You may never have put all that much thought into the type of collar you give your dog, and many pet owners tend to overlook this expense. While it doesn’t seem that important at first, you have to understand that this is your pet’s one form of identification if they get lost and aren’t microchipped. If you use a cheap collar that gets stuck on a branch and breaks off, then there is no telling how much time will pass be before you find your dog. This is even more important for small dogs who often don’t have a proper-fitting collar.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on a collar, and there are a ton of great collars available for reasonable prices. We’ve put together this list of our favorite small dog collars complete with in-depth reviews, so your small dog is always traveling with a secure form of identification.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Blueberry Pet 3M Reflective Dog Collar
Heavy-duty rings
Lightweight and durable material
Different sizes, colors, and patterns
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Best Value
Frisco Solid Nylon Dog Collar
Durable material
Various sizes and colors available
Thoroughly tested for max weight
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Premium Choice
Herm Sprenger Ultra-Plus Training Prong Dog Collar
Won’t rust
Easy to use
Secure closure
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Best for Puppies
GoTags Nylon Personalized Dog Collar
Soft material
Easy to read from far away
Large, personalized embroidery
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Soft Touch Collars Two-Tone Leather Padded Dog Collar
Brass hardware
Genuine leather
Sheepskin padding
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The 8 Best Small Dog Collars
When looking for the best small dog collar, you want something that is going to be clearly visible during all hours of the day, and this Reflective dog collar from Blueberry Pet is a perfect choice. It is made from a durable yet lightweight polyester material that also quickly if it gets wet and is machine washable too.
Closure type: Buckle
Neck size: 12 – 15 inches
Recommended weight: Up to 20 pounds
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This collar comes in several different sizes and has heavy-duty loops to keep a leash attached. It has a reflective coating to make sure your small dog is visible at night, plus, there are loads of fun colors and designs to choose from. The only thing we didn’t like about it is the large manufacturer’s tag on the outside.
Pros
Lightweight and durable material
Heavy-duty rings
Machine washable
Reflective
Different sizes, colors, and patterns
Cons
Large manufacturers tag
The best small dog collar for the money is this nylon dog collar from Frisco. Frisco is a trusted pet supply brand that makes its collars in a variety of sizes and colors. The nylon material is durable and lab-tested seven times for the maximum recommended weight, and the hardware is nickel-coated to give it a clean look too.
Lightweight and durable material
Heavy-duty rings
Machine washable
Reflective
Different sizes, colors, and patterns
- Lightweight and durable material
- Heavy-duty rings
- Machine washable
- Reflective
- Different sizes, colors, and patterns
Large manufacturers tag
- Large manufacturers tag
Closure type: Buckle
Neck size: 10 – 14 inches
Recommended weight: 15–30 pounds
The one issue we found with this collar is that the width is fairly narrow, so you’ll need to be careful that it won’t dig into your dog’s neck while walking on a leash.
Pros
Various sizes and colors available
Affordable
Durable material
Thoroughly tested for max weight
Cons
Narrow collar width
The Ultra-Plus Training Collar from Herm Sprenger is a high-quality, well-made product. Some dog owners don’t agree with the premise of a prong collar, but the chrome material will certainly hold up better than other materials. It will not rust, but the prongs could be strong enough to hurt your dog if you’re not careful.
Various sizes and colors available
Affordable
Durable material
Thoroughly tested for max weight
- Various sizes and colors available
- Affordable
- Durable material
- Thoroughly tested for max weight
Narrow collar width
- Narrow collar width
Closure type: Slip-on
Neck size: Up to 14 inches
Recommended weight: Up to 66 pounds
This collar isn’t made for obedient dogs, but it’s ideal if you’re interested in training your dog before switching over to a regular collar. They are secure and easy to use, plus, perfectly safe for your dog if you use them properly.
Pros
Secure closure
Won’t rust
Easy to use
Helps with training
Cons
Prongs could hurt your dog
Pricey
Puppies aren’t usually well-trained at such a young age, increasing the likelihood they’ll wander off, unable to find their way back home. These personalized GoTags nylon dog collars are a smart choice if you’ve got a young dog at home. Your dog’s name and your phone number are stitched into the collar so that anyone who finds them can easily spot the number and get hold of you. The lettering is large enough that some people can read the numbers even if they aren’t very close to them.
Secure closure
Won’t rust
Easy to use
Helps with training
- Secure closure
- Won’t rust
- Easy to use
- Helps with training
Prongs could hurt your dog
Pricey
- Prongs could hurt your dog
- Pricey
Closure type: Buckle
Neck size: 8 – 12 inches
Recommended weight: N/A
There are five colors and four sizes to choose from, and the nylon material is durable but still soft enough that it won’t rub and irritate your dog’s skin. However, it isn’t as durable as some other collar materials and will wear down over time.
Pros
Large, personalized embroidery
Easy to read from far away
Various sizes and colors available
Soft material
Cons
Not as durable as some other choices
It’s fun to treat your dog with a beautiful collar that will last a long time, and this leather collar from Soft Touch Collars is a combination of quality, style, and durability. Each collar is handmade with genuine leather, and the inside is padded with sheepskin to prevent chafing and irritation. All hardware is solid brass and rust-resistant too. It’s more expensive than many other options but worth the investment, and, there are many different colors to choose from.
