Product Review: Dogline Comfort Round Microfiber Collar

The Dogline Comfort Round Martingale Collar is a soft and gentle on sensitive coats. The round design slides easily into the hair and remains secure but unobtrusive. It is durable enough for a trip to the beach, and the simple design should keep it looking nice for a long time. This collar comes in eight colors and seven sizes to fit dogs with heads 14-26" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

Our photographer friend Erin likes to set up nice shots of the products I review, and she's always telling me to use less bright and loud collars. "That bright purple collar is very distracting when we're trying to showcase the leash." Brisbane backs out of flat collars, so he usually wears a harness or a martingale. Big wide collars distribute pressure better, but I wanted something small and subtle.

I found this Dogline microfiber martingale collar at our local feed store. It is thin and round, so it slides into Brisbane's coat. The black color isn't attention-grabbing, and the whole things fits very well. It has a relatively small martingale loop 3" long. This means it doesn't hang too low when loose, but has just enough space to slip over Brisbane's head.

Pros: Soft and gentle on delicate skin and hair. Round design means minimal friction and less hair breakage. Practically invisible.

Cons: Practically invisible, so it can be hard to find when I don't put it away properly. Super thin collar concentrates force and can put a lot of pressure on the dog's neck. Not adjustable at all, I am just lucky the 18" one fits Brisbane perfectly.

Bottom Line: This collar will be appearing in a lot of our product photos.

What is your favorite collar for your dog?

Product Review: PetSafe Martingale Collar with Quick Snap Buckle

The PetSafe Martingale Collar with Quick Snap Buckle is just like the regular PetSafe martingale collar, with the addition of a buckle so it does not need to be pulled over the dog's head. This collar is available in five colors and four sizes to fit necks 5-20" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This martingale collar is a size medium, for 10-16" necks. It has a significantly smaller loop than any of my other PetSafe collars, which makes me wonder if they've updated the design.

These used to be made by Premier, who also made the Busy Buddy toys. They were bought out by PetSafe, who then dropped the Premier name after a while. The stock photos on their website show the collars with PetSafe tags, but all of mine say Premier, so this is probably a recent change.

The loop on this collar is an inch shorter than on my large collars, making it much less droopy. It adds four inches of length, which is still quite a bit. The loops on the buckle martingales could potentially be shorter, since the collar does not need to open wide enough to be slipped over the dog's head.

Pros: Sturdy, reliable. Bright colors are long-lasting. Escape-proof.

Cons: No dead ring for attachment of tags, they're supposed to be attached to the metal slides on either side of the loop.

Bottom Line: I got this for my foster puppies, but it also fits Brisbane at its greatest length. I don't leave it on any unattended dogs, it's strictly for leash walking. It's probably my third favorite collar, after the Cetacea and EzyDog slips.

Product Review: Fraggle Rock Custom Biothane Martingale Slip Lead

Our Fraggle Rock Biothane Martingale Slip Lead was custom made just for Brisbane. It is waterproof, seawater proof, sandproof, and pretty much everythingproof. It also looks quite snazzy.

Photo by Erin Koski

I used to use Lupine collars, leashes, and harnesses for my dogs at the beach. They were sturdy, reliable, and annoyingly absorbent. Every beach trip ended with either hanging the gear out to dry and then trying to shake the sand off, or rinsing it and then hanging it to dry. Either way, we brought home way more sand than necessary in those soggy collars.

Last year I started replacing our beach gear with waterproof, non-absorbent gear like Brisbane's Dublin Dog collar. The synthetic gear doesn't fade in the sun or absorb seawater, so it keeps looking awesome even after being dragged through the mud.

Photo by Erin Koski

I wanted a biothane harness for Ru, but couldn't find one. Fraggle Rock Designs custom-made Ru a beach harness and matching leash that fit perfectly.

