Best dog collar

[tiredandgrumpy]

My dog has just pulled out of her collar. I'm looking for a new one which is adjustable to a better fit, but wondering what you'd recommend. I think it would be best if padded and I'd prefer something with an old fashioned buckle rather than a click closure as I suspect it's more secure. Quite fancy a leather one, but do they get ruined if they get wet loads?

(Definitely not after a harness)

What sort of dog is she? My lurchers wear martinale collars as they have very slim heads, and the martingale action means they are much harder to slip over their heads

These are beautifully made and the clips pretty secure. I've been using them for seven years with no issues. They can be made for bespoke sizes.

scrufts.co.uk/

My old boy is 15 and still wearing the same, lovely, leather collar he got when he was about 1.5 years old. It’s a traditional handmade leather collar with a buckle, from Barefoot Leather

Can’t recommend them highly enough, our other dog had one the same that also lasted his whole life.

I think I have oiled the leather once in the whole time he’s had it and it’s still as good as the day we bought it.

I love SaltDogStudio collars. They are pictured with clip fastenings but they will put a proper buckle on instead, if you ask.

They are lovely, wash very well, are strong made and fully adjustable.

Alternatively, the RUFFWEAR - Top Rope Dog Collar is even more pragmatic; also very easily adjustable, not padded though. It does have a clip buckle but it's a big metal one that, ime, would withstand a truck trying to pull away without giving in.

Thank you all. I'm undecided now - some great ones recommended here.

She's a labradoodle. Quite a slim build, though not as elegant as a lurcher.

I'd never heard of martingale collars, which seem a clever design. She pulls a lot on lead and doesn't seem to mind if this makes it hard to breath. Should I avoid a martingale for this reason, do you think? Or would it help?

We use a McDawg... and not just for the awesome name. Sturdy and comfy Harris tweed and very secure clasp. Can be adjusted as well. On our second and we will get a third, fourth etc. We get them from a nice dog shop close to us in the Midlands but there is a website: mymcdawg.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInc26qu6w7QIVCSwYCh2bTw2gEAAYASAAEgIpPvD_BwE x

If she is very poodly, then a martingale would be a good idea - when you see a clipped poodle, you see how slim their head is and the same as their neck.
A martingale isn't like a choke collar at all, and can't tighten to smaller than you set it. The availability of wider collars is also kinder to a slim neck. I use a 1.5" collar on my dogs, and even on my foster puppies. My larger, slimmer dog does have some 2" collars, but both of them are good on the lead so I don't have to worry about pulling too much

I favour biothane - durable, leather look, and a variety of other benefits quoted at the time which I can't remember right now, but I'm happy with DDog's one!

I favour part leather/part webbing. You are right to go for a buckle as the snap shut ones clack as my dog trots along and make an annoying (to both dog and me) noise - also, I think they are easily accidentally opened. I haven't yet found a webbing/leather collar made in UK that I like, so I buy Blueberry ones (American) but they are not as good as I'd like - wear out in about a year and stitchery not strong - some of the same range better than others in quality and last longer, strangely.

Leather is fine in the wet, as long as you look after it. My previous dog had leather ones (made in Shetlands but that business has closed now) and they lasted years - only had to buy her two in over 10 years. I did clean mud off them (rots leather) regularly and oil them with olive oil or leather treatment now and then. Just be careful to get a soft leather as some of the cheaper leather collars are quite hard and inflexible.