Types of Dog Collar Explained
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The main types of dog collar are the flat buckle collar, the quick-release (side-release) collar, the martingale, and the rolled collar, with harnesses as the main alternative for walking. For most dogs, a well-fitted flat collar, either buckle or quick-release, is the everyday choice for carrying ID, while a harness can take the strain on the lead. UK welfare organisations advise against aversive collars such as prong and choke designs, and using electric shock collars on dogs is banned in Wales and England.
Choosing a collar is less about fashion and more about your dog's shape, coat and walking habits. Here is how each type works, who it suits, and what to think about before you buy. For the bigger picture on fit, law and identification, see our complete collar and ID guide.
Flat buckle collars
The flat buckle collar is the classic design: a flat band of leather, webbing or fabric fastened with a pin buckle, much like a belt. It is the most traditional style and, when well made, one of the most secure.
- Pros: secure fastening that will not pop open under pressure, adjustable in set increments, long-lasting when cared for.
- Cons: slower to put on and take off, and the holes in leather can stretch over time.
- Best for: dogs who pull hard enough to strain a clip, and owners who like a timeless look.
Our Mayfair Collar is a buckle design: a leather band with a soft webbing lining and a solid gold-tone buckle engraved with your dog's name and your number.
Quick-release collars
Quick-release collars, sometimes called side-release or snap collars, close with a clip you squeeze to open. They are the most common style for everyday wear because they are so easy to use.
- Pros: fast to fit and remove, simple to adjust with a sliding strap, convenient after muddy walks or at bath time.
- Cons: quality matters, as a weak clip can wear. Check the clasp regularly.
- Best for: everyday wear, wriggly dogs, and households where the collar comes on and off often.
The Kensington Collar uses a warm gold quick-release clasp engraved with your dog's name and your number. If you are weighing up the two fastenings, our guide to quick-release vs buckle dog collars goes into more detail.
Martingale collars
A martingale collar has two loops: a main band and a smaller control loop that the lead attaches to. When the dog pulls, the collar tightens to a set limit, then stops. It is designed to stop a dog from backing out of the collar rather than to apply pressure.
- Pros: helps prevent slipping out, which matters for dogs whose heads are narrower than their necks.
- Cons: must be fitted correctly so it cannot tighten too far, and is best removed when the dog is unsupervised, as the loose loop can snag.
- Best for: sighthounds such as greyhounds, whippets and salukis, and other dogs that slip collars easily.
A martingale is not the same as a choke chain. A correctly adjusted martingale has a stopping point; a choke chain does not.
Rolled collars
Rolled (or round) collars are made from leather or fabric rolled into a tube. Because the contact area is narrow and smooth, they can help reduce matting and flattening of the coat around the neck.
- Pros: kinder to long or fluffy coats, lightweight, neat appearance.
- Cons: the narrow surface spreads pressure less evenly if the dog pulls, so they suit calm walkers best.
- Best for: long-coated breeds and dogs who walk nicely on a loose lead.
Harnesses as an alternative
A harness is not a collar, but it is the main alternative for walking. It spreads pressure across the chest and shoulders rather than the neck, which many owners prefer for small breeds, flat-faced breeds, dogs who pull, and dogs with neck or airway concerns.
One important point: in the UK, a dog in a public place must still wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it or on an attached tag, under the Control of Dogs Order 1992. A harness does not replace that, so many owners use a light collar for ID and a harness for the lead. Our Pimlico Harness is a padded, step-in tweed design with a back lead clip. Read more in our harness or collar guide.
Aversive collars: what UK welfare organisations say
Some collars are designed to work through discomfort or pain. These include prong (pinch) collars, choke chains and electric shock collars.
- Prong and choke collars: the RSPCA describes prong collars as painful and unethical, and its clinical head of behaviour has said the repeated pressure of choke and prong collars can cause inflammation and is linked to coughing and windpipe damage. UK welfare organisations generally recommend reward-based training instead.
- Electric shock collars: Wales banned attaching electric shock collars to cats and dogs under the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations 2010, in force from 24 March 2010. In England, the use of remote-controlled electric shock collars on cats and dogs has been banned since 1 February 2024 under the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023.
If pulling or reactivity is the reason you are considering one of these, a qualified, reward-based trainer or behaviourist is a better first step.
Which collar is right for your dog?
| Collar type | Fastening | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat buckle | Pin buckle | Secure everyday wear, strong pullers |
| Quick-release | Squeeze clip | Everyday convenience |
| Martingale | Limited tightening loop | Sighthounds and escape artists |
| Rolled | Usually buckle | Long or fluffy coats |
| Harness (alternative) | Clips or step-in | Walking, small and flat-faced breeds |
Whatever you choose, fit matters more than style. Our guide to how tight a dog collar should be explains the two-finger rule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common type of dog collar?
Flat collars with either a buckle or a quick-release clip are the most common everyday choice, as they are simple, comfortable and carry ID tags easily.
Are martingale collars cruel?
A correctly fitted martingale tightens only to a set limit and is designed to stop a dog slipping out, not to cause pain. It is commonly used for sighthounds.
Are shock collars legal in the UK?
Electric shock collars are banned in Wales (since 2010) and the use of remote-controlled electric shock collars on cats and dogs is banned in England (since 1 February 2024).
Does my dog still need a collar if it wears a harness?
Yes. In a public place, UK law requires a dog to wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it or on an attached tag, even if it walks on a harness.