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[Updated September 2019]
The start of Fall is here, and that means cooler weather and shorter days! You’ll notice how quickly you lose daylight when you walk your dog this time of year in the evening.
Walking your dog can suddenly become very dangerous because your dog is less visible to you and to vehicles driving by. Less visibility increases you and your dog’s chances of being hit by a motorist. A great way to make your dog be seen in the dark is by putting a light-up dog collar on your dog.
Light up dog collars, also known as LED collars, are a great way to keep your dog safe while walking at night. I personally use an LED dog collar when walking my dog at night, and have had numerous people comment on what a great idea it is.
Why Are Light Up Dog Collars Great?
Light up dog collars aren’t just a cool fashion accessory for your dog, these collars actually help to keep your dog safe! Let’s look at the reasons why you should consider getting one for your dog.
1. Lets You Keep Track Of Your Dog
Led collars are a great way of keeping track of where your dog is at night. If you let your dog out to pee you can see where your dog is.
This may not be important to you in your own backyard, but perhaps you are on a camping trip and your dog ran off into the woods. If your dog is wearing a light-up collar, then you will easily be able to spot him.
2. Makes Your Dog Visible To Others
If you are walking around at night in your neighbourhood, your dog will be visible to others.
Often times people are walking their own dogs, and like to know if there is another dog approaching so that their dog will not be startled. The same goes for people walking without a dog, they do not want to suddenly be startled by a dog that they couldn’t see.
3. Your Dog Will Be Visible To Motorists
Safety should be your first priority when walking your dog at night. If you live in a subdivision or walk anywhere along city streets or highways, then your dog is at risk of not being seen by vehicles driving by.
So many times drivers blindly turn corners in the daytime when visibility is good, just imagine how dangerous it is at nighttime!
Increase your dog’s chances of being visible to drivers, and decrease the chance of getting into an accident, by having your dog wear a light-up collar.
4. Easier To Pick Up Poop At Night
When you walk at night, or your dog is in the backyard, it is often difficult to see where your dog pooped. You usually have to carry a flashlight with you or hold your phone to find it and pick it up.
With a light-up collar, there is no need to carry a flashlight, as the glow from the collar will illuminate the area.
5. Your Dog Will Look Cool
Light up dog collars are fun and your dog will look cool wearing one. With so many colours to choose from and different flashing modes, your dog will be the talk of the neighbourhood.
What To Look For In A Light Up Dog Collar
With so many light-up dog collars on the market today, there are a few things that you should consider and look for before buying one.
Battery Type
The 2 most common types of batteries used in LED dog collars are coin batteries and rechargeable USB batteries.
Coin Batteries
Most collars that use coin batteries usually require 2 batteries, and these types of batteries can get pretty expensive. I have experience using these types of collars and find myself having to replace the batteries often.
Batteries really do not last that long, especially in cold winter weather. My nightly walks are usually 1.5 -2 hours long, and my dog wears the light-up collar. I’m usually replacing batteries every 2-3 weeks, so the expense really adds up.
USB Batteries
Light-up collars with a rechargeable USB battery are more convenient and environmentally friendly. You simply re-charge the batteries, and you are good to go. No need to buy replacement batteries.
These types of collars are charged by USB cable, meaning you can plug it into your laptop or phone charger. Charging time usually takes about 1-1.5 hours, and the glow time can last approx. 3 hours, give or take depending on the collar.
Coin batteries hold a charge much longer than USB batteries, but the expense of replacing them costs more.
Waterproof
If you are like me and walk your dog in all types of weather, rain or shine, or even wet snow, then you will want to look for a collar that is waterproof.
You are not going to get an LED collar that is completely waterproof or can survive being completely submerged in water, but you should find one that is water-resistant and can hold up to light rain or snow.
Sizing
Many of the LED collars are able to be adjusted in size just like regular collars with a buckle. The size can be adjusted to fit simply by sliding the buckle.
Other LED collars are adjusted in size by cutting the LED cord to fit the dog’s neck. With this type of collar, you need to make sure to get the fit just right, because if you cut the collar too short it will not fit.
Also, if you want to use the same collar for multiple dogs, an adjustable buckle type might be best. Unless of course, the multiple dogs who wish to use the same collar all have the same neck size.
Style And Design
There are a few different styles and designs of LED dog collars. Some collars will have a 360-degree design of LED lights all the way around, and some will only have lights in a certain section of the collar.
Lights
In my opinion, having lights all around the collar is better because it makes your dog more visible. If the collar only has lights in a certain section, it reduces the chances of your dog being seen by motorists etc. When you are walking your dog, the collar often adjusts and moves around, and having a collar with lights all the way around will be safer.
Standalone Collars
Some USB rechargeable collars are standalone collars. Meaning they are not meant for a leash to be attached to them. They are meant to be put around your dog’s neck for visibility only, and when walking your dog you will need to also use your regular dog collar with leash.
Flashing Modes
Most light-up collars will have different flashing modes. Different modes are blinking, quick blinking, and continuous lights (no blinking).
Quality And Durability
As with any dog collar, LED collars will range in quality and durability. You want to make sure it is made of high-quality materials and can last longer than just a few walks.
When using the adjustable buckle LED collars, you will want to make sure the material is strong enough, and will not come apart. You will want to look for one made with heavy nylon material, and a strong and sturdy ring where your leash attaches too.
If you are buying a collar with electrical components, it’s better to spend a bit extra to get good quality. With any electrical stuff, if you buy cheap it usually costs you more in the long run. Cheaper collars tend to have more electrical failures and won’t last as long.