For Briz, I wanted something that was easy to get on and off, escape-proof in case he saw the mailman while wearing it, and wide enough to distribute pressure across his neck when he needs to get from the car to the sand RIGHT NOW! (According to Brisbane, this is the only time it is permissible to pull like a sled dog.)

This custom biothane martingale does everything I need it to. The collar is nice and wide to help distribute pressure. The 4' leash is thin enough to hold in the same hand as my Chuckit while juggling my car keys and chihuahua. The martingale loop is big enough to allow me to slip the collar over Brisbane's head, but not so big that it flops around when there's no leash pressure. The slip action is fast enough to keep Brisbane contained even when he tries to back out of the collar, though it's probably not fast enough to do an actual leash correction.

Pros: Doesn't pick up sand, salt water, or dead sea lion goop. Washes clean with minimal effort. Probably skunk-proof, have not tested this theory. Easy-to-use slip lead that won't strangle my dog or let him escape at the worst possible time.

Cons: I haven't yet figured out a good way to carry this leash once we're on the beach and Brisbane is running free, since I can't clip it to itself.

Bottom Line: I now have the coolest beach leash ever for Brisbane. Thanks Fraggle Rock!

Product Review: Cetacea Martingale Collar

The Cetacea Martingale Collar is made from nylon webbing. It features a quick-release buckle and a plastic slide that keeps the martingale loop from gaping open. The Cetacea martingale collar is available in seventeen different colors and patterns, and six sizes to fit dogs with necks 10-30" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is currently my favorite martingale because it has a nice short loop, so I don't have to choose between "so big it's falling off" and "so small it's strangling my dog". It also has a quick-release buckle, a feature not found on any of my current martingales, though I'm told Premier also makes them.

I particularly love the little plastic slide that prevents the loop from sagging open, I haven't seen this on any other martingale collar.

Photo by Erin Koski

It makes it look more like a slip collar, with the live ring on one end of the loop rather than sitting in the middle between the two dead rings. This also helps keep the loop from sagging. Note the two dead rings rings and loop, this is what makes this a martingale collar. A limited slip (or half-choke, half-slip, etc) collar would have a dead ring on one side and the loop would be a continuation of the collar strap on the other side.

Pros: Designed so that the martingale loop lays flat. Unbuckles so I don't have to slip it over Brisbane's head. Comes in a bunch of colors including rainbow! Brass hardware matches some of my favorite leashes. Soft nylon webbing is easy on Brisbane's delicate skin.

Photo by Erin Koski

Cons: I honestly don't have anything bad to say about this collar, it even comes in purple and two different shades of pink.

Bottom Line: I think Brisbane needs a rainbow martingale.

Product Review: Mendota Dog Walker Martingale Lead Combo

The Mendota Dog Walker is a slip lead that ends in a martingale collar instead of a slip collar. It comes in 3/8" and 1/2" soft round rope, in a wide variety of colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

I love my Lone Wolf martingale lead for Brisbane, right now it's his default leash. However, the collar on that one is just barely small enough that he can't escape it, so it cannot be used on a smaller dog. Lone Wolf also makes a teensy tiny martingale lead, but I think it's much too tiny to use on a big dog.

My Mendota Dog Walker, on the other hand, can be used on any size dog. Seriously, any size. I use it at work all the time on Bernese Mountain Dogs and assorted mastiffs. The collar portion is 5/8" wide and measures 8.5" from end to end, tiny enough to use on Ru if I ever used any type of slip collar on his neck.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Dog Walker works well on Brisbane, it will choke him if leash pressure is applied, but there is no way he can back out of it. The loop that runs through the collar measures 18" when folded in half, allowing me to slip this leash onto any dog with a head circumference less than 24". A leather keeper slides down the loop to prevent the dog from popping their head through the remainder of the loop and losing the martingale effect.

That huge martingale loop is one of the reasons I love using this leash at work. I can cinch the keeper down to keep the dog securely in the collar, and then hang on right where the loop meets the rest of the leash when I need to keep the dog really close. It's like a nice little traffic leash that won't give me rope burn if the dog suddenly decides they're going somewhere in a hurry.