Large, personalized embroidery
Easy to read from far away
Various sizes and colors available
Soft material
- Large, personalized embroidery
- Easy to read from far away
- Various sizes and colors available
- Soft material
Not as durable as some other choices
- Not as durable as some other choices
Closure type: Buckle
Neck size: 11 – 13.5 inches
Recommended weight: N/A
Pros
Handmade
Genuine leather
Sheepskin padding
Brass hardware
Cons
Expensive
Not waterproof
While we don’t recommend these collars for regular use, they are a wonderful visual aid to spot your small dogs at night. This dog collar is lightweight and water-resistant but lights up at night to make your dog easy to see when there’s a lack of light. They are not durable enough to be worn regularly, though, and could easily break if snagged on something. Still, it’s an extra comfort to have it around your dog’s neck if they like to wander away at times. Each one can be cut to fit any breed size too, so you don’t have to worry about it fitting properly.
Handmade
Genuine leather
Sheepskin padding
Brass hardware
- Handmade
- Genuine leather
- Sheepskin padding
- Brass hardware
Expensive
Not waterproof
- Expensive
- Not waterproof
Closure type: Slip-on
Neck size: 12 – 17 inches
Recommended weight: N/A
Pros
Cut to fit
Lights up in the dark
Lightweight
Cons
Doesn’t function as a regular collar
Not waterproof
Many customers love the Martingale dog collar design from PetSafe because it gives you more control over your pup while on a leash. It’s ideal for small dogs because it doesn’t use a chain but instead is made completely out of nylon, which also makes it more affordable. It comes in a variety of colors as well as several sizes to suit any pooch.
Cut to fit
Lights up in the dark
Lightweight
- Cut to fit
- Lights up in the dark
- Lightweight
Doesn’t function as a regular collar
Not waterproof
- Doesn’t function as a regular collar
- Not waterproof
Closure type: Slip-on
Neck size: 8 – 12 inches
Recommended weight: N/A
However, it is not as durable as other dog collars, and several customers reported it came loose easily during walks.
Pros
Popular martingale design
Nylon construction
Affordable
Cons
Comes loose easily
Not very durable
- The Perfect Dog Command Training Dog Collar
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Closure type: Buckle
Neck size: 5.5 – 18.5 inches
Recommended weight: N/A
This dog collar was made specifically for training your pup and is preferable to some other prong collars on the market. It’s made from vinyl which reduces odor retention, mimics the natural corrections of a mother dog, and an instructional DVD is included. There are still a few downsides to it, however.
Popular martingale design
Nylon construction
Affordable
- Popular martingale design
- Nylon construction
- Affordable
Comes loose easily
Not very durable
- Comes loose easily
- Not very durable
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Closure type: Buckle
Neck size: 5.5 – 18.5 inches
Recommended weight: N/A
This collar only comes in two sizes, which doesn’t guarantee a proper fit. Also, there is a learning curve to using this collar because of the unique design. It is pricier than other options too but is still a nice choice if you’re interested in training your pet.
Pros
Easy to clean
Doesn’t retain odors
mimics the natural corrections of a mother dog
Cons
Expensive
Only two sizes
Learning curve due to the unique design
Related Read: 10 Best Dog Collars – Reviews & Top Picks
Easy to clean
Doesn’t retain odors
mimics the natural corrections of a mother dog
- Easy to clean
- Doesn’t retain odors
- mimics the natural corrections of a mother dog
Expensive
Only two sizes
Learning curve due to the unique design
- Expensive
- Only two sizes
- Learning curve due to the unique design
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Small Dog Collars
Collars are an essential purchase for dog owners. They allow strangers to identify your dog if lost so they can contact you, and are also needed whenever taking your dog for a walk. Even though they serve a lot of beneficial purposes, people still don’t take a lot of time to think about the qualities of every collar. This buyer’s guide will help you take a closer look at each factor to consider when buying a new dog collar.
Type
There are several different collar types to choose from. Most people tend to buy a traditional flat collar, but there are other options like martingale collars, breakaway collars, prong collars, and more. Think about how you plan to use your collar, and then look at only the options that match your needs.
Material
The material of the collar you choose is vital for several different reasons. To start, this will determine the price you pay for the product but could affect several other things too, such as durability and comfort. These are factors you need to consider carefully because your dog is going to be wearing this collar around their neck every single day. From nylon, leather, velvet, and suede to polyester and neoprene, there are a lot of options to consider.
Another factor to think about when sorting through your choices is odor retention. Some materials are going to become much smellier if they aren’t waterproof and easy to clean. This could be a problem for certain breeds that tend to have oilier skin or like to jump into a pond every once in a while!
Closure
Buckles are the most common type of closure you’ll find on dog collars, but they are not the only choice. At the end of the day, you need to pick a closure that is going to be comfortable for your pup to wear and that is going to fit them the way that it should.
Safety
Safety is usually a dog owner’s number one concern when buying a new collar. Dogs don’t want to wear anything that is going to irritate their skin, but you also can’t have them wearing something that will easily break. Some dog breeds shouldn’t even wear collars at all, but harnesses instead. A properly fitting collar shouldn’t be too loose or tight and as a general rule, you should be able to fit two fingers between your dog’s neck and the collar.
Final Thoughts
These reviews have gone over some of our favorite dog collars on the market for small dogs. After tons of research, we found that the best overall small dog collar is the Blueberry Pet Reflective dog collar. However, those who want a more affordable option could also go with the Frisco nylon dog collar and be just as happy. No matter which collar from the list you choose to buy, each one has its own set of features that can appeal to many different needs and breeds.
Featured Image Credit: Mabel Amber, Pixabay
