An animal collar is a device that attaches to the neck of an animal to allow it to be harnessed or restrained.

Types of collars

Pet collar

A piece of material put around the neck of certain pet animals, such as dogs, cats, or pigs, for control, identification, or other purposes. Identification tags and medical information is often placed on collars. Collars are also useful for controlling the animal, as they provide a handle for grabbing or a means of leading. Similar collars are used with non-pet animals, such as zoo animals and livestock. Pet collars can be made of leather, nylon or metal. Metal collars are normally used for larger dogs. They can come with traditional or quick-release buckles. Collars are sometimes used for fashion purposes.

Cat collar

Similar to dog collars, but often include a bell to warn of the cat's presence. Collars used on cats are smaller and thinner than traditional dog collars. They can be made of leather, nylon, or other types of materials. Some cat collars are impregnated with flea, tick, and mosquito repellents. There is a longstanding myth that breakaway cat collars are safer than buckle or elastic cat collars, but research reported in the New York Times found this to be untrue. According to a different study, cats are much more likely to be injured by fighting with other cats or being hit by a car.

Anti-bark dog collar/bark control collar

These collars are predominantly used as a training mechanism. There are a few different types of mechanisms which can be incorporated into anti-bark collars:

Training collar/shock collar

These collars administer an electric shock to the animal in training, in order to reinforce commands and eliminate any bad habits. It may be combined with an "invisible fence," a signal wire surrounding the dog's permitted area. The dog receives a shock if it strays too near the perimeter.

Choke collars

Choke collars are also a type of training collars. They are made of different materials with high resistance, such as metal or various composites. This type of collar is suitable for obedience training as it tightens around the neck of the animal if it pulls. It is mainly used on dogs.

Insect collar/flea collar

Impregnated with chemicals that repel or kill external parasites, they are often a supplementary collar worn in addition to the conventional buckle collar. The effectiveness of flea collars is arguable. Although they are convenient because of their cost and accessibility, the insecticide within the collar is most effective in the neck and face area and does not provide full and complete coverage. Flea collars are considered to be more effective in preventing infestation with external parasites rather than treating an active infestation. Flea collars are best used when a proper disinfestation has been performed, both indoor and outdoor. These collars are primarily worn by cats and dogs. A number of the insecticides used in these flea collars are toxic.

Pig hunting dog collar

This collar integrates a wide collar and a breastplate for dogs that hunt pigs. They are made from multiple layers of extra tough fabric or leather to protect the vital carotid artery and jugular vein of pig hunting dogs should they be attacked. Some of the pig hunting dog collars come in the form of a full-body protection collar. These collars provide good protection for the dog's chest, neck and rib cage.

Elizabethan collar

Often made of plastic, this collar is shaped like a cone and used to prevent an animal from self-harm, such as a licking at a wound.

Tie-up collar

Used for bulls and other cattle, this may be a chain (sometimes covered in plastic hose), or a collar of heavy leather or synthetic material fastened with a heavy duty buckle.

Tracking collar

Used for tracking animal migration or to locate lost pets. The GPS tracker in the collar works as follows. It connects to satellites and transmits location coordinates to the mobile application, which will be displayed on the smartphone if the Internet connection is available. Some collars combine GPS with radio signals to transmit information to the intended receiver. Most integrate GPS with communications networks (LBS) by sending information to your computer or mobile device.

Horse collars

Safety collars

Safety collars are designed for pets that live in crates or that might get tangled in tree branches. There is a particular type of safety collar which is intended for both dogs and cats. Breakaway collars feature a design that releases quickly when a small amount of pressure is applied, such as a cat hanging from a tree branch. The clasp will release, which quickly frees the pet. However, research reported in the New York Times found that the dangers of non-breakaway collars were generally far overstated.