10 Best Collars for Puppies in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

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Congratulations, you finally got a puppy!
Getting a dog is one of the great joys in life. Of course, during the puppy stage, you need to be on the alert, as puppies can be a bit of a handful!
Because of this, you’ll need a good collar. In these reviews, we will explore the world of puppy collars and go over the best ones to buy. With that said, let’s take a look!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall |
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CollarDirect Reflective Dog Collar |
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Check Price |
Best Value |
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PUPTECH Nylon Dog Collar |
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Check Price |
Premium Choice |
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Illumiseen LED Dog Collar |
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Check Price |
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Unique Style Paws Dog Collar |
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Check Price | |
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CollarDirect Rolled Leather Dog Collar |
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Check Price |
The 10 Best Dog Collars for Puppies
1. CollarDirect Reflective Dog Collar — Best Overall
Our top pick comes from CollarDirect. This is a great product, especially at this price point. This collar is made of nylon and comes in a variety of different collars. For puppies with necks up to 13”, the collars are made out of bright reflective material so you can be able to spot your Spot any time of day. The width of the collar is ⅝ inches, which is just wide enough to be substantial but not too thick to be cumbersome. The attached D-ring is carbon plated, and the plastic buckles are made out of eco-friendly plastics.
If you love the color of the collar and think it would be cute to have a matching leash, then you are in luck! CollarDirect offers matching leashes that are also reflective.
You can feel secure using this for your new loved one. Users overwhelmingly boast about how sturdy the construction of this collar is and how much their puppies love it.
The only downside is that the color will slowly fade over time.
- Sturdy construction
- Eco-friendly plastics
- Color fades over time
2. PUPTECH Nylon Dog Collar — Best Value
PUPTECH gives us a collar that doesn’t stray too far from tradition. Made out of high-quality nylon, you will feel secure knowing that your puppy is in a tried-and-true collar. The D-ring is nickel plated, and the easy-to-secure buckles are strong enough that you won’t have to worry about them breaking. The collar is easily adjustable but won’t slide around so your dog can easily get out.
This collar comes in a variety of colors, though it is not as reflective as our top pick. This collar is very much meant for puppies, so they are quite small.
Buyers of this collar not only feel safe with their puppy wearing it but are also thrilled with the little dog tag that comes with it.
Some owners have complained about durability, which may be the case if you want to use this collar for a tiny but grown dog. For puppies, though, we think that this is the best collar for puppy for the money.
- Classic design
- Cute tag
- Durability
3. Illumiseen LED Dog Collar — Premium Choice
One of the scary facts of life when it comes to having a dog is that sometimes they get out. If that happens, you will feel better knowing that they are wearing something like this collar. This collar isn’t reflective — it literally lights up! Your dog will be quite visible at night, which is especially crucial during the puppy phase, when your pet has less of an idea about boundaries or behavior. So, how does the collar work?
This is an LED collar running off of a USB rechargeable battery. The battery itself is super lightweight, so it won’t weigh your puppy down. An hour of charging time equals five hours of illumination.
There are different light settings. You can choose a steady light, a slow flash, or a quick flash. All this is done with the simple click of a button. Made to be easy for both your puppy and you, this collar is also easy to put on like any other dog collar.
If you love the illumination, you can also get a matching leash! This will make you and your dog extra visible for those night walks.
Sadly, these collars don’t last too long for some users. Fortunately, they come with a lifetime guarantee. The customer service staff is prompt and friendly and will replace your collar without a question asked.
- Illuminated dog collar
- Three easy settings
- Easy to use
- Lifetime guarantee
- Short lifespan
4. Unique Style Paws Dog Collar
Wonder what could possibly be cuter than a puppy? How about a puppy with a bow tie? With this dog collar, that is exactly what you will get. Not only is it a bow tie, but it is a floral print, so there is an air of class about it as well.
This is also simply a nice collar and one that you can feel safe having your puppy wear. Made from soft cotton, it will be comfortable for your pup, and the secured D-ring will give you the peace of mind that your puppy won’t get away from you.
If you are going on a walk that is less formal, the bow tie is easy to remove, as it is attached with an elastic strap. This collar is also easy to wash! Just throw it in the laundry with everything else, and you are good to go.
Users love this collar, but if there is one complaint that we hear, it is about its weight. The bow tie itself isn’t heavy, but the metal clasp and the D-ring are. Depending on the size of your puppy, this could be an issue.
- It has a bow tie!
- Sturdy and durable
- Heavy
5. CollarDirect Rolled Leather Dog Collar
Another entrant from CollarDirect, these collars are sure to last, as they are made of strong leather, though still soft and comfortable for your puppy to wear. The leather is rolled, so there are no harsh edges.
Much like our top pick, this product from CollarDirect gives you myriad choices when it comes to colors, though these are not reflective. This collar is also thinner, coming in at ⅜ inch in width, but it still feels sturdy at 11 ounces. There is a reinforced O-ring, and the metal buckle on the front will make you feel confident that the collar is not going to slip off.
