Latest Puppy Collars: Choose the Best Cute and Functional Collar

Dog collars have different uses, like training and GPS tracking, to make sure your pet stays safe and stays with you. It is common to focus on how cute a dog collar will be on your pup. However, we sometimes overlook the role that collar will play in your dog’s life. It will be there for every adventure, and be worn for most of the day. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a dog collar that’s up to the task. We have put together a list of the Top 10 Cute and Functional Puppy Collars to help you. We also specify the Best personalized. best leather, best budget as well as the best overall.

When picking a nice collar for your dog, it’s important to follow some tips to make sure your dog stays safe. Ensure the collar provides good control and think about how well it works, not just how it looks.

Also, don’t forget to update your dog’s ID tags with your current contact details. This ensures a quick and safe return if your dog ever goes missing.

What to look out for when buying a Puppy Collar

There are 5 basic things to look out for when choosing a collar for your puppy. They are;

The Material of the Collar

According to Dr. Fadl, when choosing a dog collar, look for materials that are strong, won’t irritate the skin, and are safe for your dog. She suggests a few options from the collars in our list.

Nylon: It’s light, easy to clean, and durable, making it a good choice for everyday use.

Leather: Genuine leather can be comfortable, stylish, and long-lasting with proper care. Keep in mind that leather collars may need more maintenance than fabric ones.

Biothane: This is a synthetic material that is waterproof, durable, and easy to clean.

Neoprene: Typically used in collar padding, neoprene-padded collars are comfortable and suitable for dogs with sensitive skin.

The Fastener of the Collar

Select a secure but safe latch or fastener for your dog. We suggest using buckle closures, quick-release buckles, or Martingale-style closures.

The Adjustability level of the Collar

One key thing about a dog collar is how well it fits, and being able to adjust it properly can really make your pup feel comfy and safe. A good collar should be changeable to make sure it’s snug but not too tight. Usually, there are many holes for adjustment, and you should be able to slide two fingers easily between the collar and your dog’s neck. Since puppies grow quickly, remember to check and tweak their collars often.

The Durability of the Collar

When you’re getting a collar, you want it to stay strong. Check that the collar is tough enough to handle your dog’s actions and pulling on the leash. Signs of a good collar include strong stitching and quality hardware. It’s also a good idea to regularly inspect the collar. You should also get a new one if it gets damaged or if your dog is growing out of it.

The Safety Measure of the Collar

We talked about a lot of things to keep your dog safe. However, there are also features like reflective strips, stitching, and light-up tech that can make your dog more visible, especially at night or in low-light situations.

Top 10 Cute and Functional Puppy Collars

These are our top picks for the best functional collars you can get for your puppies that would also look cute on them. They are;

Best Overall: Lupine Original Designs Dog Collar

These collars are tough, comfy, and come in lots of colors and patterns. The Lupine Original Designs Dog Collar uses a flexible woven nylon material that won’t irritate your dog’s neck. It’s super strong, with a special quick-release YKK buckle and a rust-resistant steel D-ring for ID tags and leash.

There are over 80 colors and patterns, including reflective ones, holiday themes, solid colors, and unique “MicroBatch” designs. Lupine Original Designs collars are also customizable to fit well. They come in three widths (bigger dogs get wider collars) and 9 adjustable sizes.

Apart from the standard collar, Lupine offers eco-collars made from recycled plastic bottles and martingale collars for leash training. They also have matching leashes and harnesses.

Here’s the cool part: all Lupine products have a lifetime guarantee. Yes, even if your pup decides to chew through it.

Best for Puppies: Max and Neo The NEO Dog Collar

These colorful and tough collars are really strong, but the nylon material is also soft and bendy, making them great for puppies. They come in four sizes to fit necks from 8.5 to 25 inches. The smallest size, perfect for pups, is half an inch wide with thinner nylon for flexibility.

The NEO Dog Collar has some cool features. Besides the metal D-ring for the leash, there’s a separate “easy loop” just for ID tags. The clasp also has a sliding tab “lock” to prevent accidental unbuckling when holding your dog by the collar (note: the extra lock is not included in the smallest size).

The collars range from 1/2 to 1 inch wide, depending on the size, and all have reflective stitching for nighttime visibility. You can also get the NEO Dog Collar in a martingale version, which tightens when your dog pulls on the leash.

Apart from the four sizes, these collars come in seven different colors. Bonus: For every collar you buy, Max and Neo, the manufacturer, donate another product to an animal rescue.

Best Budget: PetSafe Martingale Collar

When you have a big 95-pound Mastiff mix that loves to chase small creatures during walks, you need a collar that’s strong and reliable. Not only is it affordable, but it’s also great for walking strong dogs because of its Martingale design. Riggs wore the collar on walks and while playing in the backyard, but the owner didn’t feel comfortable leaving it on him unsupervised in the house in case it got caught on furniture.

Riggs’ owner mentioned that the buckle was easy to fasten, the collar fit well, and it felt secure on the dog without being too restrictive. The hardware and nylon material held up well against various weather conditions and were easy to clean with soap and water. If there was one thing to improve, our tester would have liked the metal buckle to match the material of the D-ring for a more cohesive look. Apart from that, Riggs’ owner was impressed with the quality and effectiveness of the collar during walks. He also plans to use it as Riggs’ main collar from now on. it is one of the best among the Top 10 Cute and Functional Puppy Collars.

Best personalized: Orvis Personalized Side-Release Buckle Collar

The Orvis Personalized Side-Release Buckle Collar offers lots of cool color options and the option to embroider your pet’s name in various stitch colors. It’s user-friendly and made of durable yet flexible nylon webbing, ensuring your pet’s comfort. The only issue in our testing was with the steel D-ring, which showed some corrosion in small spots after going through the washing machine.

