One of the biggest advantages of mixed dog breeds is that they are generally healthier than their purebred counterparts. So, you'll enjoy minimal visits to the vet. They also tend to live longer than their purebred counterparts. So you'll enjoy companionship for longer.
That's probably why these dogs are so popular, with around 53 percent of American dog owners having mixed breeds. However, because these dogs can get physical and behavioral characteristics from one of the parents or both, it's hard to predict their behavior.
That's why training and controlling these dogs requires sturdy and reliable collars, as anything can happen. In this guide, we'll walk you through how you can choose the best collar for mixed breeds and then give you a list of the collars we have tested and confirmed to work well with these dogs.
Choosing the Perfect Collar for Your Mixed-Breed Dog
A mixed dog breed is simply a dog carrying the DNA of different dog breeds. It can be the result of breeding other mixed dog breeds or breeding two different purebreds. The easiest way to know your dog is a mixed breed is if the breed isn't recognized by the American Kennel Club.
The easiest mixed dogs to understand are crossbreeds. They are bred from two purebred dogs, and you can easily get information about the characteristics of their purebred parents. Usually, the resulting dog will share the characters of both parents or resemble the parent with the dominant genes.
For instance, a Labrador Retriever weighs 55 to 80 pounds and has a standing height of 21.5 to 24.5 inches, depending on sex. On the other hand, a Weimaraner weighs 70 to 90 pounds and has a standing height of 23 to 27 inches. A mix between the two dogs, a Labmaraner, weighs 60 to 100 pounds - a bigger size variation.
The variation is much wider for mixed dogs bred from other mixed breeds or crossbred dogs where the purebreds parents have significant differences in size and temperament. This makes it hard to choose the right collar, because you don't know how large the dog will grow or how it'll behave.
The best solution is to get a versatile, foolproof collar that can withstand the diversity. Here is a breakdown of the features a collar needs to meet to qualify for mixed dog breeds.
Durable
It's better to overestimate the strength of your mixed dog than underestimate it. You won't be risking the collar breaking and the dog escaping. The strength of the collar depends on two things: the fabric and the buckles. The two most durable and reliable materials you can go with are leather and high-density nylon.
Many dog owners prefer leather because it looks more luxurious and classy than nylon. But since the behavior of mixed dogs is unpredictable, we recommend you avoid leather. Here are the reasons.
- Leather soaks water and becomes damp. Over time, mold grows, and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. That means there are chances of your furry friend getting skin irritations and infections if he loves water.
- Water draws natural oils from leather, making it brittle. Again, if your pup loves playing in the water, the collar won't be as durable.
- Leather is generally stiffer than nylon. For small dogs with delicate necks, leather won't be as comfortable.
- Real leather made from animal hides smells good and feels good to chew. So, it's not the best option for dogs that love chewing.
When it comes to nylon, the sturdiness and durability varies across the board, depending on the Denier (D) rating. The higher the D rating, the sturdier and more reliable the webbing. So, when going for nylon collars, make sure you go for those ones with higher D rating, such as 1000D or 1050D.
The reason 1000D and 1050D webbings beat leather is because they can withstand chewing, water and abrasion without damage. We also recommend you go for collars with metallic, hot-rolled D rings or hardened plastic buckles. They won't snap under pressure.
Comfortable
In most cases, your four-legged friend will be wearing the collar from morning to evening, just before bedtime. That is longer than the duration you wear your workplace shoes. If the collar is uncomfortable, the dog will suffer the same frustration as you would if you wear uncomfortable shoes all day long.
The dog will view the collar as a way of punishment, and might even start refusing to wear it. That's why you need to get collars wide enough to distribute pressure across the neck. We also recommend collars with neoprene lining, as the material is water and sweat resistant. So, there won't be odors and irritations after hiking or swimming.
Top Collars for Mixed Breeds
As we said, you can expect any behavior from mixed breeds, especially those bred from other mixed breeds. Sometimes, it's even hard to get the pedigree documents of most mixed breeds. So, you're in total darkness about the dog's history.
The best thing you can do is to get a collar that can work for literally all dog breeds and withstand all abuses. We have tested numerous collars, and here is a list of collars that we found to be reliable and comfortable and work for almost all dog breeds.
Gold Noir 2-inch Luxe Martingale Collar
Our first option is a training collar: the Gold Noir 2-inch Luxe Martingale Collar. The reason we start with this collar is that you need to start leash training immediately when you adopt your four-legged friend. Keep in mind that some of these dogs are mixes of giant breeds, and the resulting dog is even larger and more muscular than the parents.
A good example is the Labmaraner above. It weighs up to 100 pounds, yet none of the parents is that heavy. Such giant mixes can easily drag you when they pull on a leash. Another thing is that you'll probably adopt a mixed dog from an animal shelter. Most of these dogs have suffered past traumas and aren't well trained.
The Gold Noir 2-inch Luxe Martingale Collar is the ultimate leash-training solution. It comes with two loops. One loop is the standard loop that goes around the neck. The other one tightens the standard loop when the dog pulls, and there's pressure on the lead. The feeling created by the second loop is unpleasant, so the dog stops pulling.
