What do you like in a collar?

[BostonBanker]

Someone makes a plastic buckle that isn't a quick release? I've never seen such a thing. Not that I'd put one on my dogs, anyway.

Maybe I use the term wrong? I have a collar with a metal buckle that you "lift" the top metal flap to open it - kind of like an airplane seat belt? I think of that as a quick release. It's the only collar I have that has ever come unbuckled on one of my dogs. It's a shame, because it is a really pretty collar I like on Meg.

Even working outdoors with me through multiple Vermont winters, I never had an issue with any of Meg's plastic buckles cracking or breaking, but again, she isn't big or a dog who pulls or anything. I might worry more if I had a dog that I thought might break something.

 

[Sit Stay]

Leather is my favorite - I like tan leather with brass hardware on Quinn. I also have a biothane color for swimming though, and also some nylon and cotton fabric wrapped ones which I do appreciate (some cute patterned ones, and a couple of embroidered ones that are nice around the farm).

Most of my collars are 1". I like the width and I don't mind it in a martingale style, but I've come to realize I'm not a huge fan of the 1" metal buckles on Quinn. I think they're too heavy on her. From now on, with leather collars, I think I will be getting 1" or 1.25" tapered to 3/4" at the buckle. Even her 1" biothane is too bulky at the buckle for my tastes.

 

[Lizmo]

I've gotten to a point where I only like leather collars. I haven't put a cloth or nylon collar on my dogs in years, except for Rory's nylon Collarmania martingale with his name on it.

I prefer silver hardware, but I like brass as well depending on the collar and the dog.

I'm not a fan of super wide collars. I limit my chihuahuas to 3/4" (Emma is limited to 3/8"), and Rory's widest collar is 1 1/4".

I'll just quote you, since it seems we have the same taste. lol

My dogs haven't worn anything but leather in a long time. Good leather just works so well for me to see a point in using something else.

 

[CharlieDog]

I like it when my collars don't fall apart. Or start rusting on the rivets. Or the interior doesn't start flaking off.

I'm venting. But this was supposed to be a really nice leather collar from Gun Dog Supply, and I've had nothing but disappointment out of it. It's made by Filson, and I won't be buying anything from them again.

If it had been a ten dollar leather collar I could get over it, but this was close to fifty dollars at the time for a simple collar. This should not have been an issue.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Even her 1" biothane is too bulky at the buckle for my tastes.

I'm the same way with the buckles. Jackson's 3/4" gundogsupply collar is a *bit* too large in the buckle area for my liking but it suits him okay, so he does wear it a lot in summer but it's not my 'preference'. I wish they had a smaller buckle.

 

[Hillside]

When I do buy collars, in addition to brass, I look for at least an inch wide in a buckle collar. Saga gets a new martingale, with some sort of pink and black combo, every couple years. In martingales, I look for 1.5 inches, with a one inch loop. We also have a "potty collar" that stays on the potty*ahem flexi* leash, and that one is a 1.5 inch all the way around.

 

[Katem]

With everyone talking collars, I've been putting some thought into what I eventually want to get for the Badger boy. On the one hand, I like that I have so much time to decide...but then I also want it now! I'm leaning towards something Harry Potter themed. Either in the general/vague sense or something very hufflepuff-ish. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of Hufflepuff, but that's part of where his name came from and let's be honest, that's the house he would be in as of now.

I'm also toying with the idea of getting a plain white or old parchment colored fabric collar and painting on "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good" or just "Mischief Managed" Or maybe burning/carving that into a leather collar would be better....or just getting a tag that says that. I don't know, too many options.

 

[Oko]

It fits around his neck. It doesn't fall off. You can attach a leash to it. Annnd it is water wearable/recovers from getting filthy.

 

[BostonBanker]

I'm also toying with the idea of getting a plain white or old parchment colored fabric collar and painting on "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good" or just "Mischief Managed" Or maybe burning/carving that into a leather collar would be better....or just getting a tag that says that. I don't know, too many options.
__________________

Gusto's Fetching Tag is "Mischief Managed" I was complaining to a friend that "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good" wouldn't fit, and she suggested it as a viable alternative. He gets a lot of compliments on it - when he holds still long enough for someone to notice!

 

[Brattina88]

add me to the leather crowd, I like the sturdyness and the comfort level especially for Maddie. And for me, I like the smell of leather lol but I also like the look of it... It just looks well made and expensive even when its not, imho
I have sooo many fabric and ribbon collars, and I keep them in case I want to rotate them, but I never do

I prefer silver hardware (and decorations), just because of the color alone. But I'll do brass because sometimes its just lighter. My favorite leather color is rich, dark, natural brown. <3 lol
I won't go thicker than 3/4" for Maddie, and I like the buckle tapered.


Now, with Bailey, her everyday collar is rolled leather. She has 3 different colors (red, tan, and dark brown leather) but really you can't see them through the fur, and I hate a collar on her that messes up her fur. If we're going somewhere that someone else might have the potential of holding her or watching her for me, I put a martingale on her because she can slip her collars so easily.

 

[golden&hovawart]

I use nylon when they swim or might get dirty but prefer leather collars.
They must be:3/4 or 1 inch,in width and fun.
I love kennel leashes,in leather and use that,the most!.

 

[SarahHound]

For me its all about cute colours and patterns. I don't like leather, but anything else is fine for me

 

[ChelseaShea]

Bailey hardly ever wears a collar. He wears a harness when on leash, and wears his orange biothane ID collar when hiking or off leash. He has a bunch of fancy collars I have made him, leather and biothane, but never wears any


Ace wears his Brass Fur Saver 99% of the time.


I love nice leather collars, and if I had a smooth coated dog, that's what they would wear.
ALL my dog gear has to have brass hardware. I hate silver, it clashes with my dog's coats

 

[PuppyInMotion.com]

I try to get the lightest one possible. For the pattern, I let my little guy pick from handful of patterns that I selected. What I like is what he likes

 

[AllisonPitbullLvr]

I prefer a 1.5" thick brown leather with brass hardware for buckle style and a 2" fabric wrapped collar for his loop martingales. I don't walk him on either so they're purely for fashion/ ID holding.

He's kind of hard on collars because he loves to swim in mucky water and charge through brush so we haven't done the Paco/Ella's Lead/Karma collar thing because of the cost. I've had a few collars made from a local saddle maker.

 

[Maxy24]

I like 3/4 inch collars with a quick release buckle, we just buy whatever we like at the pet store. We need quick release because he doesn't wear collars in the house so it needs to go on and off every single time he goes out and my parents already have some difficulty with the quick release, a regular buckle would take them like 10 minutes to get on him.