Funky Dog Collars for Every Pup

A fluffy white dog wearing a bright yellow collar looks upward.

Written by

Kosar KoohiUpdated 14 September 2026 · 8 Min Read

Kosar is the editor of Pretty Fluffy, a lifelong dog lover, and the proud mom of Yuki, a Maltese who has very high standards. So does Kosar. She researches everything obsessively before it ever makes it onto the page.

A collar is the one thing a dog wears every single day, which makes it a strange place to settle for plain black nylon. Funky dog collars are the easiest way to put some personality on the end of the leash, and the good ones manage it without giving up the things that actually matter: a buckle that holds, webbing that survives a wet walk, and a fit that sits comfortably at the base of the neck.

These 13 picks run from novelty prints to bright block colors, including several coated straps that rinse clean, with the materials and neck ranges listed wherever the brand publishes them.

What to Look For in a Fun Dog Collar

A good fun dog collar has to survive daily wear, so the print is the last thing to judge rather than the first. Look for cast brass or coated steel hardware rather than thin plated metal on anything above about 20 pounds, a D-ring set firmly enough to take a leash and an ID tag together, stitching that runs the full length of the webbing, and a material that can be wiped or washed. The brands that get all four right tend to be the ones in the collars and leads directory. Then pick the design.

Dog Collar Sizing and Fit

Measure around the base of the neck where the collar will actually sit, not up near the ears, and add a couple of inches. Two fingers should slide under a fitted collar without forcing. Width matters as much as length: most brands run 1/2 inch for toy breeds, 3/4 inch for mid-sized dogs and 1 inch for large ones, and a wide collar on a small neck sits like a turtleneck. Puppies outgrow collars fast, so buy adjustable and check the fit fortnightly.

Hardware, Washability and Everyday Wear

Quick-release buckles are easier on arthritic hands and older dogs, though a stiff metal one can be a struggle to open one-handed. Coated steel D-rings are worth seeking out because they stop tags rattling, and if a tracker is going on the collar as well as an ID tag, the mounted designs in this guide to AirTag dog collars hang far better than a clip-on case. Ribbon-on-webbing collars are usually machine washable in a bag, while coated and silicone collars wipe clean with a damp cloth and should never go in the machine.

Funny Dog Collars With Novelty Prints

Novelty prints are not for everyone, and that is rather the point. These are the collars that get a comment on every walk.

Up Country Funky Fish Adjustable Dog Collar

Bright fish swimming around a woven ribbon sewn onto high-tensile nylon webbing, with cast brass hardware rather than welded, a Coast Guard approved buckle and a machine-washable finish. Sizes run from extra small to double extra large, covering 6 to 27 inches of neck in two widths, which makes it one of the few genuinely cheerful options for a very small or very large dog.

PREHAI Pink Strawberry Dog Collar

The cheapest pick on the list by a distance, and unapologetically sweet: a baby pink base scattered with strawberries, hand-sewn in cotton with color-matched double stitching. It is the only uncoated fabric collar here, so it will soak up a puddle and hold the smell afterward. Sizing is given as a size drawing rather than neck measurements, so measure first. Best as a seasonal or photo-day collar, in the same way gold chain dog collars earn their keep at birthdays rather than on muddy walks.

The Worthy Dog Summer Cheer Dog Collar

Woven ribbon on nylon webbing with a plastic quick-release buckle and a nickel-plated D-ring, in five sizes covering 5 to 23 inches of neck. Summer prints tend to date fast, but this one leans bright rather than themed, so it does not look ridiculous in October. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth rather than washing it.

Lucy & Co The In the Clouds Polyester Dog Collar

Soft pastels on polyester webbing with a metal quick-release buckle, in three sizes covering 8 to 26 inches of neck at 1/2, 1 and 1.5 inch widths. The pick for anyone who wants color without brightness, and an easy one to pair with a lead from these designer dog leashes if a matching set appeals. Worth knowing that owners of small dogs consistently find the metal buckle heavy and stiff to open, so this one suits a mid-sized dog better.

Quirky Dog Collars With Artist and Two-Tone Prints

The most interesting design in this category comes from small labels, which take more risk with color and pattern than the big pet brands do, and usually pair it with better hardware. Prices here sit well below the luxury dog collars from the fashion houses, which is rather the point.

Herzog WORLEY Artist Series Collar

A limited-edition print by illustrator Bekah Worley on PVC-free silicone, which makes it waterproof, stink-proof and wipeable in seconds. Sizes run small to large with black hardware, and the label is designed in Australia, so it sits alongside the other Australian dog collars worth knowing about. The one care note worth heeding: once an ID tag is fitted, leave it on, because repeatedly working it on and off weakens the strap.

Fawn & Merle Duo Two Toned Collar

Made to order in BioThane, which is a coated webbing with the look and feel of leather and none of the maintenance: flexible, waterproof and wipeable. The 1-inch strap carries two colors in one collar, the primary color takes the punched holes, and hardware comes in silver, black or gold. There is a Surprise Me option if choosing colors is the part you dread. Check the shop's turnaround if it needs to arrive for a birthday.

Approved by Fritz The Fritz Collar

A PVC-coated strap in bright two-tone colorways from a New York label, which means it is quietly a waterproof collar dressed as a designer piece. It wipes clean under a tap and will not hold a wet-dog smell. The priciest pick here, and the one most likely to still look good in three years.

Bright Dog Collars for Everyday Wear

Block color is the most underrated choice here. It photographs beautifully against almost any coat, it never goes out of style, and this is where the coated, wipe-clean straps live, which matters if a dog finds every puddle between the house and the park.

