does not exempt you from the other.
How often should I replace my dog's collar?
Check it every few months for fraying, cracking, or a stretched buckle. Most well made collars last one to two years with regular use, though puppies will need resizing more often as they grow.
What is the difference between a collar and a harness for everyday walking?
A collar is where your legal ID tag must be worn, and it suits most calm walkers on a lead. A harness spreads pressure across the chest rather than the neck, which some owners prefer for dogs who pull, and which vets recommend for brachycephalic breeds. A harness does not replace the legal need for a collar.
What age can a puppy start wearing a collar?
A puppy can wear a collar as soon as they are comfortable in one, often from a few weeks old, as long as it is fully adjustable and checked often. Puppies grow fast, so recheck the fit every couple of weeks using the two finger rule above.