More people are choosing to become dog owners than ever before, and, although there’s no denying splashing out on new dog toys is a whole lot of fun, there are plenty of practical accessories that require a little more decision-making. Collars are a case in point.
One of the first things you should do is measure your dog’s neck – not just so you know what size of collar to buy, but so you can keep track of how quickly your dog is growing, and will know when the collar might need changing.
The right collar should have plenty of room for adjustment, and you should be able to squeeze two fingers between the collar and your dog’s fur with ease. Regularly check the area of fur beneath the collar – if it looks as though fur has been rubbed away, or there’s any chafed skin on show, it’s time to invest in a different collar.
How we tested
Luckily, we’ve got two discerning test dogs at our disposal – a Bedlington terrier named Honey and an enormous Rhodesian Ridgeback called Barley. They’re two very different dogs with very different requirements – Barley is, quite simply, so strong that we suspect she might actually be a horse, while Honey is a pint-sized pooch with a penchant for accessorising (or, at least, that’s what we tell ourselves every time we add to her already-bursting wardrobe).
Either way, as dog-lovers who spend much of their time marching through the Surrey countryside with various dogs in tow, you can rest assured these collars were thoroughly tested. Comfort, style and practicality were all carefully assessed, and every single one of the collars below was given the seal of approval by our test dogs.
The best dog collars for 2023 are:
- Best dog collar overall – Joules coastal pet collar: £14, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget dog collar – Pets at Home spotty dog collar, medium: £4, Petsathome.com
- Best dog collar for posh pooches – Holland Cooper HC classic dog collar: £79, Hollandcooper.com
- Best dog collar for durability – 3 Peaks lightweight mesh dog collar, small/medium: £6, Petsathome.com
