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The 11 Best Dog Collars For Pulling

Not only is it uncomfortable for you to leave your dog on a leash, but it is also inconvenient for your dog. It can be scary for passersby and perhaps hazardous for your dog.

What can you do if your dog pulls so hard that the leash is ripped from your fingers to prevent them from racing into a car or other dogs?

No one wants a dog on a leash that is unruly, but correcting it may be a difficult undertaking. If you've ever attempted to put on a dog collar designed to prevent pulling, you've likely struck or slipped.

We tried our best to determine which of these necklaces was worth the cost, as not all of them are created equal.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) put together these reviews of the best dog collars for pulling based on what we've learned from training our own dogs. We hope this will help you make a better choice.

Reviews

PetSafe’s Adjustable Martingale Collar with Buckle – Overall Winner

 

 

Some dogs have an innate aptitude to break free from their leash and are infamous for pulling on it. Many owners feel choke collars and prong collars to be overly severe.

The PetSafe Adjustable Martingale Collar with Buckle has a double loop design. The first collar functions like a conventional collar and has a sliding mechanism that allows you to adjust it to your dog’s size.

The second loop keeps your dog from yanking on the leash. In either direction, when your dog pulls, the loop tightens somewhat. It is less severe than choke collars, but when paired with proper training practices, it may convert your puller into a peaceful walker.

Made from high-quality nylon, the PetSafe Adjustable Martingale Collar with Buckle helps prevent your dog from tugging forward or backward.

Additionally, it features a separate ID ring so that you do not need to bundle the leash ring with other tags. You may select from several sizes, and there are many styles so that you can choose the one that best matches you and your dog.

The collar functions well and is robust, and its reasonable pricing makes it the best overall dog collar for pulling on our list; nevertheless, even the small size will be too large for little and toy breeds, as well as for the majority of pups. Overall, we believe this to be the finest dog collar for pulling available.

Pros

  • Made from durable nylon
  • Great choice of design
  • Less severe than choke and prong collars
  • Inexpensive

Cons

  • Not suited for tiny and toy breeds

 

StarMark TCLC No Pull Dog Training Collar – Cheapest Price

 

 

If metal pronged collars seem too harsh and aggressive for your furry companion, you may want to explore the StarMark TCLC Training Collar as an alternative.

Instead of metal spikes, this collar has plastic points that will attract your dog’s attention and convey your message without causing them harm.

Assuming it is the correct size, the Martingale design tightens just enough to impart pressure without suffocating your dog. The nylon Martingale strap is thin and lacks confidence-inspiring qualities for bigger canines.

Fortunately, they won’t exert much force on it, so it should hold up. It did not break or tear in our experience, although it is thinner than we want. These dog collars were also ineffective on our Pit Bulls and Bulldogs, which have strong neck pads.

This collar may be adjusted to any desired size by removing or adding links as necessary for a suitable fit. However, resizing is really tough, and adding and removing links was a hassle!

One broke during the procedure, so be cautious while attempting it. Overall, we believe this is the greatest dog collar for pulling for the price.

Pros

  • Add or delete links to modify the size
  • Not choking when correctly sized
  • Not harmful, yet catches their attention
  • The nylon strap is thin and lacks confidence-inspiring qualities

Cons

  • Less efficient for canines with thick neck pads
  • Extremely tricky to resize

 

Sporn No-Pull Dog Collar Halter – An Excellent Option

 

 

The Sporn Step-in Vest Collar Halter, which is covered by a lifetime warranty, is our top choice. Many pet owners are rightfully concerned about their dog choking or being impaled by sharp metal spikes, as do we!

The step-in construction of the Sporn collar halter allows pressure to be applied to the horse’s front legs rather than the neck. Initially, we were skeptical about its efficacy, but after taking it, our concerns were dispelled.

There were two aspects of this collar that we did not appreciate. First, if you don’t have it properly fit then your dog may wriggle out. The weakest element of the entire harness is the tightening clasp, which is not particularly sturdy.

This did not disturb us too much because it is covered by a lifetime warranty. This collar is available in sizes to accommodate dogs from 5 pounds up to 130 pounds.

When we pushed on the leash, the dog would instantly halt and wait. Overall, it was one of the finest dog collars for walking, which is why it’s our premium choice.

Pros

  • Doesn’t choke your dog
  • Pulling on the dog’s front legs to halt it
  • Sizes for dogs range from 5 to 130 pounds
  • Lifetime guarantee

Cons

  • If not correctly constructed, your dog may escape
  • The tightening clamp is not particularly sturdy

 

Country Brook Martingale Collar for Dogs

 

 

The affordable, long-lasting, and fashionable Country Brook Petz Martingale color is constructed of nylon without a chain, making it more comfortable for your dog.

