Maybe your pup needs some help learning leash manners. Or maybe your dog can slip out of its leash easily. In either case, a Martingale collar can help. This type of collar tightens when your dog pulls, alerting your dog to back off. That might sound alarming, but many reviewers have found this collar safer than choke collars and equally effective.
The problem is that there’s so many Martingale collars to choose from. They come in different sizes, colors, and offer additional features. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite Martingale collars to help you pick the best one for your dog.
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2023)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
PetSafe Martingale Dog Collar
Good snap buckle
Good for small breeds
Place to attach ID tags
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Best Value
Frisco Martingale Dog Collar with Buckle
Affordable
Made from Nylon
Separate place for ID tags
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Premium Choice
Wolfgang Man & Beast Premium Martingale Dog Collar
Ends are hot-cut to prevent fraying
Cool designs
Highly durable and stain resistant
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Max and Neo Standard Martingale Collar
For every collar purchased, one collar is donated
Lockable buckle
Reflective stitching for nighttime visibility
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Alcott’s Martingale Dog Collar
Reflective material
Padded for comfort
Fully-adjustable design
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The 9 Best Martingale Dog Collars
The PetSafe Quick Snap Buckle Nylon Martingale Dog Collar wins our vote for the best overall Martingale dog collar! This dog collar is perfect for dogs of any size and breed for daily wear. Many owners want the quick-snap buckle on a Martingale collar, and this collar has a firm, sturdy clasp.
Material: Nylon
Breed Size: Petite, Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: Snap Buckle
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We like that this collar is straightforward. There’s— no heavy chains, it gives gentle control and has a place for dog ID tags. The material isn’t too thin or too thick either. The biggest con with this collar is that some owners have difficulty finding the right size for their pup. The choke section adds another 5 inches to the size, so you might have to buy a size smaller for your dog.
Aside from the difficulty in sizing, this collar deserves two paws up in safety, appearance, and design!
Pros
Good snap buckle
Good for small breeds
Place to attach ID tags
Affordable
Cons
Collar sizing may not match measurements
Limited color options
Our second option is the collar that’s best for the money. The Frisco Solid Nylon Martingale Dog Collar with Buckle can fit into any budget and is a simple Martingale collar design with a secure side buckle for convenience. This collar has two D rings, one for the leash and the other for ID tags, so you don’t have to worry about overcrowding. The material is nylon and isn’t too thin or thick.
Good snap buckle
Good for small breeds
Place to attach ID tags
Affordable
- Good snap buckle
- Good for small breeds
- Place to attach ID tags
- Affordable
Collar sizing may not match measurements
Limited color options
- Collar sizing may not match measurements
- Limited color options
Material: Nylon
Breed Size: Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: Side release buckle
The downside to this collar is that it’s not great for large, muscular breeds. If your dog likes to pull and is strong like an ox, this collar isn’t the best fit. Some owners find that the collar is more oversized than expected, so you might want to order a smaller size. There’s also not a wide array of color options. Ultimately, this collar is an excellent option for those needing an affordable and effective Martingale collar.
Pros
Affordable
Made from Nylon
Separate place for ID tags
Cons
Not great for large, strong dogs
Not great for toy breeds
- Wolfgang Man & Beast Martingale Dog Collar – Premium Choice
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Material: Polyester, Nylon, Alloy Steel, Leather
Breed Size: Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: Side release buckle, Interesting designs
The Wolfgang Man & Beast Premium Martingale Dog Collar wins the best premium choice for Martingale dog collars. This collar has a simple Martingale collar design but is made with various materials. Not only that, but the collar patterns stand out amongst all other patterns with featured-artist designs. There are no heavy chains, and it has a side buckle for convenience.
Affordable
Made from Nylon
Separate place for ID tags
- Affordable
- Made from Nylon
- Separate place for ID tags
Not great for large, strong dogs
Not great for toy breeds
- Not great for large, strong dogs
- Not great for toy breeds
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Material: Polyester, Nylon, Alloy Steel, Leather
Breed Size: Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: Side release buckle, Interesting designs
The downsides to this collar are that it’s bulky. Plus, owners with muscular dogs, particularly strong pitties, had their collar rip after a month. It’s also a pricey collar, so this might not be the best option for new puppies. Overall, it’s a great design, and many owners didn’t have any issues with sizing.