The reason you should go for this specific collar, and not any other martingale collar in the market, is the comfort. Most martingale collar manufacturers lean towards aversive training, so they make their collars uncomfortable or painful when the dog pulls.
However, for the Gold Noir 2-inch Luxe Martingale Collar, the inside part is lined with neoprene. So, the collar discourages pulling without causing pain. This allows you to use positive reinforcement training, with the collar helping you to maintain control of the dog.
Gold Camo 2-inch Tacti Dog Collar
After leash training, it's now time to get a standard collar for things like outings, visits to dog parks, hiking, long walks and jogging. The Gold Camo 2-inch Tacti Dog Collar is the best option for these activities. The construction quality of this collar is foolproof.
It's one of the collars you can use for any dog, from the Giant Newfoundland and St Bernard mixes to mixes of muscular pullers like the Huskies. The webbing of the collar is made of 1050D ballistic nylon. This is the same quality of nylon webbing that was used to make military jackets in World War II.
The webbing was strong enough to withstand shrapnel impact. Nowadays, this webbing is used to make safety gear for rock climbers, kayak covers, police belts, chainsaw chaps and backpacks. We don't think there's a dog powerful enough to break such a webbing. Then, the manufacturer coupled this webbing with hot-rolled D-rings.
That means the closure can't snap or bend, regardless of how much pressure you put on the lead. The manufacturer also considered the comfort of the dog when the leash is under pressure. This collar is 2 inches wide, helping distribute the pressure across the dog's neck. This offers the following advantages.
- The collar won't dig into the dog's skin. So there is no pain or discomfort
- The collar won't cause irritations, chafing, and bald spots.
- A wide webbing means more sturdiness and durability.
Black 1.5-inch Tacti Slim Collar
You only need the heavy 2-inch wide collar when going out for outings, visiting dog parks and hikings, as that is where the dog might pull most. But for everyday wear, we recommend the Black 1.5-inch Tacti Slim Collar. This collar is 0.5 inches slimmer than the above collar.
However, it's still made of 1050D nylon and comes with metallic D-rings. So, it's equally durable and reliable. The reason you should get this collar for everyday wear is because it's lighter than the above collar. It weighs 8 ounces only. Your furry friend can wear it for hours without any exhaustion.
Also, if your puppy is still growing, or it's a small to medium mixed dog breed, then the 1.5-inch width works great. It's the same feeling as having a 2-inch width on a giant dog breed. When it comes to aesthetics, this collar is black, a color that goes well with everything. For example, Labrador Retrievers are usually black, chocolate, or yellow.
On the other hand, Weimaraners's color ranges from silver-gray to mouse gray. Sometimes, these dogs also have white markings on the chest area. So, the color of the mix between these two breeds can vary widely depending on the exact colors of the parents and the dominant genes.
This makes it hard to predict the final color of the pup as it grows. But with this collar, there are no worries about color crashing. It goes well with any color and markings.
Sofia 1.5-inch Tacti Lite Dog Collar
Another collar that we tested and loved for its quality and design is the Sofia 1.5-inch Tacti Lite Dog Collar. It's the only unique collar on our list, as it lacks the neoprene lining. This is a big plus when it comes to the weight of the collar. Without the paddings, this collar weighs only 5 ounces. This makes it a perfect option for small mixes, like the Cavachon, Chiweenie, and Shorkie.
It's also a great option for senior dogs with not-so-strong frames. Something else worth mentioning is that neoprene is a synthetic rubber made from polymerization of chloroprene. That means some dogs might be allergic to neoprene. The Sofia 1.5-inch Tacti Lite Dog Collar is the perfect solution for such pups.
In fact, this collar is specifically designed to be hypoallergenic. Also, without the added layer of paddings, this collar dries much quicker compared to the above collars. So, if your dog loves water, like the Labrador Retriever and Portuguese Water Dog mixes, get this collar. It won't become damp, and the risks of mold growth and bacterial infections are minimal.
How to Properly Fit a Collar on a Mixed Breed Dog
The first and very important thing when fitting a collar on a mixed dog breed is adjustability. Sometimes, we get information about the sizes of purebred dogs so we know the exact collar size to go for. However, for mixed dogs, the size variation is large, and all we can know is whether the dog is in the small, medium, large, or giant category.
We recommend you go for an adjustable collar that includes the sizing of both parents. For example, in the case of Labmanarer, go for an adjustable collar that can fit both the Labrador Retriever and a Weimaraner. So, you're sure the collar will fit the mix, regardless of the dominant genes.
Note that fitting the collar on mixed breeds is no different from the other dogs. Just wrap it around the dog's neck, leaving enough space to fit one or two figures for small and medium dogs, and three figures for large and giant dogs.
Conclusion
Considering that around 25 percent of purebred dogs have serious genetic issues, mixed breed dogs are the way to go. These dogs are generally healthier, and have longer life expectancies. But when it comes to getting them a collar, be careful. Their physical and temperamental characteristics can vary widely. That's why we recommend the above versatile collars, as they can be used in all activities, from swimming to hiking. The collars are sturdy, and even the energetic pups can't break them.