Dog collars have been loyal companions to our canine friends longer than most people realise. American households with dogs number around 43,346,000 . These pet owners spent an amazing $69.4 billion on their four-legged friends in 2017 alone . This deep bond between humans and dogs goes back thousands of years. The earliest known images of dogs wearing what look like collars were found at Shuwaymis in modern-day Saudi Arabia, dating back 8,000 years .
The simple dog collar and lead have transformed from basic tools to sophisticated accessories. These items evolved from basic rope and leather restraints into beautiful works of art. The collar's value grew so high that thieves faced harsher punishment for stealing a collar than the dog wearing it . France's King Louis XI showed this extravagance when he ordered a special collar for his favourite greyhound. The collar featured scarlet velvet decorated with pearls and rubies . The story of different collar types through time shows how dogs have remained humanity's most faithful companions.
The first collars: Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
Image Source: Reddit
The bond between humans and dogs dates back to ancient times. You can see this connection most clearly in the oldest dog collars ever made. Historians still debate when these simple accessories first appeared. Yet archaeological evidence shows both ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt as the birthplaces of dog collars.
Early uses of rope and leather
The Sumerians created the first dog collars around 5000 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia. These original collars were just cords wrapped around a dog's neck. Their owners used them to control their pets rather than for decoration. As time passed, these simple restraints grew more complex.
The Ur III Period (approximately 2100-2000 BCE) brought thick leather bands with decorative elements. A clay plaque from Borsippa (dated to roughly 2000-1600 BCE) shows us something interesting. It depicts a man walking next to a large dog wearing a rope collar with decorative tassels. This ancient design looks much like the slip-leads dog owners use today.
These early collars served many purposes. They kept a dog's throat safe and helped owners control powerful breeds. Greyhounds, Danes, and Mastiffs roamed ancient Mesopotamia as domesticated animals. The collars usually had a loop to attach a leash. People made these leashes from rope, strong cloth, or even notched sticks in Egypt.
Symbolism in Egyptian tombs
Egyptian dog collars turned into beautiful works of art with deep meaning by 1570 BCE. They moved beyond the simple designs of Mesopotamia. These pieces celebrated the unique bond between humans and their four-legged friends.
The nobleman Maiherpri's tomb from the New Kingdom period holds amazing examples. Two well-preserved dog collars show off brass studs and detailed pictures of lotus flowers and hunting scenes. One collar stands out. It bears the name "Tantanuit"—the dog's name. This marks the start of putting dogs' names on their collars.
Egyptian collar styles changed over time. The Old Kingdom (c. 2613-2181 BCE) had thick leather rings glued together. People slipped these over their dogs' heads. Middle Kingdom (2040-1782 BCE) collars became fancier with copper and bronze studs. The New Kingdom period (c. 1570-1069 BCE) brought the finest dog collar art, with gold and silver pieces bearing names.
Dogs as spiritual protectors
Dog collars meant more than just control in both civilizations. Dogs held special places in ancient beliefs. They bridged the gap between human and sacred worlds.
Egyptian culture linked dogs with Anubis, the jackal-headed god who helped souls reach the afterlife. This sacred connection showed in collar designs that grew more detailed, showing dogs' high status in society.
Mesopotamian dogs held similar importance. People saw them as symbols of Ninisina (later Gula), the goddess of healing. People often gave her small models of seated dogs . Dogs became symbols of magical protection during the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian periods.
The goddess Ishtar (also known as Inanna) appeared with leashed, collared dogs, highlighting their protective nature. People placed dog figures at home and city entrances to keep evil spirits away. This practise reminds us of today's "Beware of Dog" signs.
Dogs' loyalty lasted beyond death. People believed these faithful animals' spirits would protect children on their way to the afterlife. Like today's service and therapy dogs, ancient people valued their canine friends for both companionship and protection.
Collars of power: Persia, Greece, and Rome
Dog collars became status symbols and state-of-the-art tools as civilisation moved westward from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Each culture's unique bond with their canine companions shaped these developments.
