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Great Danes are some of the biggest dogs in the world and as such, they need sturdy, heavy-duty collars that will fit comfortably around their large necks.
Most Great Danes can walk politely on a leash without pulling, but if your Dane suddenly sees a squirrel and forgets his manners, you want to be able to trust that the collar you’ve chosen will hold up to strong pulling.
Finally, different activities with your Great Dane can require different collars.
With these facts in mind, I’ve put together a list of 6 of the best collars for Great Danes based on a few different metrics and purposes. If you want to get right to good stuff, here’s my list of top picks:
- Best Everyday Collar: ROAM Premium Dog Collar
- Best for Training: Tactical Dog Collar
- Most Stylish: Tuff Pupper Classic Lifetime Collar
- Cutest Designs: Timos Dog Collar
- Best for Walking at Night: LED Dog Collar
- Best Escape-Proof Collar: CollarDirect Martingale Dog Collar
We’ll go over the pros and cons of each of these Great Dane collars in just a minute, but let’s first look at whether Great Danes actually need special collars and what to look for in an ideal collar.
Do Great Danes Need Special Collars?
Since Great Danes are such giant dogs, you want to be sure that you can maintain control at all times, which means that you’ll need a sturdy collar that isn’t liable to break when your Dane leans his whole 200 pounds into it.
And, if that happens, you’ll want a collar that’s still safe and comfortable for your Great Dane – not a super thin collar that will dig in dangerously to his windpipe. For a 20-pound dog, straining against a collar isn’t likely to inflict any injuries or damage, but for a giant breed with a lot of weight to throw around, this is a real concern.
Due to their size, Great Danes are also more likely to be seen as intimidating dogs, and people who are unfamiliar with the breed or nervous around all dogs may be reassured to see that your Dane is wearing a heavy-duty collar and that he is completely under your control in a public setting.
What To Look For in a Great Dane Collar
Let’s look at some specific traits that make a collar well-suited for a Great Dane:
High-Strength Materials
Again, you want a collar that can stand up to 200 pounds of dog pulling against it. So, look for a collar that is constructed from heavy-duty nylon or a similar rip-stop material. Metal buckles are also a good idea for a Great Dane collar, as they are less likely to bend and break under stress. Check that the seams are reinforced as well to prevent fraying and weakening of the collar.
Proper Fit
Fully grown Great Danes generally have neck measurements of between 20 and 26 inches, so each of the collars I’ve recommended has a size option that will fit most if not all Danes. To ensure a comfortable and safe fit, standard buckle collars should be tight, but you should still be able to slide two fingers between your Great Dane’s neck and his collar.
Martingale collars will fit a bit differently, since they tighten when your Great Dane pulls on his leash. However, they should still fit snugly even when he’s not pulling to ensure it doesn’t slip off over his head. If you have an escape artist on your hands, a Martingale collar can help prevent your Dane from backing out of his collar.
This is especially a concern for Danes who have relatively thick necks and smallish heads, as a collar that fits properly around his neck can still slip over his ears.
Safety and Comfort
Obviously, you don’t want your Great Dane to injure himself by pulling against his collar. As I mentioned above, look for a collar that is fairly wide to prevent it from digging into his neck. Some collars also have padding built in for extra comfort.
Another safety aspect is visibility, which can come into play if you walk your Great Dane when it’s dark out. A collar with lights or reflective trim can help your Dane be seen easily.
Style
Of course, style isn’t necessarily a critical factor, but you’ll likely want to highlight your Great Dane’s striking good looks with a beautiful collar!
Purpose
There are a variety of different purposes for a collar – everyday wear, leash training, obedience training, night walking, escape prevention, and so forth. Depending on what you plan to do with your Great Dane, you may want to choose a couple of different collars for different purposes.
For example, an everyday collar should be comfortable, have an easily readable ID tag attached, and have a sturdy leash attachment point. If your Great Dane is a puller, you’ll likely want a martingale collar to help train him to walk on a loose leash. For more technical training or guard work, you may want a tactical style collar with a handle right on the band.
Best Collars For Great Danes
Now that we’ve looked at the specs that make a good collar for Great Danes, let’s dive into our list of 6 best collars for the breed.
Best Everyday Collar: ROAM Premium Dog Collar
This collar from ROAM checks all the boxes for everyday wear, and it has some cool extra features. The largest size is adjustable between 18 and 26 inches, so it can easily fit Great Danes. It’s 1.5 inches wide, which means it will still be comfortable and safe even if your Dane strains against it.
The collar is constructed from double-layer heavy-duty nylon with reinforced stitching, and all the hardware is made of rust-proof metal. The buckle is a special quick-release design that is secure when latched but easy to take off in case of an emergency.
It also includes a small D-ring that is spaced well away from the buckle and main leash attachment D-ring, so you can affix your Great Dane’s tag without it constantly clanking against the hardware. The ROAM logo is made of non-staining rubber. Small details like these are what set this collar a notch above the rest for everyday wear.
There are several different color options available to complement any Great Dane’s coat and your personal style.
Read reviews from happy customers and click here to see the latest price on Amazon.
What I love about it: Thoughtful design, plenty of size and color options, heavy-duty materials, quick release buckle.
What I wish it had: This collar really checks all the boxes as it is!
Best for Training: Tactical Dog Collar
This dog collar is heavy-duty, durable, padded for comfort, and has a handle built right in. It’s made of 1000D nylon and the hardware is all metal. While there are several color options that look ‘tactical,’ the manufacturer has also included some bright, colorful options. Additionally, there are a few colorways that can be purchased as a set that includes a leash as well as the collar. The largest size can extend up to 24 inches, so it’ll fit all but the very largest Great Danes.
