Polybrite lighted reflective dog collars are useful for keeping tabs on your black lab in a dark back yard; finding your hunting dog when she stays out a little later than you expected; high visibility in search and rescue situations; and making your nightly dog walk a little safer.

Lighted collars should not be used in place of a regular collar.  They are not sturdy enough.  They are designed to be an extra, add-on type collar and are very lightweight and dog-comfortable.  They are made of nylon with plastic buckles.  The light tube and battery pack slide in behind a red nylon cover and the led light shines through the length of the cover, creating a soft, red glow. 

The collar is washable IF the light tube and battery pack are removed before washing.  The collars have a D-ring but we usually don't use that for a leash; we just use their regular collar or harness to attach a leash when needed.  If you worry about the D-ring getting caught on a branch while your hunting dog is racing through the woods, you can cut the D-ring off with regular scissors.  For a good collar to use as a regular collar try one of our colorful coated nylon collars, which we make and sell in our store.  They are sturdy, washable, visible, and economical and we make them flat with a round ring instead of a D-ring.  Attach your dog's tags and identification to their regular collar.

The soft red light of the lighted collar can be seen for a distance and works in steady or blink mode.  The switch is covered with a nylon cover to protect it from dirt and dampness.  I start mine on steady, in case my dog jolts or bumps the collar into blink.  That way the light isn't turned off completely.  The lithium 2032 batteries are rated for up to 250 hours of life.  They last longer on blink, although the battery life is shortened by cold and dampness.  But the batteries are easily replaceable; we sell our collars with three new batteries and offer extras for sale too, because it is much more convenient to have batteries readily available in your drawer or car, so you aren't caught out after dark with a dead battery.  Lithium batteries store well and don't drain quickly.  Batteries don't add any weight to the shipping so it seems easier and cheaper to get it all at once and not have to drive to the shopping center every time you need a Lithium 2032.  The battery which comes installed in the collar is shimmed with plastic, so that it is fresh and not drained or dead.  IMPORTANT REMINDER: Remove the plastic shim from under the battery before use or your collar will not work.

Fitting over the internet can be successful with a little extra information.  The three sizes are small (12" to 16"), medium (16" to 22"), and Large (22" to 26").  My experience is that most dogs take a medium, which will cover dogs from about 35 pounds to 80 pounds, depending on their neck size and their fur length.  Long and fluffy haired dogs do better with their collar a little loose, so it doesn't get buried in their hair.  Hopefully you can measure their current collar to be sure of the fit.  If in doubt or if your dog is on the edge of a size category, buy a little bit bigger, because you can always just slip the collar on and off but you can't make it bigger if it is too small.  There is no extra small available at this time, for all the tiny dog owners who ask.

My dogs wear their collars when they are loose on our farm in the evenings, so if we are out past dark I can find them more easily and see them from a distance, sometimes all the way across a 30 acre field.  Their collars get wet because they swim and roll.  The collars are not rated to be waterproof but they are designed to be water resistant.  If their collars get soaked, I take the battery out and dry them on the radiator overnight.  

The two rows of reflective stitching are so important in case the light goes dead.  The stitching is amazingly bright and can be seen with a flashlight or in a car's headlights.  It is an extra form of protection that many collars don't offer.

The collars are search and rescue approved and offer increased visibility in emergency situations.  They are also used by police K-9 handlers in some search and off-line situations, depending on the tactical considerations of the situation.  If you are involved in search and rescue or with police dogs, you can imagine scenes where you would need a collar like this.

Finally, for those of you who walk the roads or sidewalks at night with your dog, we also sell Polybrite lighted reflective dog leashes, which use the same technology as the collars.  Instead of the red nylon sleeve they have a yellow reflective sleeve which is visible from both sides.  Several of our customers have purchased these leads to use as reins for their trail horses on night rides!

So, enjoy your dog and your Polybrite Lighted Reflective Collar.  They are economical to buy (we have tested collars that are $50 and $85 and do not have the benefits and performance of these collars), easy to use, and addictive, as you will not want to be without one on your dog after dark.  Good luck, get outdoors, take a walk, and have some fun with your dog.  A lighted reflective collar offers more safety and peace of mind!