Product Review: Economy Center Ring Collar

Gun Dog Supply sells these 3/4" economy leather collars for $6. They come with a free engraved identification plate already riveted on there. The 3/4" collars come in three sizes to fit necks 11-19" around, the 1" version fits necks 12-24" around.

I'm not sure who makes these, but these are absolutely the best value collars I've ever seen. As far as I can tell, they last forever. The entire collar is cheaper than a good ID tag, so when your info changes you just buy new collars.

My experience with Gun Dog Supply's economy collars is largely at work, on the sheep ranch. There are tons of these kicking around, and I've never seen one fail. Some have been around for years and years and years. We've left them on goats for months at a time. The working dogs wear them through heavy brush, barbed wire, and dips in the water tubs. The collars stay on, they don't get caught on stuff, and the engraving stays readable.

 I have some leatherworking background that tells me these aren't the most high-quality collars on the market. The little roller buckles and tubular rivets are inexpensive, but they get the job done.

Pros

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• Inexpensive
• Super durable
• Comes with free engraved ID plate
• Low profile, minimal hardware reduces the chance of getting snagged on obstacles

Cons

• Lack of extra keeper means loose end flops around if your dog is on the smaller end of the size range

Bottom Line

If you want an inexpensive collar that will never fade or stretch, and will last forever, this is your best bet.

How Do Center Ring Collars Work?

Center ring collars are sold for hunting dogs, and are also commonly seen on herding dogs, but what are they for exactly? What is the benefit of having single O-ring right in the middle of the collar? These are also sometimes called "safety collars", and are supposed to allow the dog to escape if they get caught on something. How does that work?

The mechanics of the safety collar allow it to be much more flexible than a standard buckle collar. The two strap ends can move 90-degrees away from each other. If you attach a leash to this ring, you'll find that it often assumed this shape as soon as the dog puts any pressure on the leash.

The ring also offers a convenient pivot point that allows the collar to flip over and basically roll off your dog's head. The greater flexibility and ability to roll means this collar is much easier for your dog to back out of if they get stuck on a fence wire or tree branch. That's important if your dog is running around in heavy brush. For that reason, a safety collar is usually fitted loosely enough to slip over the dog's head.

Aside from the safety aspect, these collars are also super convenient because they place the center ring right at the back of your dog's neck. Most safety collars also have a D-ring next to the buckle. Attach tags to this ring and they'll act as a counterweight, keeping the center ring right at the top all the time.

This type of escapeable collar is much less prone to getting lost than our KeepSafe breakaway collar. It's not going to just fall off.

Product Review: K-9 Komfort Deluxe Leather Center Ring Collar

I bought this K-9 Komfort Deluxe Leather Center Ring Collar from GunDogSupply.com. It features brass-plated steel hardware, beautiful stitching, and a custom brass nameplate. K-9 Komfort's products are all handmade in the USA, and this collar was surprisingly inexpensive for the quality. This is a 3/4" wide collar, available in three sizes to fit necks 11-19" around. There is also a 1" wide version in sizes that fit up to a 28" neck.

Center ring dog collars are pretty standard on working dogs. The girls run through a lot of heavy brush, and these are the least likely to get tangled on something. The engraved nameplates mean I can have identification on them without dangling tags, and the center ring design would allow them to back out of the collars if they got caught on something.

I hadn't seen the K-9 Komfort brand before, but I was looking at center ring collars on GunDogSupply.com and these caught my eye because they were so inexpensive. They were easily half the price of similar-looking products. I am shocked to learn that they are handmade in the USA!

Having done some leatherwork myself, I know what kind of effort goes into the details for a collar like this. The edges are beveled and finished so they are rounded, allowing the collar to slide along the coat nicely. If you leave the edges of a leather strap squared off, the corners can be quite pokey.

The hardware is also quite nice. It's brass plated steel, so all the beauty of brass without the softness.

Pros

• Beautiful, long-wearing safety collar
• Strong but beautiful hardware
• High-quality stitched leather
• Made in the USA
• Somehow only cost me $18

Cons

• New leather is a bit stiff

Bottom Line

I can't figure out how K-9 Komfort is making collars this nice for this price. Maybe some kind of voodoo magic?

Product Review: Platinum Pets Genuine Leather Collar

This Genuine Leather Collar by Platinum Pets has glorious purple metal stars, and matching purple hardware. So unique! The color is powder coated, it's not just a paint or varnish. Platinum Pets makes collars with powder-coated spikes and stars in a rainbow of colors. These are available in white and black leather, with fourteen different color choices for the hardware and decorations. They come in three sizes to fit dogs with necks up to 20" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

When I first started seeing colored metal on pet products, my response was, "Welp, there's no way that's going to stay on there." I figured the metal was just painted, maybe coated in some sort of varnish. The assumption was that it would peel or rub off just like every other painted metal surface on a dog collar. They were probably made in China and would be terrible quality under the pretty colors.

It turns out that Platinum Pets is based in the USA, and their products perform better than expected. This tiny collar still looks brand-new after several weeks of continuous wear.

In addition to these decorated leather collars, Platinum Pets makes bowls, choke chains, prong collars, and chain leashes in the same colors. The coloring process is done at their facility in California, and the color seems to stay on better than expected. Of course, the first place it wears is anywhere metal is contacting metal, so the chains and prongs start losing color where the links rub together. I just saw a bright blue metallic prong collar on a dog at work this week, and the collar was very eye-catching.

Pros: Inexpensive, unique, and totally adorable. Super light and soft for delicate and tiny necks. Made, or at least colored, in the USA.

Cons: Only comes in three sizes so may not fit every dog. Larger collars with larger stars may not hold up as well.

Bottom Line: Reviews on these vary so much that there may be some questionable quality control or a counterfeiting issue, especially with the Platinum Pet choke chains. Ru's collar is holding up beautifully, but if I decided to buy one of their choke chains I would get it directly from the company.

Product Review: Isle of Dogs Padded Leather Collar

Isle of Dogs makes lovely padded leather collars, in addition to super-fancy shampoos and tasty biscuits. These are thick, heavy, high-quality stitched leather with contrasting padding for a really gorgeous piece. Each comes lovingly packaged in an Isle of Dogs box. They are available in six colors and eight sizes to fit dogs with 10-24" necks, give or take about an inch and a half.

Photo by Erin Koski

Look at how pretty this collar is! It's even stamped with "Isle of Dogs" like an actual quality piece of leather. I was so pleased when it arrived, as for $25 I wasn't expecting something quite this nice.

I was once a horse-crazy little girl, and then a horse-crazy teenager, and then a young adult with a horse. I've always loved tack the same way I love dog gear. Some of my favorite collars are equestrian-inspired, and this one definitely fits with that theme. 

Pros: Thick, sturdy, well-made. Has a maker's mark. Nice solid stainless steel hardware. Garment leather padding is nice on sensitive skin and delicate coats.

Cons: Dogs aren't allowed to wear non-quick-release buckle collars at daycare where I work.

Bottom Line: I ordered a size 16, and it fits both Sisci and Brisbane.