There's a good chance you got your dog's collar before you even got your dog. After all, many shelters, rescues, and breeders won't let you leave without one, and isn't it the most exciting purchase to make right when you find out you get to bring your baby home? Whether you find yourself here prepping for a new pup or looking for an upgrade on that initial impulse purchase, you're sure to find the perfect collar for your furry family member here.

Dogs wear their collars nearly all of the time, so it's essential you have one that your dog likes. "Always remember the best collar is one that your dog finds comfortable and suits their unique personality and needs," shares Dr. Cheri Honnas, veterinarian and veterinary advisor to Bone Voyage Dog Rescue. "Just like us, they're all different, and that's what makes them special."

Additionally, you might need a collar to address specific needs of your pet. For instance, a Martingale collar is ideal if your pup pulls on walks or easily slips out of other collars. An LED or reflective collar is essential if your dog is often out at nighttime. There are tons of options for each, so we did the research and had our Country Living Pet Lab test tons of different collars to come up with the best of the best dog collars.

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best budget collar

best tracking collar

RUFFWEAR Crag Dog Collar

Blueberry Pet Essentials Classic Dog Collar

Fi Series 3 Smart Dog Collar

Sizes: Extra-Small to Extra-Large | Material: Tetoron polyester | Care instructions: Wash in a bag on gentle cycle.

Anyone who's thought for even a split second that their dog might be lost knows how useful a tracking collar can be, but not all dog trackers are made the same. AirTags and inexpensive trackers have recently been making waves, but, in our testing, nothing has performed nearly as well as the Fi collar.

The Fi collar, unlike many cheaper competitors, is extremely precise with their location pinpoints. Many less expensive tracking collars or devices either aren't precise enough with their location pinpoints or they require for the device to be near other cellular-enabled devices (which could be impossible if your dog is lost in a rural area). The Fi collar doesn't fall victim to either of these problems, instead giving users a nearly exact location of their pup (within roughly 30 feet) through the use of satellite technology.

To conserve energy, the Fi collar is primarily in power saving mode, but you can turn on lost mode if your dog goes missing, though it quickly drains the battery. Even in power saving mode the Fi app is extremely informative, providing a location, steps/day, activity tracking map, and sleep monitor. There's even an escape alert for pet parents through the app. When in lost mode, owners can track their dog's every movement in real time in addition to the app providing "last seen" locations on the map. While in power saving mode, the collar needs to be charged "at most once a week," according to our tester's owner, and claims to only need a charge every three months.

And if you have a rough and tumble pup, then no worries. The Fi collar has been tested for up to 30 minutes of full immersion in water and is dirt resistant. We found that it rarely needs to be cleaned and, when it does, it's easy to spot clean. It's been tested to resist up to 400 pounds of resistance, too, making it suitable for pullers and chewers.

Of course, all the capabilities the Fi collar provides don't come cheap. It's by far the most expensive collar on our list, but it's also the only collar on the list that will actively help you track down your lost dog or alert you if he/she has escaped. Also, your initial purchase of the Fi collar only includes one year of membership. After that, tracking usage will cost you up to $19/month.