Pros
Ends are hot-cut to prevent fraying
Cool designs
Cons
Pricey
Patterns may show grime
A little bulky
Some owners with strong dogs report the collar ripping
- Max and Neo Nylon Martingale Dog Collar – Best for Puppies
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Material: Nylon
Breed Size: Toy, Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: Reflective stitching, Lockable buckle
The Max and Neo Nylon Martingale Dog Collar wins the best collar for puppies. What we like about this collar is the small width. Sometimes dog collars are too bulky for puppies. But this collar is thin, sturdy, and has a straightforward design. Although the width is small, the material is nylon and connected with reflective stitching.
Ends are hot-cut to prevent fraying
Cool designs
- Ends are hot-cut to prevent fraying
- Cool designs
Pricey
Patterns may show grime
A little bulky
Some owners with strong dogs report the collar ripping
- Pricey
- Patterns may show grime
- A little bulky
- Some owners with strong dogs report the collar ripping
Material: Nylon
Breed Size: Toy, Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: Reflective stitching, Lockable buckle
Puppies have difficulty standing still, so the side release buckle makes gearing up for walks a breeze. The wonderful part about this collar is the lockable buckle. Plastic clips sometimes fail, especially with stronger dogs. Max and Neo’s collar has a lock to prevent the plastic buckle from slipping.
Additionally, Max and Neo will donate a collar to a shelter for every collar sold. The downside to this collar is that it’s a little pricey for a puppy collar. There are no free returns and some owners report the plastic pieces on the collar being unreliable.
Pros
For every collar purchased, one collar is donated
Lockable buckle
Cons
No free returns
Some of the plastic parts aren’t reliable
Pricey
The Alcott Polyester Reflective Martingale Dog Collar is pure polyester. What’s nice about this collar is that it’s padded with neoprene, a synthetic rubber that’s durable, waterproof, chemically resistant, and thermally stable. So, you shouldn’t have to worry about fraying or sharp edges. Owners don’t mention anything about the polyester stretching either.
For every collar purchased, one collar is donated
Lockable buckle
- For every collar purchased, one collar is donated
- Lockable buckle
No free returns
Some of the plastic parts aren’t reliable
Pricey
- No free returns
- Some of the plastic parts aren’t reliable
- Pricey
Material: Polyester, Neoprene
Breed Size: Medium, Large
Special Features: Reflective stitching, Padded
This collar is a slip-over collar that’s bound together with reflective stitching. The entire collar is shiny, perfect for late-night walks and adventures. This could be a nice option for travelers and hikers, except it has no release buckle. Check out Alcott’s Martingale collar if you don’t mind the slip-over style.
Something to note about the sizing, the small neck circumference is between 10-14 inches, so this wouldn’t be a good fit for toy breeds with a petite neck girth or puppies.
Pros
Reflective material
Padded for comfort
Cons
Colors don’t look exactly as pictured
No small options
No release buckle
Minimal color options
Max & Neo Nylon Reflective Martingale Dog Collar with Chain is our seventh pick for Martingale dog collars. This is another collar that comes with a stainless-steel chain. The material is nylon and features reflective stitching. Like many Max and Neo collars, this collar has a lockable buckle for peace of mind and convenience.
Reflective material
Padded for comfort
- Reflective material
- Padded for comfort
Colors don’t look exactly as pictured
No small options
No release buckle
Minimal color options
- Colors don’t look exactly as pictured
- No small options
- No release buckle
- Minimal color options
Max and Neo take it one step further by donating one collar to animal shelters for every collar purchased. The downside to this collar is that it’s not ideal for small breeds. Unfortunately, the chain is too heavy for some small dogs and sometimes falls into the front, making the dog trip. Some owners report the chain staining the fur on their pets as well. This could be a great option if you have a medium or large dog without a white coat.
Pros
Thick, sturdy metal
Reflective stitching
For every collar purchased, one collar is donated
Lockable buckle
Cons
The metal chain likes to fall forward
The metal stains
Not great for toy breeds
Euro-Dog Luxury Leather Martingale Dog Collar is next on our list. Right away, we see a classic-style collar that looks fantastic on any breed. This is a stylish yet strong and durable collar. The main part of the collar is American leather, and the metal chain and clips are European steel and nickel-plated. The color options are limited, but the colors you get are vibrant and beautiful.