Pros: Fits just about any standard dog, just not the outliers on the "rodent" and "hippopotamus" ends of the spectrum. Soft, comfortable, and durable. Ends of the flat webbing collar are sewn on the outside to prevent irritation.

Cons: Slightly more complicated than a slip lead, occasionally baffling coworkers when I toss it to them. Harder to lasso difficult dogs with than a standard slip. If the keeper is not employed, some dogs can pop their heads through the martingale loop such that they are then wearing the fixed loop around their heads with the collar doing nothing.

Bottom Line: The collar on the 1/2" rope Dog Walker was big enough for Brisbane to escape, so it clearly isn't this versatile. Right now this is my favorite slip lead martingale universal escape-proof leash thingy.

Product Review: Lupine Combo Collar

The Lupine Combo Collar is a martingale collar. It has two D-rings, a "live ring" that pulls the collar tight, and a "dead ring" that does not pull the collar tight. The combo collar is available in four sizes and two widths to fit dogs with necks 10-27" around. It can be found in any 3/4" or 1" wide Lupine pattern, and is backed by Lupine's lifetime guarantee that covers chewing damage.

Photo by Erin Koski

I love Lupine stuff, and I use it every day. We currently have three 3/4" wide Combo collars, all in retired patterns because they last forever so I haven't needed to buy new ones in years. These are my regular everyday martingales that I use instead of flat buckle collars because Brisbane's head is smaller than his neck. I also use them as emergency backup collars for rescue dogs, transport dogs, and any other dog that I would prefer not get loose and play in traffic. Of my three collars, only the blue dolphin collar is fading, and only because it is one of Brisbane's regular beach collars.

Photo by Erin Koski

My complaint about Lupine's Combo collar is pretty much the same as my complaint about every other martingale out there: the loop is too big. I know that the collar needs to be big enough to slip over his head, but there's got to be a happy medium between "too tight to get on" and "flopping around loosely". I think the loop on the Combo collars could stand to be a couple of inches shorter.

I think Lupine has changed the sizes of their Combo collars since I bought mine. The website currently states that 3/4" wide Combo collars come in two sizes, 10-14" and 14-20". Brisbane's dolphin and cow collars adjusts between 14" and 20" with 4" of that being loop. The playing car collar adjusts between 20" and 30" (holy mackerel, I did not realize it got that big!), also with 4" being loop. I keep the collar adjusted tight enough to prevent escape, but not tight enough to strangle my dog, which means it is always hanging 4" too loose, or I have a 4" long tab hanging off the collar. A 2" loop would have been sufficient, and if I had one of the smaller ones adjusted to its minimum side, 25% of the length would be loop.

Pros: Super useful as an emergency backup collar for dogs that like to escape from various equipment. The immense variety of patterns means I can coordinate with other gear or make the martingales stand out. Brisbane's Lupine Combo collars are mostly different patterns than the rest of his stuff, making them very easy to locate in the collar drawer or gear bag. The Lupine guarantee makes me much more likely to use these on foster dogs who may or may not eat collars. The dead ring is a handy place to hang tags.

Cons: I think the martingale loops on these are way too long. When adjusted properly to prevent Brisbane from backing out, they hang way too loose. A lot of people use these for regular collars and leave them on their dogs all the time, and they have them adjusted tight enough to look like a regular collar and therefore strangle their dog when leash pressure is applied. Martingale collars can strangle unattended dogs, and the loop makes them more likely to get wrapped around other dogs' faces during play.

Bottom Line: For availability, style, durability, and options, these just can't be beat. I have yet to find anything I like as much, long loops and all.