One of the wonderful things about this collar is that since it is rolled leather, it will not mat the hair of your puppy or damage it in any way! The downside is that it is not exactly the easiest to clean, and you’ll probably have to take it to a leather specialist to have it washed.
A typical complaint about this collar is that the color dye sometimes transfers to your dog.
- Rolled leather collar
- Won’t mat hair
- Choose your color
- Dye can transfer to dog
6. StrawberryEC Puppy Collars
While this is definitely a dog collar, it is advertised as a bandana. The bandana part is made out of cotton, while the adjustable area with the attached D-ring is made out of leather and has five holes for adjustability.
The collar itself is durable, and most users agree that they feel safe walking their pets with this collar on. One complaint is that the construction of the cute bandana part falls apart pretty easily. Here’s where StrawbeeryEC’s customer service staff comes into play: Several users have mentioned that after posting about their collar breaking in some way, they would then receive a new one in the mail shortly after.
- Super cute
- Durable functionality
- Prompt CS team
- Bandana comes undone
7. Blueberry Pet Regular Collar
This collar is exactly as advertised: a regular pet collar. Made from classic nylon material, this product has two reinforced chrome-coated D-rings and a plastic buckle. The nylon is made of high-density webbing to make it more substantial. This collar is also easily adjustable. As for sizing, the manufacturer makes it clear that there is no stretch to this collar, so when in doubt, order a size up. A proper fitting collar will allow you to slide two fingers underneath.
There are several colors to choose from, and you can also have them custom embroidered, though this will cost extra.
Users are generally pleased with this collar, noting that even through multiple washes, there is no fraying or loss of color. There are reports of the adjustability being a little loose. We also would not recommend this for really strong dogs, but puppies should be fine.
- Customizable
- Good, classic collar
- Slippery adjustability
- Not good for powerful dogs
8. Whaline WH Puppy ID Collars
These collars are meant for brand-new puppies and ID purposes only. Made from nylon and polyester, these collars come in multiple colors, which will help you identify which puppy is which.
These collars are secured by a sticky strip. This is not a collar to be trusted on walks. There is no buckle or reinforced D-ring. If you get this collar wet, it will fall off.
These collars have a specific purpose, and if you are not a breeder or someone who rescues dogs or helps pregnant dogs, these will probably be of no use to you. But if you are such a person, these are very useful for identifying pups who are fresh to the world.
- Great for quick ID
- Meant for newborns
9. GAMUDA Puppy Collars
This is another collar meant for newborns. This collar is more of the classic collar, though, as they are adjustable and come with plastic buckles.
This product specifically comes as a 12-pack and in different colors so you can identify your puppies after they have been born. Along with the collars, you will also get a couple of charts so you can keep track of their names and progress in growth.
One of the cons of these collars is also a pro, depending on how you look at it. As these are meant for very small and fragile dogs, they are designed to be breakaway collars, meaning that they are for ID purposes only — you wouldn’t want to take a dog on a walk with one of these.
The customer service team for GAMUDA is wonderful and are confident enough in their product that they offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you do not like the product.
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Great for ID
- Breakaway design
10. Pawtitas Puppy Collar
Pawtitas is a small company with not much of a reputation yet. Its collar is what you would expect from most collars. It is made of nylon, has a plastic buckle, and comes with a reinforced-metal D-ring. The nylon running through it is also somewhat reflective, adding an element of safety to this collar.
With your Pawtitas collar, you can choose from a wide range of colors. Also, these aren’t meant for just puppies either, so if your dog loves it, you can get them another one for when they grow!
This collar is a little on the thin side, and we could see it being uncomfortable for your dog when going on a walk.
- Classic collar construction
- A little thin
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Collars for Puppies
When buying a collar for your puppy, the first thing you should worry about is your pet’s safety. Puppies, while adorable and fun, are also little, fast, and very curious. As such, you’ll want something that will help you keep track of them. So, what makes for a safe collar?
The buckle
Making sure that the closing apparatus is secure and strong is crucial. You don’t want anything that could easily break. Check both the clasp and where the buckle connects to the collar itself.
The ring
The D-ring or O-ring should be fitted onto the collar in such a way that you have no doubt that it will stay there. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer how much spacing there is on the back side (the part covered by the collar). Make sure there is no way that it can slip off the collar.
Brightness
This is a nice feature to have included in the best collars for puppies, in the event they are able to get away from you. Some collars are reflective, while others have built-in lights. At night, this can be crucial to help you find a pup who got a bit too excited chasing after a squirrel.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve seen what makes for a great puppy collar, have you decided which one to get? Maybe you’ve settled on our top pick from CollarDirect. Or maybe you are intrigued by our premium choice, which is an LED collar made by Illumiseen. Whatever you decide, we were thrilled to have put together this resource for you. Congrats on your new best friend!
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