Persian collars and social class
Persian dog collars surpassed basic functionality to become symbols of social status. The upper class's dogs wore "trappings of gold" and fine linen clothes, while simple leather or cloth collars adorned their lower-class counterparts. These material differences mirrored Persian society's social layers.
These luxurious accessories meant more than today's designer collars. Persians valued dogs so highly that a person's treatment of canines could shape their afterlife. This belief pushed wealthy owners to seek out the finest collar craftsmanship.
Most Persian art shows dogs without collars, especially in hunting scenes and Susa's ceramics. Sassanian art (224-651 CE) later featured ornate collars on wealthy owners' dogs. This suggests Persian society's advancement paralleled their dog accessories' sophistication.
Greek innovations: spiked and choke collars
Ancient Greeks changed dog collar design forever with ideas that shape modern training equipment. They created the spiked collar and choke-chain collar. These designs served practical needs - protecting guard dogs from wolves while giving owners control over powerful hunting breeds.
Greek mythology might have sparked some designs. Stories suggest the three-headed dog Cerberus, Hades' guardian, wore a collar that influenced Greek designs. These protective collars showed impressive engineering. The metal spiked collar, called a melium or millus, had sharp outward-facing points to fight off predators. Leather versions used spikes driven through the band, secured by rivets from behind.
Greek collars balanced function with beauty. Rhytons often showed hounds wearing colourful collars decorated with mythological scenes or their owner's life stories. This mix of purpose and art echoes Plato's view of dogs as true philosophers who could spot friends from enemies naturally.
Roman military and racing dog collars
Romans took collar concepts from the Etruscans and Greeks but expanded their use, especially in military settings. Molossian war dogs wore thick, iron-spiked collars. Marcus Aurelius first used these armoured dogs, training them to attack enemy forces in formation.
Etruscan tomb paintings from 530-520 BCE reveal a brutal innovation - collars with inward-facing nails that enraged dogs when pulled. Romans later used this device in arena shows.
Romans created specialised collars for different dog roles. The Vertragus, ancestor of today's Italian Greyhound, wore light leather racing collars in bright colours to mark winners. These collars avoided metal since it weighed too much and left grey marks on dogs' necks.
The buckle stands as Rome's lasting contribution to dog collars. A touching example comes from Pompeii - a buckled collar praising a dog for saving its master from a wolf. Even decorative pieces had practical uses - Pliny the Elder claimed gold collars helped calm dogs and reduce barking.
These ancient civilizations made dog collars both useful tools and symbols of the unique connection between humans and their loyal companions. Persian status symbols, Greek protective gear, and Roman military equipment all played their part.
Mediaeval Europe: From utility to status
Mediaeval Europe saw a growing complexity in the relationship between humans and dogs. Their neck accessories developed based on the canines' vital roles in society. Dog collars back then served practical purposes based on specific functions, unlike today's decorative versions.
Hunting dogs and protective collars
Dogs in mediaeval times did much more than modern pets do. They worked as turn-spit dogs to rotate kitchen spits, guard dogs, lymers to scent game, raches to chase quarry, water-drawers to turn well-wheels, and even messengers with letters tucked into their collars. Each role needed different collar designs, from broad leather pieces to slim cords for hunting dogs.
The 'wolf collar' stood out as the most distinctive design. This sturdy leather band, often studded with metal spikes, protected a dog's vulnerable throat from wolf attacks during herding or guarding livestock. The owner's wealth and the dog's job determined how elaborate these protective collars would be. A shepherd's dog typically wore a simple leather collar with few protective spikes. Noble guard dogs, however, sported wider, heavily studded versions.
Hunting dogs faced strict regulations. King Canute (985-1035 CE) restricted greyhound ownership to nobility and required other breeds to be hobbled within ten miles of royal forests. King Hywel Dda of Wales (880-950 CE) made killing a greyhound punishable by death. Modern pet theft laws seem lenient compared to these mediaeval priorities!
Collars in tapestries and noble courts
Mediaeval tapestries are a great way to learn about dog collars from that period. The famous Bayeux Tapestry (1070s CE) shows dogs wearing slim collars, likely made of leather, with rings for leashes. Dogs in the Unicorn Tapestries (1495-1505 CE) wear broad collars with letters and floral designs.