The buckle is quick release, and there’s a D-ring for easy leash attachment. The collar also has a velcro strap that can be used to secure the excess length in place to prevent it from snagging. The sturdy handle is great for maintaining control of your Great Dane during training or in high-distraction areas. The padding helps ensure that your Dane won’t hurt himself if he pulls against the collar. Click here to see the latest price on Amazon.
What I love about it: Built in handle, padding, heavy-duty materials, quick release buckle, several different color and style options.
What I wish it had: There’s no place to attach a tag except for on the leash D-ring so there might be some clanking, and it might not fit the largest Great Danes.
Most Stylish: Tuff Pupper Classic Lifetime Heavy Duty Dog Collar
This faux leather collar is classically stylish and elegant while still being durable enough for everyday wear. It is made out of ripstop ballistic polymer with a TPU coating that has the appearance of leather but it’s actually waterproof and odor-free. The belt-style buckle and D-ring are made from rust-proof brass for a classy pop, and the collar is available in several different beautiful colors.
The largest size can fit Great Danes with necks that measure up to 23 inches, and it has a 1.5-inch width for comfort and safety. The collar is also backed by a lifetime guarantee – Tuff Pupper will send you a free replacement if the collar ever fails.
Great Danes are majestic dogs, and a classy collar like this one will be sure to set off their stunning looks! Click here to see the latest price on Amazon.
What I love about it: This collar is simple, elegant, and classy while still being durable, comfortable, safe, sturdy, and waterproof. Plus, the lifetime guarantee gives you peace of mind when purchasing.
What I wish it had: There’s not a separate loop to hang a tag, so there might be some jingling. But, the addition of another loop might have taken away from the clean design.
Cutest Designs: Timos Dog Collar
This collar comes in several different fun patterns and it’s super affordable, so if you are one of those people who buys their Great Dane seasonal and festive collars for different times of year, this one won’t break the bank! They’ve got Christmas options, flowers, plaid, Halloween, outdoors, and tribal designs so you can really keep your Dane stylish. However, some of the collar designs have metal hardware while others have plastic, so keep that in mind as you make your selection.
The collar material itself is durable polyester, and the collar has a clean, simple design with a heavy-duty D-ring. The largest size adjusts between about 16 and 25.5 inches in length.
Read some reviews or click here to see the latest price on Amazon.
What I love about it: There are so many different cute designs available, the collar is affordable, has metal hardware, and is made of a durable material.
What I wish it had: It would be ideal if all the prints came with metal hardware, but you can easily select one of the metal options if you prefer that. There’s also reflective elements in the collar.
Best for Walking at Night: LED Dog Collar
Walking your Great Dane at night can potentially be dangerous, especially if you live in an area with lots of traffic or fewer streetlights than you might like. An LED collar like this one can help increase your Dane’s visibility in the dark and keep him safe – especially if you pair it with an LED leash as well.
This collar has sizes available to fit up to 27.5-inch necks, so essentially all Great Danes should be covered. The collar has a plastic buckle and length adjuster piece, but a metal D-ring for attaching the leash, and since it’s likely that your Great Dane won’t be wearing this collar all the time, it’s plenty sturdy for the occasions when you need the light.
The LED light runs on a small battery that is USB rechargeable, providing 5 hours of light per 1 hour of charge – no swapping out batteries all the time. The light can also be switched between steady light, slow flashing, or fast flashing with the click of a button. This collar is also protected by a lifetime guarantee in case anything goes wrong.
Especially if you have a dark-colored Great Dane who is hard to see at night, this collar can literally be a lifesaver! Click here to see the latest price on Amazon.
What I love about it: It’s USB rechargeable so won’t use up a ton of batteries, one charge will last several walks, it has a metal D-ring, and truly XL sizing.
What I wish it had: It would be great to see all metal hardware on this collar, but a metal D-ring is better than nothing!
Best Escape-Proof Collar: CollarDirect Martingale Dog Collar
Martingale collars are a great way to thwart would-be escape artists. Some Great Danes have big enough necks and small enough noggins that they can back out of their collars, but a martingale collar like this one will make that much harder – it tightens when your Dane pulls against it, instead of sliding right off. There’s no buckle involved, so that’s one less piece to worry about if your Dane has a history of breaking buckles. Instead, the martingale slides on right over his head and can then be adjusted to fit snugly.
This collar is also very affordable, it comes in three different beautiful tribal design options, it has all metal hardware, and there are even matching leashes available. The XL size can fit Danes with necks that measure between 19 and 24 inches. It’s not padded, but the collar is 1.5 inches wide which is big enough to be safe and comfortable even when your Dane pulls against it.
A martingale collar can also be a helpful tool when training your Great Dane to not pull on the leash as you’re walking. They are a safer and more humane alternative to “choker” or spiked collars – and they are stylish to boot!
Read reviews or click here to see the latest price on Amazon.
What I love about it: There’s no buckle to worry about, the hardware is all metal, it will help prevent your Great Dane from backing or slipping out of a collar, it comes in fun designs, and it’s heavy-duty.
What I wish it had: This collar doesn’t have any reflective accents, so it may not be the perfect option for everyday wear. However, it’s great as a training device and to help you be sure your Dane won’t escape.
Closing Thoughts
Choosing a collar for your Great Dane may be difficult due to the variety of different factors that need to be considered and because of the sheer volume of available products. Hopefully this guide has been helpful to highlight the important things to look for in a collar for your Dane as well as provided a few solid options!
