The French bulldog is a brachycephalic dog breed, along with Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers, and Pugs. These dogs have flat faces with excess skin that folds on the face and usually have breathing problems.
That means when choosing a collar for a French Bulldog, you need to be careful that it doesn't complicate the breathing problems further. After testing different collar designs, materials, and build qualities, here are the ones we found to work best for brachycephalic dog breeds like the French Bulldog.
The Best Dog Collars for French Bulldogs
The American College of Veterinary Surgeons categorizes any dog breed with a short nose and muzzle as brachycephalic. That means that the throat and the air passage in these breeds are flat or undersized. The condition can be characterized by everted laryngeal saccules, stenotic nares, and elongated soft palate.
The condition is hereditary, and all you need to do is understand how to live with your brachycephalic dog. One thing to understand is the type of collars you can buy for your dog. For instance, choke collars are a no-go zone for these dog breeds, as tightening around the dog's neck can cause a complete failure of the air passage.
The same applies to chain collars. Stainless steel is heavy and can put excessive pressure on the dog's neck. Before we dive into the collars we have tested and found safe for use with the French Bulldog, let us first break down the key features you should look out for when buying a French Bulldog collar.
Size and Fit
Two characteristics of the French Bulldog make the sizing and fit of the collar critical. One is that these dogs have breathing problems. Compared to dog breeds with longer muzzles, they choke really quickly. That means any collar that restricts the airways is a choking hazard.
Second, French Bulldogs are escape artists. They are independent thinkers and love to do things their own way. These dogs have the Bulldog blood in them. They aren’t the normal lap dogs that’ll just sit on your lap or cuddle on the couch. They are stubborn, resourceful, and intelligent.
That means if the collar is a little too large, they’ll easily wiggle free. So, when buying the collar, you need to ensure the sizing is correct. Not oversize, not undersize. The best way to get the sizing right is to go for an adjustable collar that falls in Frenchie’s range of neck sizes.
For instance, the neck size of most French Bulldogs ranges from 12 to 16 inches. That means you should go for a small to medium collar that allows you to adjust the sizing within that range. The collar will remain fitting even if the dog loses or gains weight.
Comfort
Another fact about French Bulldogs is that they are prone to skin problems such as chronic irritation and infection. These problems usually result from the excessive skin folding around the face area. But, like any other health condition, once the problem starts, it spreads easily.
That means any skin irritation and infection on the neck resulting from excessive rubbing from the collar can easily spread to the skin foldings on the face. The other way is also true. Skin problems on the face make the neck more prone to problems than a dog without skin infections.
That’s why you must ensure the collar is comfortable and won’t rub the dog’s sensitive skin. That way, no skin problem will start from the neck, and the chances of a skin infection on the face spreading to the neck are minimal. The best way to do this is to go for collars with neoprene lining.
The material is soft and won’t rub the hairs and create a bald spot. However, on hot days, you can opt to use a lightweight collar that doesn’t have padding. This reduces the chances of heat accumulation in the neck area.
Style
Dogs don’t wear clothes, and the few accessories that people put on dogs might not work for brachycephalic dog breeds. For instance, it’s not advisable for these dogs to wear bandanas and jackets during hot days. That means you’ll want to use the collar for both leash attachment and fashion statement.
That’s where the style comes in. Go for a collar color that compliments most of your outfits. Also, choose collar designs that won’t hurt your dog’s neck. For instance, when dealing with brachycephalic breeds, you should avoid prong collars, choke collars, and martingale collars.
Top Dog Collars for French Bulldogs
Even after learning the key features to look out for, the many collar options in the market can still confuse you on the right pick. Luckily, we have tested most of the collars, and here are some of the top picks that work great for French Bulldogs.
1.5-Inch Tacti Luxe Butter Cream Dog Collar
You have heard that a French Bulldog is a brachycephalic breed, so you don't expect it to pull on a leash. In reality, the dog itself doesn't know this and will pull. That means you still need a durable collar that can withstand pulling. Another thing is that French Bulldogs are notorious chewers.
They are the kind of dogs that will chew clothes, rocks, sticks, bolts, and accessories. Remember, this is a natural behavior ingrained in this breed, and no level of training will eliminate it completely. Although it's possible to keep the dog safe from things like rocks, clothes, and furniture, you can't keep it away from its accessories like collars.
The best thing you can do is get a sturdy and durable collar that can withstand pulling and chewing. The 1.5-inch Tacti Luxe Buttercream Dog Collar is the best option when it comes to sturdiness and durability. It is made of 1050D nylon webbing.
If you have ever gone mountain climbing or seen rock climbers, the harnesses and straps they use are made of this exact webbing. So, if a mountain climber weighing around 180 pounds can't break it, there is no way a French Bulldog weighing around 20 pounds can break it.
Again, if the sharp rocks can't fray the webbing and destroy it, there is no way the dog's teeth will ruin it. So, it's a lifetime thing. You buy this collar and forget it.
