8 best dog collars for your four-legged friend, tried and tested

This gorgeous dog collar, with its hat trick of go-faster stripes, is built to last. It’s made from a thick, tough material and has sturdy metal fittings that not only allowed for the attachment of ID tags but kept the lead firmly in place, and ensured our test dog didn’t go for free-range walkabouts when she wasn’t meant to. We loved that there are four sizes available, too. The best bit? For dogs (or dog owners, at least) partial to a bit of colour coordination, the collar can be paired with a dog lead from the same collection.

Who doesn’t love a purple polka-dot collar? Actually, your dog is probably indifferent, given that dogs are colour blind, but that’s beside the point.

This wallet-friendly collar, designed with medium-sized dogs in mind, and crafted from ultra-tough nylon material – paired with a sturdy D-ring clip for leads, and a quick-release buckle – makes it ideal for dogs who aren’t afraid of a little rough and tumble.

Unlike many collars, these jazzy dog accessories, which come in four sizes and a range of designs and colourways printed onto water-resistant polyester, can be machine washed at 30C.

We love the ultra-soft neoprene inner lining, which isn’t just quick-drying but means minimal chafing, too, and the plastic clip stays securely in place without adding the extra weight associated with metal ones.

While the thunderbolt design we tested isn’t available at the moment, there’s a number of other styles to choose from, including pastel lilac, khaki and mint green.

Although we’d like to reassure readers that our reviews are based on our own first-hand experience, not the thoughts of our dog, there’s no denying our four-legged tester, Honey, had an instant attraction to this handmade collar. It’s wonderfully thick and feels fabulously soft, especially on the inside. It’s also one of the classiest collars we’ve come across, and is adorned with a chic metal pendant bearing the brand’s logo, and a metal clasp that clicks solidly into place. There are even seven sizes to choose from.

We love the faux-fur effect of this eye-wateringly bright dog collar, which comes with a cute heart-shaped pendant bearing the brand’s logo. Although there isn’t an additional layer of extra-soft material on the inside, the buttery soft feel of the leather means there’s no chance of chafing. The five generously sized buckle holes ensure there’s plenty of room for adjustment, too.

This leopard-print collar, designed for medium to large dogs, is a great option for mutts who like to take a walk on the wild side. Yes, it’s expensive, but if you’re the owner of a seriously posh pooch, a cheap nylon collar is unlikely to cut it. In short, with its gold buckle and use of genuine leather, it looks and feels like the kind of collar one of the royal corgis would wear.

It’s practical, too, with six holes for size adjustment and an accompanying leaflet providing detailed care instructions. There’s no additional patch of material on the inside of the collar, but this is another one made with leather of such softness that it’s simply not needed.

If practicality is a priority, it’s hard to beat this collar, which has an ultra-bright reflective trim for better visibility on night-time walkies, and is made from a lightweight, breathable material for maximum comfort on long walks.

There’s an ID barrel, in which your dog’s details can be placed, and the sturdy D-ring means your dog – not your lead – will be the one to go walkabout.

As much as we’d love to kit our doggies out in designer gear, doing so isn’t cheap, which is why we’re particularly impressed with this beautiful dog collar. With a gorgeous herringbone design on the outside and buttery soft leather on the inside, it’s a collar that combines comfort with style, and the combination of four sizes and five buckle holes makes this collar perfect for dogs of all shapes and sizes.