Product Review: Lone Wolf Martingale Slip Leash

The Lone Wolf Martingale is a combination slip-on leash with a martingale-style collar. It comes in two webbing widths, two lengths, and 16 different color combinations. Lone Wolf makes a variety of webbing products in each width, including traffic and traditional slip leads, and regular leashes. The company also make round nylon braid leashes in a variety of colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

I have several dozen different collars for Brisbane, but maybe ten leashes because those do a lot more than just hold tags. Briz walks nicely on a loose leash 99% of the time, and then once in a while he explodes. I mostly use 3/4" wide leather leashes for their superior grip, when I buy a leash I try to imagine what it will feel like to have it violently ripped through my hands. Lone Wolf's flat braid is soft and grippy, and wide enough to grab comfortably even with sore hands.

Slip leashes are extremely versatile, and very popular in agility where dogs aren't allowed to wear collars while they run. I like martingale slip leads because they are limited-slip rather than choke collars. They also tighten more evenly than a collar that slips through a single ring. The Lone Wolf martingale lead has a leather slide to keep it from opening too wide. Brisbane's is a 4' long black and purple martingale in 5/8" wide flat braid.

Pros: Easy and convenient to put on. Requires no opening or closing of hardware and is made from big, beefy braid so I believe it would be comfortable for arthritic hands. Seriously, the 5/8" wide braid is at least 1/4" thick with nice rounded edges. This might be the greatest leash ever for people with limited hand mobility. I also love the variety of colors available. Comes in 4' and 6' lengths., and mine is big enough to fit a dog with a 42" neck.

Cons: The collar is non-adjustable. My 5/8" martingale has a 16" collar and Brisbane has a 17" neck, so it is snug when tightened and he can't back out of it. I'm just lucky it worked out that way because the collars don't come in different sizes. If he had a bigger neck, the collar would choke him when pulled tight. If he had a smaller neck I would have to use the smaller size, which has a much shorter collar. Ru is too small for the smaller martingale.

Bottom Line: I use this leash for agility class and quick trips when I don't feel like putting a harness on Brisbane. It lives in my dog event bag and goes on various trips with us. I know several people who use them as their primary leashes.

Product Review: RC Pets Training Collar

The RC Pets Training Collar is a martingale with a chain loop instead of a nylon webbing loop. This is also known as a limited-slip collar, and can be used like a choke chain. It is adjustable and machine washable. This collar comes in 39 patterns and four sizes to fit dogs with necks 7-26" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is the collar we used for obedience training. Brisbane and I did UKC obedience for nearly five years, and Briz does Utility obedience, which is the most advanced level. Unfortunately, he only does his obedience performance outside a showring, and at competitions and practice matches he suddenly forgets who I am and wanders off. After several years of work with zero titles or legs toward titles, or even qualifying scores, I gave up. Brisbane has his AKC Canine Good Citizen title and that's it.

Our obedience classes used positive training because aversive obedience training mostly results in dogs that look unhappy in the showring. I've read that many obedience competitors use aversive methods that include pinching ears or hitting dogs, but I would never hurt my dog like that. Brisbane's life has been blissfully free of choke chains and collar corrections.

Photo by Erin Koski

So why the chain training collar? The chain section makes a nice noise when I move the leash, allowing me to get Brisbane's attention just by jiggling or lightly tugging. A fast tug will make a distinctive zippy noise, but it won't hurt him because the collar is only tight enough to keep him from backing out of it.

A real choke chain collar correction involves a collar that gets much tighter, and a seriously forceful yank. A "collar pop" that doesn't hurt is just supposed to be a reminder that a much more painful correction can be used. Most people are using choke chains wrong. Any kind of choke or limited-slip collar can strangle your dog, but that's not a real deterrent to pulling.

Anyway, I have two of these collars. I thought mine were sizes Medium and Large, since I have a 1" wide flame-print (discontinued!) collar and a 3/4" wide Maltese cross collar. Both of these collars are at least six years old though, and it's distinctly possible that the sizes have changed since the current 3/4" collars top out at 14" and Briz has a 17" neck. I used the smaller collar for obedience classes, we tried the larger one once and Brisbane got a dewclaw caught in the chain during an off-leash exercise.