2-Inch Tacti Luxe Gold Camo Dog Collar
The 2-inch Tacti Luxe Gold Camo Dog Collar is like the elder brother of the above collar. It's similar in design but a half-inch larger in width. The collar comes with a width of 2 inches. Considering that a French Bulldog is a small to medium dog breed, the 2-inch width is significantly wide for its size.
This wideness comes with a benefit. The rules of pressure apply. The narrower the collar, the higher the pressure per area. Since this collar spreads the leash pressure over a larger surface area, it feels more comfortable for the dog.
It's like how high-waist leggings feel more comfortable than low-waist leggings. This collar's better pressure distribution also means its effect on the air passage is minimal. In fact, some harnesses might have straps narrower than this collar.
2-Inch Tacti Luxe White Gold Desert Camo Dog Collar
The 2-inch Tacti Luxe White Gold Desert Camo Dog Collar is another high-quality, sturdy, and durable collar made of 1050D nylon. The collar comes with a dual-release buckle. This is one of the most important features that you want when dealing with a brachycephalic dog breed like the French Bulldog.
The dual-release buckles allow you to unlock the collar and free the dog's neck instantly. For instance, when you notice heavy panting, or the dog runs into something and the collar is caught, you just press the quick release buckles, and your dog is free.
Another thing is that this collar comes with a handle. This allows you to seize immediate control of your furry friend if the need arises. For example, if you're walking on a busy street, the dog sees another dog and wants to attack, you just grab this handle.
In fact, this handle gives you a tactical advantage: You can use a long leash that gives your dog freedom to smell scents on the sides of the trail, and the handle can be used as the primary means of gaining control over your dog.
Expedition Dog Collar
The Expedition Dog Collar comes with a dual pinned buckle, like the buckle in most nylon belts. So, if you love matching your outfit with your furry friend, then this is one of the collars that can perfectly bring out the fashion statement.
For instance, you can wear high-rise denim pants with a black nylon belt featuring a double-pin closure and then have your furry friend match the outfit by wearing this black nylon collar with a dual-pin buckle. This dog collar uses stainless steel hardware, giving it a classic and rugged look.
The only issue is that the collar might not give your dog a perfect fit because of the spacing of the holes. If the dog’s perfect size falls between two holes, it is advisable to go for the larger size. It is better to risk the dog wiggling free from the collar than choking it.
Apart from its great looks, the Expedition Dog Collar is also one of the most comfortable dog collars on the market. It has neoprene padding, so the dog feels the same level of comfort you feel when wearing a neoprene swimsuit.
Another advantage of the neoprene material is that it’s moisture-wicking. That means the collar can absorb sweat and wetness from the dog’s skin and transfer it to the outer webbing for evaporation. This eliminates the chances of skin irritations and bad odors after long walks on hot days.
1.5-inch Sofia Tacti Lite Dog Collar
Brachycephalic dog breeds usually get exhausted easily compared to other breeds. Probably, it’s because their smaller airways and short muzzles mean they require more effort when panting. Keeping in mind that dogs regulate their body temperatures through panting, these dogs are also prone to heat strokes as their problematic panting results in poor heat regulation.
In fact, that’s one of the reasons you might want a collar instead of a harness, as the collar is more lightweight and offers minimal coverage compared to a harness. But we don’t think there’s a dog collar that achieves this better than the 1.5-inch Sofia Tacti Lite Dog Collar.
This collar weighs only 5 ounces. It’s the most lightweight collar on this list. It’s the type of collar that your French Bulldog can wear all day long without exhaustion. It’s the best option when going for long walks, as the dog will be panting more freely, almost like it doesn’t have a collar.
Another thing is that this collar doesn’t have padding. Although it sounds bad, as the dog won’t be enjoying the same level of comfort compared to the above collars, the lack of paddings means heat insulation is minimal. That means there are minimal chances of your furry friend suffering from heat strokes when wearing this collar.
The lack of paddings also means the collar is hypoallergenic. So, if your French Bulldog suffers from allergies, this is the best option. The collar dries faster compared to the other collars on this list. This makes it the best option for swimming. But be careful, anyway, because most brachycephalic dog breeds aren’t great swimmers.
How to Properly Fit a Collar on a French Bulldog
Putting a collar on a French Bulldog is no different from putting it on other dog breeds. Position the collar high on the neck, such that it sits right below the ears. The collar should be fit snugly, but not tight.
The best way to do this is to use the two finger rule. Make sure there is enough room to fit two fingers between the collar and the dog’s neck. That way, the collar won’t be choking, but still not large enough room for the dog to wiggle free.
Conclusion
The neck of a French Bulldog is sensitive, and you need to take serious considerations on the style and quality of the collar you’re buying. We recommend the above collars because the sizes are adjustable, and you can get a perfect fit for your dog’s neck size.
Just remember to use the two finger rule when fitting the collar. The collars are well padded, so there are no worries of skin irritations and chafing. Finally, brachycephalic dogs are sensitive, and you should only use collars for walks, not tie ups.