Short answer: most dogs need one everyday flat collar to carry their ID tags. Choose a martingale if your dog can back out of a collar, a quick-release (side-release) clip if your dog plays rough or is crated in its collar, and a waterproof collar for swimmers. Cats belong in a breakaway collar. Whatever the collar, a dog that pulls should walk on a harness.
Collar shopping usually starts with the pattern. We'd rather it start with the hardware, because that's what decides whether a collar stays on, comes off when it should, and holds up to the way your dog actually lives. Here is every type of collar we carry at Gussied Up, which dogs each one suits, and where to read more.
Dog collar types at a glance
| Type | How it works | Best for | Skip it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat collar, belt-style buckle | A fixed loop you adjust once; it holds ID tags and won't come open | Everyday wear for most dogs | Your dog can back out of it |
| Flat collar, quick-release clip | A plastic side-release buckle that snaps open in a second | Rough players, crate time, fast removal | Your dog pulls hard on the leash |
| Martingale | A second loop tightens a little when the dog pulls back, never past the size of the neck | Greyhounds, whippets and escape artists | It would be left on unsupervised |
| Breakaway | The buckle pops open if the collar snags | Every cat | You plan to clip a leash to it |
| Waterproof, no-stink | Coated webbing that rinses clean and doesn't hold odor | Swimmers, creek dogs, mud-rollers | You want a soft fabric look |
| Bow ties and collar flowers | Add-ons that slip onto the collar your pet already wears | Photos, weddings, holidays | They would be the only thing holding the tags |
Flat collars: the everyday standard
A flat collar is the one most dogs wear around the clock. It carries the ID tags, it's what a neighbor grabs if your dog slips out the front door, and it's what most of our collar wall is. Flat collars close one of two ways. A belt-style buckle never comes open on its own, which makes it the strongest choice for holding tags. A quick-release clip, the plastic side-release kind on a backpack strap, opens fast when you need the collar off and can pop open under a hard pull. Our martingale vs. buckle vs. quick-release guide compares them side by side.
Most of our flat collars come from two makers. Up Country makes theirs in the USA from nylon webbing with a colorfast ribbon overlay, in XS for 6 to 12 inch necks through Large for 15 to 21 inches, at $24.99. Foggy Dog covers the fashion end, in fabric prints that run from XS (6 to 11 inches) to Large (18 to 26 inches).
The Red & Black Paw Print Dog Collar ($24.99) is the kind of everyday collar that goes with everything. Browse every print in dog collars, or narrow it down to plaids and prints, flowers and hearts or paws and bones.
Martingale collars: for dogs who back out
A martingale has a second, smaller loop where the leash clips on. When the dog pulls back, that loop draws the collar a little snugger, just enough that it can't slip over the head. Fitted correctly, it never tightens past the width of the neck, so it doesn't choke. Greyhound adoption groups such as Greyhounds As Pets NSW recommend martingales because a greyhound's neck is wider than its head.
It's the right collar for sighthounds, nervous rescues and any dog that has wriggled out of a collar even once. It's a walking collar, though, not one to leave on in the crate or at daycare. A few Up Country patterns come in a martingale version, including the Gray Buffalo Check and Best. Dog. Ever. collars. Stock in martingale sizes is limited, so ask us at the market if you don't see yours.
Quick-release collars: the safety pick for play and crates
If your dog wrestles with other dogs, goes to daycare, or sleeps in a crate wearing a collar, a quick-release clip is the safer closure. Collars can catch on crate wire or on another dog's teeth, and a side-release buckle comes off in one squeeze. The trade-off is holding strength: a strong puller can pop one open, which is one more reason pullers belong on a harness.
Breakaway collars: the only kind for cats
A breakaway collar has a safety buckle that opens if the collar catches on a branch, a fence or the cat's own leg. Collars work for most cats: in an Ohio State University study of 538 cats, nearly three in four wore theirs for the full six months. Fit it so two fingers slide underneath, and never clip a leash to a breakaway collar, since it's designed to let go.
Our cat collars are Up Country breakaways at $14.99, in prints like Heart of Gold and Stars and Moon.
Waterproof, no-stink collars: for swimmers and creek dogs
Fabric collars soak up lake water and mud and start to smell. Cycle Dog's collars use quick-dry, coated webbing that doesn't hold water or odor, so you rinse the collar under the tap and put it straight back on. They close with sturdy side-release buckles and come in Medium (12 to 21 inch necks) and Large (17 to 27 inches) at $29.99, including reflective versions for early-morning and evening walks.
Start with the Reflective Red No-Stink Dog Collar, or see every pattern in waterproof no-stink collars.
Team, holiday and dress-up collars
Some collars are about the occasion. Our college team collars cover Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee at $29.99, sized from Extra Small (10 to 13 inch necks) to Large (18 to 28 inches), with an Extra Large on the UGA red and Georgia Tech collars. Holiday collars handle Halloween through St. Patrick's Day, including Christmas and Hanukkah prints.
For a wedding, a holiday card or a birthday photo, you don't need a new collar at all. A bow tie or one of our collar flowers ($9.99) slips onto the collar your dog or cat already wears. If you want it built in, the Gray & Pink Bow Tie Dog Collar from Tall Tails has the bow attached.
How to choose in three questions
- Has your dog ever backed out of a collar? Get a martingale for walks.
- Does your dog pull on the leash? Walk on a harness and keep the collar for tags. In a lab test of seven collars on a model of a dog's neck, none kept the pressure low enough to rule out injury when the dog pulled (Carter, McNally and Roshier, Veterinary Record, 2020). Our harness vs. collar guide explains which harness to pick.
- Does your dog swim, wrestle or sleep in a crate? Choose a waterproof collar for water and a quick-release clip for play and crates.
If the answer to all three is no, any flat collar works, so pick the pattern you love.
Getting the size right
Every collar type fails if the size is wrong. Measure around the base of the neck, where the collar sits, add 1 to 2 inches, and check that two fingers slide flat under the collar once it's on, the same test the American Kennel Club uses. Our collar measuring guide has the full size chart. Puppies outgrow collars fast, so re-check every few weeks; the new puppy checklist covers the rest of the starter kit.
FAQ
What are the main types of dog collars?
Flat collars with a belt-style buckle or a quick-release clip, martingale collars, breakaway collars (mainly for cats), and waterproof collars. Bow ties and collar flowers are add-ons that attach to a flat collar.
What type of collar is best for everyday wear?
A flat collar sized with room for two fingers. It carries ID tags around the clock. Choose a quick-release clip if your dog plays rough or wears the collar in a crate.
What collar should a greyhound or whippet wear?
A martingale. Their necks are wider than their heads, so a flat collar can slip off, and a martingale tightens just enough to stop that without choking.
Should cats wear breakaway collars?
Yes. A breakaway buckle opens if the collar snags, and most cats get used to wearing one. Fit it with room for two fingers, and never clip a leash to it.
Sources
- Choosing the Right Collar for Your Dog, American Kennel Club
- Why you should be using a Martingale collar, Greyhounds As Pets NSW
- Canine collars: an investigation of collar type and the forces applied to a simulated neck model, Carter, McNally and Roshier, Veterinary Record, 2020
- Study: 3 out of 4 cats will wear a collar, The Ohio State University, on Lord et al., Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2010
Shop this guide
- Dog collars — every print and size we carry
- Waterproof no-stink collars — for swimmers and mud-rollers
- Breakaway cat collars — the safety-release kind
- College team collars — game day, every Saturday
- Harnesses — for the dogs who pull