Our dog looked so good in the collar that we didn’t want to take it off. With many color choices for both the collar material and stitching, it was enjoyable finding the perfect combination. You can personalize the collar with up to 24 characters for small sizes and 28 for large and extra-large. But the real highlight is the collar’s soft and smooth feel, along with easy adjustability, earning it high marks for comfort and flexibility.

Although the steel D-ring showed discoloration after soaking in vinegar and going through the washing machine, it didn’t affect its performance. Orvis recommends gently wiping the collar with a wet cloth instead of using the washing machine. Despite the corrosion, the collar fabric, which is welded shut rather than stitched, held up well during all stress tests. There are more to find in the Top 10 Cute and Functional Puppy Collars, keep reading!

Best leather: Riparo Genuine Leather Padded Dog Collar

The Riparo Collar isn’t just a fancy accessory; it’s a tough and durable piece made of beautiful leather. The pebbled, full-grain leather surface resists teeth marks, and it features a stainless steel buckle closure and a D-ring that won’t corrode or change color when wet.

Despite being strong, the collar doesn’t sacrifice comfort. It’s lined with sheepskin padding, providing a soft and cozy fit on your dog’s neck. The collar also has a small tab on the leather for attaching tags, making it easy to use without dealing with the D-ring.

Unlike collars made of synthetic materials, leather needs some special care. It’s best not to leave it wet after a rainy walk, and for cleaning, saddle soap is recommended. With proper care, the collar should maintain its shape and last for many years. The smallest size fits a neck circumference of 11 inches, with a ¾-inch width suitable for smaller dogs in most medium-sized breeds. However, our test Aussie found the 1-inch width of the medium collar a bit bulky.

Best Tracking/GPS: Whistle Go Explore Dog GPS Tracker

If you’re concerned about your dog going on an unplanned adventure, a tracking device can ease your worries. This device uses GPS to show you where your dog is in real-time. Whether they escaped your yard or went out with a dog walker. You attach it to a collar (collar not included), and it operates using the AT&T network and Google Maps, covering up to 3,000 miles. While tracking might have occasional issues, the battery lasts up to 20 days. Also, it provides a good chance of finding your dog.

Additionally, it functions as an activity tracker, showing you details like the calories your pup burns, active minutes, distance traveled, and more. It also monitors health-related activities, such as licking, scratching, and sleeping.

Best for Nighttime: Illumiseen LED Dog Collar

A light-up collar helps your dog and you stay visible during nighttime or early morning walks when it’s still dark. You can choose from steady light, fast flashing, or slow flashing modes with just one click, and it stays lit for up to five hours after one hour of charging. There’s also an off switch, so you can conserve battery during the day.

These collars are easy to adjust even with the LED lights; you just pull the fibers through the adjustment buckle. They come in six colors and six sizes, and there are also matching light-up leashes available. Keep reading for more of the Top 10 Cute and Functional Puppy Collars.

Best Waterproof: Tuff Pupper Leather Dog Collar

If you have a Labrador or Lab mix that loves water, like our tester’s dog Ronny, you understand how hard it is to keep them out of it. That’s where a waterproof collar, like the Tuff Pupper collar, comes in handy. Ronny wore this collar every day for two weeks—on walks, while sleeping, and during all kinds of adventures. The TPU-coated webbing material held up really well against water, dirt, and debris. Ronny’s owner mentioned that you can tell it’s a tough and well-made material, and even after all that wear, it showed hardly any signs of damage. Despite its durability, the material feels soft like leather, and Ronny seemed comfortable wearing it.

Securing the collar on the dog was easy for our tester, with a buckle that fastens like a belt, and it’s simple to attach to a leash. The collar has a good weight to it but isn’t bulky, and its design prevents it from getting loose over time. It’s proven to be waterproof and can be easily cleaned with a damp paper towel if it gets dirty. Plus, the smallest size starts at $10, making it a budget-friendly choice.

Best SetWild: One Collar Walk Kit

If you and your stylish pet want a matching set, this one includes a collar, leash, and poop bag carrier in almost a dozen trendy colors. The flexible poly-coated nylon strap is easy to clean, and you can hand-wash it for a deeper clean. It’s tough enough that pups shouldn’t be able to chew through it. The set features a strong zinc alloy buckle and a coated carbon steel D-ring to attach the leash.

The leash is made from the same durable, waterproof material, with two coated carbon steel D-rings that let you adjust the lead’s length. The matching poop bag holder has an elastic attachment to hook it to your leash, ensuring you never forget your bags when you and your pet are off on an adventure.

Best Reflective: Joytale Reflective Dog Collar

Beckett, a tester dog, tried out the Joytale Reflective Dog Collar. She wore the collar both during the day and at night to check the reflective parts, and it worked as promised. Beckett’s owner was pleasantly surprised at how well the collar held up over time. The reflective coating stayed bright even after swimming in the lake and lots of play in the dirt and grass.

The quick-release buckle is very easy to use. Additionally, the collar’s durability and comfort are enhanced by the nylon and neoprene materials. It took a couple of adjustments to get the perfect fit, but once set, it stayed securely on. The collar doesn’t show dirt much and still looked new after a month. Our tester didn’t think it needed cleaning because it looked so good.

Conclusion

When buying adorable dog collars, you have lots of options in terms of materials, colors, and designs. So, take your time to pick the one that fits your needs the best. And if you’re into it, there are even funny dog collars that can be really cute! Many dog owners love them. You can also find martingale collars that are both durable and cute! We have successfully discussed the Top 10 Cute and Functional Puppy Collars. Did you find anyone you like in our list? Let us know in the comments.