The Brightness
The brightness of the collar is important, a dull light-up collar will not be very useful.
If you have a dog with long hair, brightness will be more important to you because you will want the lights to shine through all of that fur covering the collar. Short-haired dogs don’t have that issue. Regardless, you still want a collar that is bright to increase the visibility of your dog.
Colour
Light-up dog collars come in a variety of colours. Green, blue, yellow, red, pink, and orange to name a few. Choosing a shade for your dog should be fun.
**My Tip** When choosing a colour, I would suggest picking green. In my experience green seems to be the brightest and most visible.
The Best Light Up Dog Collars [My Top 4 Picks]
The following are the best light-up dog collars based on durability, brightness, battery life and satisfaction guarantee.
1. Illumiseen LED Dog Collar by Illumiseen
Features:
- USB Rechargeable Battery.
- The USB cable included.
- 1-hour charge = 5 hours of illumination.
- 3 modes: steady, rapid flash, slow flash.
- Fully adjustable.
- 6 colours to choose from.
- 6 sizes.
- Lifetime Guarantee.
- Bright light, even on long-haired dogs.
- Water-resistant, and weatherproof.
Pros
Owners love how bright this collar is, and that it is adjustable. There are no batteries to buy or replace, you simply plug in the USB battery to recharge.
The company offers a lifetime guarantee and offers great customer service. Any issues with your collar and the company responds quickly.
Cons
Some owners have mentioned that these collars run a bit large, so make sure that you measure properly.
A common complaint is that the collar is a bit too wide for smaller dogs, it might be best for larger dogs.
Another common complaint is that this collar is not waterproof. As with any LED dog collar, you should not fully submerge it in water.
2. BSeen LED Dog Collar by BSeen
Features:
- USB Rechargeable Battery.
- The USB cable included.
- 1.5 -2.5 hour charge = 5 hours illumination (slow mode), 4 hours illumination (fast mode), 2 hours illumination (steady mode).
- 3 modes: steady, fast, slow.
- One size, cut to length.
- 6 colours to choose from.
- 360-degree lights all around.
- Lightweight.
Pros
This collar is a very affordable option. It is a one size fits all collar that can be cut to your dog’s neck size. A suggestion is to double wrap the collar, instead of cutting it, this will illuminate your dog even more.
Owners love how bright these collars are, and how long the batteries last before needing to be re-charged. This collar holds up well in the rain.
Cons
A common complaint about this collar is that it doesn’t last long. The light is bright at first but gets dimmer even after being charged.
Some owners mention that it is difficult to turn on and that it is a cheap product, and you get what you pay for.
3. Blazin’ Safety LED Dog Collar by Blazin’ Bison
Features:
- USB Rechargeable Battery.
- A full charge lasts over 8 hours.
- 3 modes: on, strobe, blink.
- Fully adjustable.
- It comes in 4 sizes.
- 100% Lifetime Guarantee.
- 360-degree lights all around.
- Visibility of 350 yards.
- Water-resistant.
Pros
Owners love how bright these collars are, and that they are easy to turn on and off. These collars are very durable and have lights all the way around.
Common praises for this collar are that the battery lasts a really long time. Customer service is also great with this company.
Cons
Some owners have complained that because of where the on/off button is located, their dog accidentally turned the collar on/off when playing or shaking its head or scratching.
One owner complained of the lights blinking and fading out, after just 2 months of use, it was mentioned that this owner attached a leash to the collar and because of the constant pulling and tugging, it broke the electronics. This owner suggested using this collar as a standalone, and to attach a leash to another collar.
4. Ultimate LED Dog Collar by Shine For Dogs
Features:
- USB Rechargeable Battery.
- The USB cable included.
- Up to 10 hours of glow time per charge.
- Just 30 min. to re-charge.
- Fully adjustable.
- It comes in 3 sizes.
- 3 modes: on, rapid flash, steady flash.
- Weatherproof.
- Ultra-bright.
- Fibre-optics.
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
- 100% of profits donated to rescue and shelter dogs.
Pros
Owners love how bright and durable this collar is. It is made using fibre optics instead of wire LED, so the collar doesn’t break when bent.
All the profits from these collars are donated to dogs in shelters and rescues. When you buy one of these collars you are giving back, and that’s great.
Cons
Some common complaints with this collar are the sizing tends to run a bit large. Make sure to measure properly to get the right fit.
Another complaint was that the pink colour looked more like red when the lights were on.
My Favourite: Blazin’ Safety LED Dog Collar
I chose the Blazin’ Safety LED Dog Collar as the winner because it is super bright, and the collar is easily adjustable. The battery life is great, the glow time lasts over 8 hours, and your dog is visible for up to 350 yards.
I am impressed with the 360 degrees light design, and this collar is really well-made. The company offers excellent customer service and will replace or refund this collar if you are unhappy with it. They offer a 100% lifetime guarantee, you can’t go wrong with this collar.
Final Thoughts
It is important to keep your dog safe and visible at night, and any of the light-up collars reviewed in this article would make a great choice.
All the collars are bright and make your dog visible, even if they have long fur. The common consensus is that green is the brightest colour among all the dog collars.
To make your collar last longer, I would suggest attaching a leash to a different collar and using the light-up collar as a standalone.
What About You?
Have you tried any of these light-up dog collars? How do you keep your dog visible at night? Share your thoughts and comments below. I would love to hear from you.
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