Wild One Waterproof Dog Collar

Flex-poly coated nylon webbing with a zinc alloy buckle and a coated carbon steel D-ring, which is the detail that stops tags jangling all evening. Five sizes cover 7 to 23 inches of neck in 1/2 to 1 inch widths, and it hand-washes with soap and water. Solid colors rather than prints, which suits a dog who wears a lot of bandanas.

Wilderdog Waterproof Dog Collars

PVC-coated polyester webbing with a heavy-duty plastic buckle, a metal D-ring and a lifetime warranty, which tells you what the brand expects of it. Three sizes cover 11 to 25 inches of neck. Built for dogs whose weekends involve lakes and trails, which is also the case for pairing it with one of these GPS dog collars if a dog ranges out of sight. The trade-off is that a coated strap feels stiffer against the neck than soft webbing at first.

PawFurEver's Waterproof & Odorless Dog Collar

The budget end of waterproof, made in the USA, with a coated strap that wipes clean and refuses to hold odor. Some colorways are reflective, which is a bonus on winter walks, and the medium fits a 10.5 to 15 inch neck. Comfort scores sit a little below the other two waterproof picks, so pay attention to the fit rather than sizing up on a guess.

Zee Dog Classic Phantom Collar

Printed polyester with a rubber logo patch over the stitching, which is the part that usually fails first, and a buckle with a four-point locking system. Four sizes cover 9 to 27 inches of neck in widths from 3/8 to 1 inch. Bold graphic design at a genuinely accessible price, so buy two and rotate them while one is drying. Zee Dog turns up again in this roundup of rope dog leashes if the collar works out.

Awoo Marty Collar

Made from GRS-certified recycled polyester, about three plastic bottles per collar, with brass hardware and a 3/4-inch strap covering roughly 11.5 to 18 inches of neck. Note that this is a martingale, so it tightens gently under tension and gives more control than a flat collar, but it should never be used for tie-out. Reviews are split on the hardware, so check the loop after the first few walks.

RC Pets Eco Polyester Dog Collar

The sensible one. Webbing made from REPREVE recycled polyester, matte black rust-resistant hardware, an adjustable slider and Canadian manufacturing, in three sizes covering 9 to 25 inches of neck. It machine washes cold in a laundry bag, which is the single most useful feature on a collar worn by a dog who rolls in things.

Dog Collar Sizes and Materials Compared

Thirteen collars, with the specifications that decide whether one will actually fit.

Collar	Material	Neck range	Width
Approved by Fritz The Fritz Collar	PVC-coated, waterproof	Check listing	Check listing
Awoo Marty Collar	Recycled polyester, martingale	11.5 to 18 in	3/4 in
Herzog WORLEY Artist Series	PVC-free silicone, waterproof	Sizes S to L	Check listing
Fawn & Merle Duo Two Toned	BioThane, waterproof	Check listing	1 in
Wild One Waterproof	Flex-poly coated nylon	7 to 23 in	1/2 to 1 in
Wilderdog Waterproof	PVC-coated polyester	11 to 25 in	3/4 to 1 in
PawFurEver's Waterproof & Odorless	Coated waterproof strap	Medium fits 10.5 to 15 in	Check listing
Up Country Funky Fish	Ribbon on nylon, brass hardware	6 to 27 in	5/8 or 1 in
PREHAI Pink Strawberry	Cotton, hand-sewn	Sizes S to L	Check listing
The Worthy Dog Summer Cheer	Ribbon on nylon webbing	5 to 23 in	1/2 to 1 in
Zee Dog Classic Phantom	Printed polyester	9 to 27 in	3/8 to 1 in
Lucy & Co In the Clouds	Polyester, metal buckle	8 to 26 in	1/2 to 1.5 in
RC Pets Eco Polyester	REPREVE recycled polyester	9 to 25 in	3/4 to 1 in

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what size collar to buy?

Measure around the base of the neck with a soft tape, where the collar will sit, and add roughly two inches. Two fingers should fit under a fastened collar comfortably. If a measurement falls between two sizes, size up and use the adjustment, particularly on a growing puppy.

Are fabric or waterproof collars better?

Fabric is softer and comes in far more prints, so it wins on looks and comfort. Coated collars win on everything practical: they rinse clean, dry fast and do not hold smell. Dogs who swim or roll are better off in waterproof, with a fabric collar kept for occasions.

Should my dog wear a collar all the time?

Most dogs wear one daily because it carries their ID tag, which matters more than any print. Remove it for crate time and unsupervised play, where a collar can catch, and check regularly that a growing dog has not outgrown the fit since the last adjustment.

What is a martingale collar and does my dog need one?

A martingale tightens a limited amount under tension, so it gives more control and stops a dog backing out of a flat collar. It suits narrow-headed breeds and confident pullers. It should never be left on for tie-out or unsupervised time, since the sliding action needs a person on the other end.

How do I wash a fabric dog collar?

Ribbon-on-webbing collars usually survive a cold machine wash inside a laundry bag, which protects both the hardware and the machine. Coated and silicone collars should be wiped with a damp cloth instead. Either way, air dry fully out of direct sun and never put a collar back on damp.

The best collar here is whichever one suits the dog wearing it: a designer piece for a dog who mostly walks pavements, something coated for a dog who finds every puddle, and a cheap novelty print for the dog who needs a birthday outfit. Most dogs benefit from owning two anyway, so one can dry while the other is on duty.