Noble families' dog collars went beyond basic use to showcase their wealth. Late mediaeval dogs wore everyday leather or fabric collars with small bells. Some had wider textile collars showing their owner's heraldic arms and personal mottoes. Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, ordered a special crimson velvet greyhound collar in 1420. It featured two gold escutcheons with his arms and motto "moult me tarde" ("much delays me") embroidered in tiny pearls.
These collars could cost fortunes. King Louis XI of France's greyhound wore a spectacular gold collar in 1463, decorated with spinels, pearls, ruby, and other precious gems. This single collar cost 246 livres—about seven years' wages for a skilled artist. Today's designer pet accessories seem modest in comparison!
The rise of identification tags
Mediaeval collars became proof of ownership as owners started marking them with their names or coat of arms. This practise led to the earliest form of identification tags. Some collars even showed the dog's name—just like our modern personalised ID tags.
Identification became crucial with new leash laws. European regulations about collars and leashes started as early as 515 CE in the Lex Romana Burgundionum. Dogs needed restraints, and owners became responsible for damage caused by loose animals. These ancient rules mirror our current leash laws and liability concerns, showing that responsible dog ownership has mattered for over 1,500 years.
Dog collars have always shown our special bond with these animals. They started as practical tools and became symbols of the unique place dogs hold in our hearts, from mediaeval hunting hounds to today's beloved pets.
The Enlightenment and the rise of the pet
The Enlightenment era brought a fundamental change in how humans saw their canine companions. The Church had labelled dogs as "soulless beings" unworthy of human regard. This view transformed in the 18th century as dogs became more than working animals - they turned into cherished family members with unique personalities.
Dogs in art and literature
Enlightenment artists broke from tradition by giving dogs prominent roles in their work. The upper class of the 18th century often posed with their favourite dogs in paintings. William Hogarth's "Miss Mary Edwards" (1742) shows the subject gently petting her spaniel's head. Jean Honore Fragonard's "A Woman with a Dog" (1769) captures a woman holding her small white lapdog, complete with a blue-ribbon collar and lead.
Literature reflected this growing bond between humans and dogs. Alexander Pope, the celebrated Enlightenment poet, stated that "histories are more full of examples of fidelity of dogs than of friends". Benjamin Franklin added his wisdom: "There are three faithful friends—an old wife, an old dog, and ready money". Just like today's social media feeds filled with pet photos, 18th-century families made sure to include their beloved dogs in family portraits.
Ornate collars and poetic inscriptions
Dog collars became more elaborate in the 18th century, often featuring witty sayings. Alexander Pope's famous collar inscription stands out among these. He gave a puppy to Frederick, Prince of Wales, along with an ornate collar (likely made of gold) inscribed: "I am His Highness' dog at Kew - Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?". This clever epigram, written from the dog's point of view, asked readers to think about their own loyalties and dependencies.
The inscription appeared on jewellery rather than paper, which meant courtiers had to kneel down—a symbolic act of submission before the heir to the throne. Other dog owners loved this idea so much that similar inscriptions appeared throughout the century. One late 18th-century example reads: "I am Mr. Pratt's Dog, King St. Nr. Wokingham, Berks. Whose dog are you?".
Stubbs and Reinagle's influence on perception
George Stubbs changed how artists portrayed dogs by making them the main subjects of his paintings instead of human accessories. His dogs appeared without collars—suggesting they deserved respect as individual, sentient beings. This artistic choice spoke volumes about dogs' rising status in society.
Philip Reinagle followed Stubbs' lead with his famous "Portrait of an Extraordinary Musical Dog" (1805). The painting shows a brown spaniel with a red collar sitting at a piano. The dog looks at the viewer with surprise, as if caught during practise—a human-like portrayal that earlier centuries would have found unthinkable.
Dogs' reputation as faithful, loyal, and intelligent companions became part of popular culture by the late 18th century. Broadsheets and magazines shared stories about dogs' intelligence, problem-solving skills, and ability to communicate with humans. Modern dog owners would quickly recognise these same traits in their own four-legged companions.