Thick, sturdy metal
Reflective stitching
For every collar purchased, one collar is donated
Lockable buckle
- Thick, sturdy metal
- Reflective stitching
- For every collar purchased, one collar is donated
- Lockable buckle
The metal chain likes to fall forward
The metal stains
Not great for toy breeds
- The metal chain likes to fall forward
- The metal stains
- Not great for toy breeds
Material: Leather, European Steel
Breed Size: Medium, Large
Special Features: American-made leather
This collar is slip-on only and doesn’t have any special features except that the leather is American-made. Reviewers in love with this collar note that the chain isn’t too thick or heavy. You can find this collar in various sizes so your small dog won’t bear the weight of heavy steel from the chain. If you have a puppy that likes to chew, it’s best to go with a different collar on this list until you’re confident your puppy won’t destroy the Euro-Dog collar.
Pros
Classy style
Chain is thin and smooth
Cons
Limited color options
No buckle
- Country Brook Petz Martingale Dog Collar
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Material: Nylon
Breed Size: Toy, Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: One D-ring
Number nine on our list is Country Brook Petz Martingale Heavy Duty Nylon Dog Collar. As the name suggests, this collar has a thick 1-inch width for the large size. The small size width is around ⅜ inches. This collar is a standard slip-over collar with only one D-ring. The metal ring is nickel-plated and you can choose from a wide array of color options.
Classy style
Chain is thin and smooth
- Classy style
- Chain is thin and smooth
Limited color options
No buckle
- Limited color options
- No buckle
Material: Nylon
Breed Size: Toy, Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: One D-ring
The biggest con with this collar is how stiff it is. Some of the edges are rough which might bother your dog’s neck. However, it’s an affordable option made with sturdy nylon material. Plus, it’s simple to use.
Pros
Sturdy material
Wide array of color options
Affordable
Cons
The loop edging starts to fray after a while
Material may be too thick and stiff for some
Rough seems
- Dazzber Martingale Dog Collars
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Material: Polyester
Breed Size: Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: One D-ring
Dazzber Martingale Dog Collars are number nine on our list. This collar is a traditional Martingale collar design, so there’s no buckle. It features dozens of fun designs and colors and has one D-ring for both the leash and ID tags.
Sturdy material
Wide array of color options
Affordable
- Sturdy material
- Wide array of color options
- Affordable
The loop edging starts to fray after a while
Material may be too thick and stiff for some
Rough seems
- The loop edging starts to fray after a while
- Material may be too thick and stiff for some
- Rough seems
Material: Polyester
Breed Size: Small, Medium, Large
Special Features: One D-ring
The downside to this collar is that it’s bulky. You can buy this for a small dog, but the 1-inch width might bother some smaller breeds. Some owners report that the material loosens over time, or the collar doesn’t stay tight. The plastic clips can also be challenging to adjust. However, most owners haven’t had any issues with sizing or the design and love this collar. The company offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the product!
Pros
Machine washable
Fun patterns
100% guarantee
Cons
A little bulky
Colors may fade
Doesn’t stay tight
Machine washable
Fun patterns
100% guarantee
- Machine washable
- Fun patterns
- 100% guarantee
A little bulky
Colors may fade
Doesn’t stay tight
- A little bulky
- Colors may fade
- Doesn’t stay tight
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose A Martingale Collar For Your Dog
We’ve listed our best options for Martingale collars. Now it’s up to you to choose the best collar for your pup. But how do you know which one is best if you’ve never used one? You’ll want to start by measuring your dog for the right size. The following video shows you step-by-step how to do so.
The Pros of Using Martingale Collars
Martingale collars are known as the humane version of choke collars. They were designed initially for sighthounds since these dogs could easily back out of their collars because of their small head. The way Martingale collars function can help with various collar issues and training. Here are four benefits to using this type of collar:
Ensures Control: The pressure applied to your dog’s neck is evenly divided with the two loops compared to a standard collar.
Great for Training: Puppies or fully-grown dogs that like to pull on their leash feel the applied pressure from the Martingale collar and know to back off until the pressure no longer exists.
Escape Prevention: The Martingale collar tightens to the exact circumference of your dog’s neck. When the collar tightens, your dog’s chances of slipping out of a standard collar are slim to none.
Safe and Secure: If you have to pull on your dog in a standard collar, all of the pressure is applied to the esophagus. Martingale collars are safe for your dog’s neck because it evenly distributes pressure.