Pros: Awesome RC Pets patterns including my favorite Maltese Cross, so I can make everything match. The patterns don't fade and they continue to look awesome forever. These chains on these collars are long enough to make a good zippy noise, but not so long that the collar hangs super-loose. (I'm looking at you, Premier!) There is a separate ring on the collar for hanging tags without interfering with the chain.

Cons: The noisy chain can spook shy dogs. RC Pets advertises this collar as a pulling deterrent, demonstrating that they don't actually know how choke collars should work. Also, flame print has been discontinued.

Bottom Line: I used this collar every single day when Brisbane and I were doing obedience training. I got several years of use out of my Maltese Cross collar and it still looks great. I don't use the training collars often these days, but I still carry one in my training bag for times when I want to do some peppy heelwork with Briz. There's definitely something to be said for having a special type of collar for training time.

Product Review: Premier Martingale Collars

Premier Martingale Collars are a type of limited-slip collar that tightens to prevent dogs from backing out and escaping. Premier's plain martingale collar comes in five sizes and twelve different colors. Their Fido Finery line comes in the same five sizes and nine different patterns of ribbon overlay.

Photo by Erin Koski

Despite his magnificently fluffy ears, Brisbane's head is actually smaller than his neck. He is an expert at escaping from flat buckle collars, if it doesn't tighten up he can back right out of it. I put his tags on flat buckle collars because those are safer to leave on him, but I never attach a leash to those unless we're in an extremely low-risk area where I can be certain he won't take off and try to eat skateboarders.

Martingale collars are a great way to securely leash a dog without strangling them like a choke chain. These aren't designed to make pulling on the leash uncomfortable. A properly adjusted martingale collar should be tight enough to not slip off when the loop is pulled shut. A lot of people adjust them so they are snug when the loop is loose and choke the dog when leash pressure is applied. This is unhealthy for the dog, and extremely unsafe when left on an unattended dog. If the collar gets caught on anything, the dog could easily be strangled.

Photo by Erin Koski

Most martingale collars don't have a buckle, which also makes them potentially hazardous for everyday wear. Even if I saw Brisbane get his collar caught on something, I wouldn't be able to get him loose without cutting through the collar. Martingales are especially dangerous for dogs that play with other dogs, it's not difficult for a buddy to get their lower jaw caught in that loop, and separating two panicked dogs is incredibly difficult. Premier also makes a plain martingale collar with a quick release buckle, but I still don't find those safe enough to leave on my dog, they're just easier to get on and off because they don't have to slip over his head.

I love dog stuff, so we have quite a few martingale collars. However, the Premier ones aren't my favorite. The loop in these collars is huge, meaning the collar hangs very loose when it isn't pulled tight. Super-loose martingales bug me, especially when tags make the collar droop.

Pros: Come in a wide variety of sizes, widths, and colors for the fashion-conscious. These keep their color for a very long time, and go through the washing machine easily. Unlike some of the ribbon overlay collars we have tried, the Fido Finery holds up beautifully to neck scratching. Premier products are very sturdy and reliable, and they have little brand tags so you know who made them.

Cons: The big martingale loop on the 1" wide collars is very large, allowing the collar to droop when loose and tempting users to adjust the collar too tight. There is only one ring on these collars, and tags attached to that ring will pull the collar tight. The size large collar is really quite heavy.

Bottom Line: I don't use these martingales for Brisbane on a regular basis. Although they adjust down to his size, that huge loop makes them annoying. The purple collar is a medium, and the loop is just as big as on the large teal collar. I did use them for Josie, and also for Ulysses. They are a great backup for a head halter, prong collar, or harness. We consider Uly a flight risk, and I always use a carabiner to attach his harness to a martingale collar when we leave the house. They may not be a great everyday option for Brisbane, but I find these are extremely valuable for rescue and foster dogs.