Victorian Britain and the modern collar
The Victorian era reshaped Britain's relationship with dogs. Pet owners moved away from seeing their canines as mere working animals and welcomed them as family members. Dog collars demonstrated this change most clearly, as they turned from practical items into decorative pieces that showed their owner's status and love.
Queen Victoria's influence on pet culture
Queen Victoria emerged as the key figure who elevated dogs' status in British society. Her diaries show she owned 640 dogs across 32 breeds. She did more than just keep pets - she granted the 'Royal' title to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Her patronage of Battersea Dogs Home set a royal standard for animal welfare.
Victorian culture reflected Victoria's love for dogs. The public could buy photographs of her with Sharp, her favourite collie, as cartes-de-visite. Her six Pomeranians' participation in the first Crufts dog show in 1891 reinforced the idea that dogs deserved celebration.
Mass production and brass nameplates
Dog collars' craftsmanship and materials showed their elevated status during this period. The industrial revolution made ornate collar designs available to more people, not just the aristocracy. Brass became the popular choice, and surviving pieces show detailed engravings of their owner's names and addresses.
Victorian collars typically had a brass nameplate with the owner's information, secured by a small padlock. An 1880s example shows a steel collar with a brass plate reading "W.H. TOMSON, West Kensington". These collars had become formal identification documents.
The legal recognition of dog ownership
Dogs gained more legal recognition as valuable property in Victorian times. People used brass nameplates as proof of ownership, similar to today's microchipping. Pet keeping became central to Victorian ideas about home life and raising children. Advice books suggested that children should have pets to develop good character.
The trend caught on across social classes. Working-class families caught wild birds as pets while middle-class households bought pedigree dogs to show their social standing. This pattern mirrors today's priorities for designer breeds.
From tradition to technology: Today’s dog collars
The progress of dog collars shows how our relationship with dogs has changed through history. Modern collars keep features from past designs but now use new materials and technology.
Types of dog collar in modern use
The market now has many different types of dog neck collars. Flat collars are still most popular and usually come in nylon or leather. Dog owners choose martingale collars for training because they work better than old-style choke chains. Dogs with breathing problems do well with head halters and harnesses that don't put pressure on their necks.
Smart collars and GPS tracking
Smart technology has reshaped the scene for basic dog collars, turning them into advanced devices. GPS tracking collars let owners watch their pet's location live through phone apps, similar to how mediaeval nobles used trained dogs to deliver messages. These devices track activity, sleep, and health stats, which makes your dog a four-legged fitness monitor!
Fashion vs. function in today's designs
Victorian owners showed off their dogs with brass nameplates, and now designer collars are fashion statements. Luxury pieces with rhinestones and handmade artistic designs show how we see dogs as family members who deserve special treatment. Beyond the fancy looks, today's collars serve the same purpose they did 8,000 years ago—they represent the lasting connection between humans and their most loyal companions.
Conclusion
Dog collars have evolved from simple functional items to sophisticated accessories that reflect our deepening bond with canines across millennia. Ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians used them as restraints. These accessories later became status symbols among Persian nobles, practical tools for Greek hunters, and military equipment for Roman warriors. The experience of these accessories tells us more about human values than canine needs.
Hunting companions needed protection in mediaeval times, and collars helped display ownership. The Enlightenment society raised dogs from working animals to cherished family members. Queen Victoria's royal example in Victorian Britain inspired citizens to view their dogs differently. Dogs became worthy of legal protection and decorative accessories.
Modern collars range from simple nylon bands to GPS-enabled smart devices that blend function with sentiment. Materials have changed from ancient leather and rope to modern synthetics and electronics, yet the core purpose stays the same. These collars symbolise our responsibility toward these loyal companions.
Collars remind us of humanity's oldest interspecies friendship. These everyday items chronicle our 8,000-year experience with dogs. We moved from working collaborations to emotional bonds. A modern pet's collar represents more than ownership - it embodies an enduring promise. We care for them as they care for us, showing mutual devotion across centuries and civilizations.