The Different Types of Martingale Collars
All Martingale collars have two loops, a D-ring, and size adjusters. There are two types of Martingale collars you should know about: No-Slip and Check. These collars vary to some degree but both collars still have the essential function of a Martingale collar.
- Ensures Control: The pressure applied to your dog’s neck is evenly divided with the two loops compared to a standard collar.
- Great for Training: Puppies or fully-grown dogs that like to pull on their leash feel the applied pressure from the Martingale collar and know to back off until the pressure no longer exists.
- Escape Prevention: The Martingale collar tightens to the exact circumference of your dog’s neck. When the collar tightens, your dog’s chances of slipping out of a standard collar are slim to none.
- Safe and Secure: If you have to pull on your dog in a standard collar, all of the pressure is applied to the esophagus. Martingale collars are safe for your dog’s neck because it evenly distributes pressure.
No-Slip Collar
A No-Slip Martingale collar, also known as the standard collar, is a slip-over style collar. The entire collar is made of the same material. It’s effective for preventing your dog from slipping out of the collar. Many dog owners buy the No-Slip for this very reason.
Check Collar
The Check collar (or half-check collar) is a variation of the No-Slip collar. This collar is half-made of fabric, and the other half is a chain. The chain makes these collars more durable. Dog trainers like this type of Martingale collar because the sound of the chain accompanies the choke action.
Special Features To Keep In Mind
Different Martingale designers like to throw in special features on the collars. In order to make the best purchase for your pup, while shopping, consider these features as well as the leash that you will be using.
Release Buckle: The release buckle differs from the standard style of Martingale collars. Instead of slipping the collar over the dog’s head, you can easily remove the collar by unsnapping with the buckle. This is a nice option for puppies.
Lockable Release Buckle: This feature piggy-backs off the release buckle with the added part of locking the clip in place. Some large, muscular dogs can pull the clip apart, defeating the purpose of a Martingale collar. The lock helps prevent this.
Reflective Stitching: Reflective stitching helps your dog’s collar stay visible in the darkest hours. This is a nice option if you plan to take your dog hiking or do late-night walks.
D-rings: All Martingale collars come with at least one D-ring. If your collar only has one, you’ll have to attach your dog’s ID tags and leash to the same ring. If you think you’ll need more space, look for a collar with at least two D-rings.
Material: The material matters with Martingale collars. Nylon is the best option since it’s synthetic and strong, but it’s not as stylish either. Leather is another good material because it’s strong and reliable. Some materials may be rough on the neck, so keep that mind as well.
- Release Buckle: The release buckle differs from the standard style of Martingale collars. Instead of slipping the collar over the dog’s head, you can easily remove the collar by unsnapping with the buckle. This is a nice option for puppies.
- Lockable Release Buckle: This feature piggy-backs off the release buckle with the added part of locking the clip in place. Some large, muscular dogs can pull the clip apart, defeating the purpose of a Martingale collar. The lock helps prevent this.
- Reflective Stitching: Reflective stitching helps your dog’s collar stay visible in the darkest hours. This is a nice option if you plan to take your dog hiking or do late-night walks.
- D-rings: All Martingale collars come with at least one D-ring. If your collar only has one, you’ll have to attach your dog’s ID tags and leash to the same ring. If you think you’ll need more space, look for a collar with at least two D-rings.
- Material: The material matters with Martingale collars. Nylon is the best option since it’s synthetic and strong, but it’s not as stylish either. Leather is another good material because it’s strong and reliable. Some materials may be rough on the neck, so keep that mind as well.
Final Thoughts
There are so many collars on the market, that finding the best one will take some time. We want to help our readers by listing our favorites. Based on our review list, here are our top three picks.
The best Martingale collar is the PetSafe Quick Snap Buckle Nylon Martingale Dog Collar. This collar is perfect for dogs of all sizes and breeds. It meets all the requirements for a reliable No-Slip collar with the convenience of a release buckle. For a more affordable option, go with the Frisco Solid Nylon Martingale Dog Collar with Buckle. It also has a side buckle with durable nylon.
Finally, our premium option is the Wolfgang Man & Beast Premium Martingale Dog Collar. It has all the same features, plus they look fabulous!
See also: 8 Best Collars for a Husky: Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Michael Morse, Pexels