Due to its Martingale construction, the leash will still tighten when your dog pulls, indicating that he or she must cease tugging. The pressure is moderate yet forceful, and your dog will not suffocate.

These dog collars are available in twenty distinct hues for individuals who desire to stand out and be distinctive. However, use caution when applying it to dogs with light fur, as the color can rub off and leave a bright ring!

You may be able to avoid this by cleaning it first, but it is an obvious issue, and the stain it left on our dog’s fur refused to wash away. The lack of a buckle makes it more difficult to put on, but also reduces the likelihood of it breaking.

Pros

  • 20 color choices
  • Metal-free nylon for your dog’s comfort
  • Pulling applies pressure on the neck

Cons

  • No buckle, making it very difficult to fasten
  • Coloring can transfer to lighter fur

 

Halti Head Collar Designed for Pulling Dogs

 

 

The Halti Head Collar steers your dog softly when you pull on the leash by giving gentle pressure to the dog’s snout.

Due to its design, it does not choke or even tighten around your dog’s neck; rather, it uses a head collar that wraps around the dog’s head and snout to convey the message.

You need not exert much effort to make your argument, either. After lengthy use, frequent tightening will be required. If you forget, your dog may be able to escape from the head harness.

This harness is made from nylon for your dog’s comfort. It is meant to be quite durable, however we did not find this to be the case. After only a few walks, the nylon began to unravel where it rubbed against the metal ring.

Eventually, the nylon became so frail that one of our dogs snapped it while chasing a stray rabbit. We appreciate the concept of this collar, but we wish it were more durable.

Pros

  • Doesn’t choke your dog
  • Requires hardly any pulling force

Cons

  • Nylon deteriorates due to abrasion
  • Loosens and must be tightened

 

Coastal Walk’n Train Dog Halter Leash

 

 

In contrast to collars that prevent your dog from tugging by choking it, the Coastal Walk’n Train guides your dog via their muzzle. It has an additional clip in case the animal escapes the head halter.

Some individuals may be turned off by the fact that this halter resembles a muzzle, which may be a concern if aesthetics are important. Due to the fact that it is meant to fit around the nose, it does not function well for dogs with extremely short snouts.

Some of our dogs didn’t appear frightened by this halter and just kept pulling. Our other dogs responded nicely, although they didn’t love having the harness wrapped around their lips.

Additionally, it had a tendency to move back and hide their eyes, necessitating constant adjustments while walking. It is a very economical option, but the hit-or-miss performance with our puppies means it won’t earn one of our top recommendations.

Pros

  • Very inexpensive
  • Doesn’t choke your dog
  • Extra clip to fasten to dog’s collar

Cons

  • Looks like a muzzle
  • Not effective with all of our pets
  • Not suitable for little noses
  • Straps return to the eyes

 

Gentle Leader Dog Headcollar by PetSafe

 

 

The PetSafe Gentle Leader Headcollar is an economical and fashionable approach to train your dog to quit tugging on the leash. It is available in eight colors. We appreciate the idea, however the execution falls short.

The collar is secured with a plastic clasp, however it is quite fragile and snapped on our second walk. Adding insult to injury, the nylon used to manufacture this collar is too thin and can break even if the clasp holds.

Given that it goes around the dog’s muzzle, they will certainly attempt to gnaw through it. In this regard, PetSafe provides a one-year chew damage repair, however this is not enough to move this collar up our ranking.

Pros

  • 8 color choices
  • 1-year replacement for damage caused by chewing

Cons

  • The plastic clasp is an area of weakness
  • Too simple to escape from
  • Weak nylon readily breaks

 

Dazzber Dog Collar

 

 

Constructed of sturdy and soft nylon for your pet’s optimum comfort, the Dazzber dog collar has a Martingale design that inhibits pulling by tightening around your dog’s neck.

Since there’s no metal, it doesn’t produce any loud sound to convey the lesson, but it also is less likely to really damage your dog. Without a buckle, it is quite difficult to put on and take off.

Once it’s on, the adjustment straps may be tightened, however they rapidly loosened and required retightening after a short time.

The Dazzber collar is more costly than its closest competitors despite its shortcomings. While it does function, we believe you can get the same results at a lower cost.

Pros

  • Strong and will not break

Cons

  • More costly than comparable rivals
  • There is no buckle, making it more difficult to put on
  • Typically relaxes on a stroll

 

Dog-Thing Dog Training Prong Collar

 

 

The Dog-Thing training prong collar, made of interlocking steel links and prongs, is a strong choke chain that will undoubtedly terrify some individuals.

