The Soft Touch Leather Padded Dog Collar Is Luxe Style

We purchased the Soft Touch Leather Padded Dog Collar so our reviewer could put it to the test on her dog. Keep reading for our full product review.

Is there anything more classic than a beautiful dog accessory like the Soft Touch Leather Dog Collar? Maybe it’s just us, but we think leather collars look so stylish and elegant on dogs! Plus, they’re known to be durable and long-lasting, unlike some cheap fabric collars. 

However, we wanted to see if the Soft Touch Leather Collar brought more than just looks to the table, so we put it to the test over the course of a few weeks, using it on Addy, a 6-month-old golden retriever. We evaluated the product for things like comfort, durability, sizing, and overall design, and here’s what we concluded.

Design: Beautiful two-toned appearance

As expected, the Soft Touch Leather Collar is an extremely stylish doggie accessory. The outer band is a beautiful tan leather that looked perfect against Addy’s light fur, and it’s lined with a strip of coral-colored sheepskin leather that gives it a pop of interest. If you’re not into pink, the brand offers neutral options as well, such as brown/tan and black/brown combinations.

The collar features a large brass D-ring where you can clip a leash, and it also has a matching brass buckle and a separate ring for identification tags. While we like that the closure is made of metal, it isn’t a quick-release buckle—it’s more akin to a buckle you’d find on a belt, which makes it time-consuming to put on and take off. This might not be a big deal if you plan to leave the collar on all the time, but we tend to take Addy’s collar off at night, and this design made it more cumbersome than usual.

The other small complaint we had about the collar is that the length is printed on the outer edge. At the very end of the collar, it has 20” engraved into the leather, which seems unnecessary and out of place. If anything, we think this marking should be on the interior so you can’t see it when the collar is on. It’s a small detail, but it takes away from the overall luxurious appearance of the product. 

Need a leash, too? Check out our recommendations for the best dog leashes.

Comfort: Features a padded lining 

One of the main highlights of this dog collar is that it includes a generous amount of padding on the interior, as well as rounded edges. This keeps it from applying too much pressure if your dog ever pulls on his or her leash—something Addy does regularly (we’re working on it, though). She seemed quite comfortable whenever she was wearing it, and it never bothered her when it was time for a nap. All in all, we think it gets her seal of approval for comfort. 

However, because the padding is so thick, the collar can be a bit tricky to put on. We found that the buckle prong would often get stuck when we were trying to put it through the appropriate hole, and Addy would start squirming, wondering why we were taking so long. This might loosen up over time if you use the same sizing hole every time, but it was a little frustrating during the first few weeks of use. 

As your typical golden retriever, Addy loves nothing more than a trip to the lake, so we got to test out how well this collar fared when wet. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the leather dried off very quickly, even when Addy fully submerged it in water. Plus, there was no color transfer onto her light fur—an issue we’ve encountered with cheap nylon collars in the past. 

If your pooch loves the water, keep him or her safe with one of the best dog life jackets.

Sizing: Small margin for error

The Soft Touch Collars come in small, medium, large, and extra-large size. We opted to get Addy a medium, which is for dogs with necks measuring 14.5 to 17.5 inches. It’s 1-inch wide, and the size is perfect on Addy right now—she’s about 50 pounds, for reference. 

However, our only concern is that if she continues growing, it might not be big enough to fit her. Other collars have several inches of adjustability, but the Soft Touch ones only give you a few inches of wiggle room. For this reason, we’d recommend waiting until your dog is full-grown to purchase one—otherwise, it may outgrow the collar.

Durability: Questionable foam padding

Leather collars are known to last a long time, but the problem with the Soft Touch collar is that it isn’t 100 percent leather. While the exterior and interior are made of leather, you can see that there’s an added layer of foam in the middle for extra padding. We don’t think this will necessarily impact the function of the collar, but we suspect it may break down over time, reducing the amount of padding the collar provides. 

Beyond that, the collar seems sturdy and well-made, with thick stitching and heavy-duty hardware. Additionally, the brand offers a lifetime guarantee on the materials and craftsmanship of its collars, so if it ever breaks, you can get a replacement—always a plus!

Price: Very reasonable 

The Soft Touch Leather Padded Dog Collar retails for around $20 to $25, depending on the size and color you choose, and this is on the lower end of the price range for leather collars. The lower cost may be due to the foam used in the center, but we still think it’s a good value.

Competition: It depends on your pup’s style

EzyDog Neo Dog Collar: If you want more features and less fashion, the EzyDog Neo Collar is a heavy-duty option that will keep even the strongest dogs in check. It has a dual-layer construction, reflective trim, and hook-and-loop reinforcement, ensuring your pooch isn’t going to slip out of its collar on a walk.

LupinePet Dog Collar: For a simple, colorful collar that comes in dozens of fun patterns, you can’t go wrong with a LupinePet collar. These stylish collars are made in New Hampshire, and they’re an unbeatable value thanks to the company’s lifetime guarantee, which covers chewing damage.

Read more reviews of the best dog collars.