Kurgo Muck Dog Collar

With the amount of time an active owner and their dog spend outside, it’s essential that something like a collar is a) durable, b) secure, and c) won’t stain easily. The Kurgo Muck Collar is all of the above, and then some. The material is 100% waterproof, and appears to be a nylon webbing underneath a coating of a flexible hard rubber-type material that’s PVC-free. The hardware is definitely sturdy and reliable, but unfortunately isn’t marine-grade, which will cause it to rust over time. For a water-loving dog, this could be a small inconvenience if not dried quickly & completely after every single use in the water. Those who are more active on the coasts and in oceans are even more of a concern, as the salty ocean water will affect the metal faster than freshwater alone; owners in those areas should make sure to rinse the collar of with fresh water after each use. If no other change is made to this collar, the one thing that should be considered is using marine-grade hardware.

Looking at Kurgo’s website, we realized the colors don’t match up as they’re shown. The grey striped collar we have is more of a darker grey, almost a pale, faded green in certain light instead of the light grey that’s shown. In general, there seems to be a lack of color/pattern options; we think they could definitely benefit from a larger selection, and also switch up the photos to reflect a better representation of the colors. There are two photos on their website that show a dog wearing the collar, and in those photos the colors are represented much more nicely.

Bonus points? This collar has a BOTTLE OPENER. That’s right… an easy, convenient way to open all your delicious adult beverages! Necessary? Not at all, but hilariously awesome. We don’t do much drinking ourselves, so the bottle opener for us was a waste of use, but we tried it out for the sake of the review & it definitely works! It’d be even better if they offered options for different attachments, such as a carabiner, a bell, etc., or nothing at all aside from the ring. One concern with having the bottle opener attachment (which doubles as the normal collar ring), is that is never sits flush with the rest of the collar… it sticks straight out. There’s worry that it could make it easier to get caught on something, especially when running through the woods. Having a regular ring with the option for an additional attachment could help solve that issue.

We gave this collar a few runs in the mud, in the river, on a few hikes, and used it for baths for both Ellie & Atlas. The security of the collar staying on once tight enough was perfect; there was zero worry that it was going to all of a sudden break, or pull away. It was also nice to be able to rinse the collar off and have it be clean within just a few seconds, no soap, no scrubbing, no waiting overnight for it to dry. Once clean, it’s ready to be used again.

While we love nearly every aspect of this collar, we’re the type of people who like to get up & go. One concern we had was that this collar was a traditional buckle collar versus a “quick-release”/snap collar, which is what we prefer because it’s so easy & quick to throw on them and head out the door. And with Ellie & Atlas’ longer, thicker hair, it kept getting caught while trying to put it on, and created a lot of difficulty making sure the collar was snug enough to stay on. Also, the material itself seemed to pull on their fur more than a typical collar would, which made me wonder if it was uncomfortable for them. In addition to choice attachments & marine-grade hardware, Kurgo should offer the option of a quick release buckle as well as the traditional.

Overall, I think this collar is best suited for dogs with shorter fur, and for owners who prefer the traditional buckle. In general, it’s perfect for the kind of dog that loves a good roll in the mud or endless lake swims without the worry of the collar getting ruined instantly; a quick rinse and you’re good to go for your next adventure! Dogs with longer fur can prove to be an extra challenge when putting the collar on initially, but once on, it’s secure, stylish, and most certainly serves its purpose. And as long as you’re conscious about drying the collar off after a swim in the water, I think this collar will last quite a while!

Review by: Dogs That Hike Trail Tester @expeditionhusky