Many individuals are understandably hesitant to insert metal spikes into their dog’s neck. It is excessive unless you have a vicious, disobedient dog. That said, it is effective in stopping pulling and lunging.

It’s also quite simple to damage your dog, especially if you’re not well informed in its correct use. During a stroll with this model, one of the links detached, allowing the dog to escape.

This is a threat to your pooch and anybody else around. Instead, we would prefer the StarMark training collar in position two, as it is friendlier on your dog and still prevents tugging.

Pros

  • Successful in preventing lunging and pulling

Cons

  • Simple to injure your dog
  • Requires proper usage knowledge
  • Links break, freeing the dog

 

Hamilton C3200 Dog Training Collar

 

 

The Hamilton training collar is dirt cheap and certainly effective, but it is also unpleasant and perhaps hazardous. It is difficult to get on and off your dog since you must unhook a connection.

Once attached, the spikes penetrate your dog’s neck. When you tug the leash, they will dig deeper, causing your dog to stop moving. We’d only recommend this for huge, rowdy, and difficult-to-control dogs, only it’s not sturdy enough!

The fact that ours really broke during testing astonished us, given that it is constructed of metal. In light of the availability of more trustworthy collars in the same price range, we conclude that this is not one of the best solutions.

Pros

  • Dirt cheap

Cons

  • Extremely tough to don and remove
  • Weak – attacked our larger dog
  • Can possibly harm your dog if performed incorrectly

How to Choose the Most Effective Collar for Your Pulling Dog

You should look for certain things in a dog collar that pulls to make sure it is safe and does what it is supposed to do.

Material

A collar made of nylon or polyester will last longer and be more comfortable than one made of plastic. Some dogs can break the nylon straps by biting them, but many manufacturers offer at least a one-year chew warranty.

Adjustable

To be safe, a harness or anti-pull collar must fit properly. For example, a growing puppy that wears a harness that doesn’t fit right could have problems.

Also, not all collars or harnesses fit every dog’s body and can move around a lot on the dog’s body. Also, if your dog pulls a lot or if his harness doesn’t fit right, he may get chafing in his armpits.

Collars and harnesses that don’t fit right could also make it hard for the dog to move around.

Quick Release Buckle

With a quick-release buckle, you can take your dog’s collar off quickly, which is helpful in an emergency and makes putting the collar on your dog easier.

The way your dog acts

Headcollars with nosebands might bother your dog if he is naturally nervous and doesn’t like having straps around his head or muzzle.

Most likely, a martingale-style collar will be better. On the other hand, headcollars usually aren’t a problem for dogs who are more laid-back.

Tips

  • If your dog has short hair, choose a collar or harness with padding for more comfort.
  • If you’re going to walk at night, you might also want to get a harness with reflective strips.

In short, keep in mind that you don’t have to use a no-pull collar or harness to teach your dog not to pull. They are just more things to use.

But when used with obedience training and the help of a certified dog trainer, collars and harnesses can be very helpful and make walks more pleasant.

A Quick Note on Correction Collars

Collars that correct behavior, like chain, prong, or choke collars, are not always used.

For one thing, you have to be careful when using these kinds of training collars so you don’t hurt your dog.

Also, many dog trainers don’t like it when people use choke collars and prong collars because they think it’s a bad way to train a dog through punishment.

These are forceful tools that hurt the dog but don’t change how it acts. Worse still, they change the trust between the dog and its owner because a dog that feels strangled has no idea why its owner is acting this way.

But if you really want to use a correction collar, you should do it under the watchful eye of a certified dog trainer so you don’t hurt your pet.

Conclusion

Because there are so many choices, it can be hard to figure out what kind of collar will keep a dog from pulling on a leash without hurting it. We did everything we could to put together the ten reviews you just read, which are a summary of what we found.

The Mighty Paw Martingale necklace is our favorite and the best for pulling. It works well and doesn’t bother them. It is heavy enough for big dogs and tightens just enough to send training signals without suffocating them.

We think that the PetSafe Adjustable Martingale Collar with Buckle is the best value. The soft spikes will get your dog’s attention without hurting him, and the links can be taken out or added to make the collar fit any dog.

The Halteris Sporn Step-in Vest Collar is a great choice for a high-quality product that will pull your dog’s front paws instead of suffocating it. We tested it and found that it worked very well. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee. It might be the best collar for shopping.

All three of these are good ways to teach your dog not to pull, so we’re comfortable recommending them.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) would like to thank our readers for coming to our website to read about and get advice on the best dog collars for pulling. We hope that our guide helps you find the best dog collar to pull.

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Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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