Country Brook Petz vs Mayerzon Martingale Collar: No-Buckle Slip-On or Patented Quick-Release?

My pit-mix, Roxy, has a neck wider than a torpedo, and a smallish head, and that means she slips out of every regular collar that’s offered. A flat collar has completely disappeared after Roxy backed out of her collar in a Target parking lot and almost killed me with a heart attack. All her old gear was thrown out, and just to see if the rumors were right, I bought two martingales.

I will compare Country Brook Petz and Mayerzon. Country Brook Petz and Mayerzon are both good products that have received good reviews and are worn by thousands of happy dogs. Both products also have a similar purpose yet tackle the issue in a different way. I took Country Brook Petz and Mayerzon and used both of them on my 45 pound mixed breed dog during daily walks, a rainy hike, and during a few Unpredictable Squirrel encounters. I used the medium size of the product.

Country Brook Petz Martingale: The No-Buckle Workhorse

Country Brook Petz uses a classic design: a simple collar with a limited cinch chain. This design means no buckles or snaps. After slipping over your dog's head, you can set the slider to the tightest point. It uses 100% ribbed nylon webbing which is noticeably thicker than most web store collars. It is very hand-friendly which is great because you will need to trust this collar. There may be dogs that lunge at squirrels suddenly, but this collar will definitely stand the test.

This product is made in the USA, available in at least twenty colors (including black, neon lime, and hot pink). In the medium size, the 1” width distributes pressure evenly along the throat when the collar tightens, and the stainless steel chain section is smooth, not the clunky plated hardware that rusts after one rainy season.

The superiority of the no-buckle design is obvious when you look at it from the perspective of failure points. There are no plastic buckles to crack when the weather gets cold or metal snaps to corrode. For the dogs who actually are at the most risk of slipping a collar: sight-hounds, nervous rescues, and dogs with really narrow heads, the peace of mind of a single, continuous loop is ideal. The only drawback to a continuous loop is that the slider must be loosened and re-tightened every time you put the collar on or take it off. For the person who leaves the collar on all day, this is of little consequence, but if you take the collar on and off multiple times a day, this extra step gets old.

Approximately $17 means it is less expensive than leather brands, but more than Amazon brands. Their reviews show they are an established business at 21,000+ reviews at an average of 4.6.

Mayerzon Martingale Collar: The Patented Buckle Design

Mayerzon's first-of-its-kind hidden buckle design resolves the no-buckle issue. This product appears to be a traditional martingale collar with a nylon loop, chain piece, and a D-ring. The buckle, however, is placed behind a layer of webbing, allowing the product to maintain a clean appearance, yet lets you easily slip the collar on and off in the same manner as a traditional flat collar. After using the Country Brook Petz for about a week, I can say Mayerzon's buckle is a brilliant addition I never knew I needed.

This collar comes with a 2.5mm thick nylon fabric with reflective stitching. Sadly, Country Brook Petz doesn’t seem to have this feature. The D-ring gets some reinforcement with some extra stitching, and many sizes (including all size ranges) come standard with this collar. The medium collar seems to fit dogs with 14.5 to 18.5 inch necks, which means Country Brook Petz probably has a larger medium collar (15 to 21 inches). Keep this in mind when sizing your dog for a collar.

Out of the box, the Mayerzon seems to have a bit more stiffness, but the reflective stitching wound in really saved my ankles when looking for Roxy in the backyard at 10 PM. Also, the chain jingles a lot less. If you hate that annoying metallic sound when your dog shakes, you'll like this.

At $28 it is more expensive that Country Brook, but it has significantly less reviews (1,400 vs. 21,000+) and still has good reviews.

Head-to-Head Comparison

I used to think that all martingales were pretty similar. After using these, back to back, for a month of rainy hikes and walks around the neighborhood, I saw a huge difference in product quality and saw how even the tiniest design elements can create differences and impact functionality.

A dog’s martingale collar is most beneficial compared to a standard flat collar when a dog pulls or is spooked. The mechanism of a limited-cinch collar would prevent escape, but would also prevent the consistent choking pressure of a slip lead. Also, the risk of trachea injury is avoided. The built-in stop is the key to this collar. Compared to a typical slip collar and choke chain, the built-in stop offers a dog more safety.

Where the Country Brook Petz Wins

Value and proven reliability. At almost 11 dollars less than Mayerzon, Country Brook Petz provides the same basic function of a limited cinch martingale collar that prevents escape. Country Brook Petz collars are also a heavier duty material and have a mind-blowing 21,000 reviews. That’s a lot of feedback and means every possible edge case has been tested by someone (chewers, swimmers, dogs that roll in the mud, dogs that drag their neck against fences) and survived the test.

Less points of failure. Buckles are nice... until they aren't. I've had plastic buckles break on me during sub-zero mornings and metal snaps have rusted shut on me during saltwater exposure. Country Brook Petz eliminates these risks completely. For dogs that wear their collar 24/7 or spend time outdoors in rough conditions, a no-buckle design is more durable. There is literally nothing to break.

More sizes and colors. The medium accommodates necks up to 21 inches while Mayerzon only fits up to 18.5 inches. If your dog is thicker or between sizes, Country Brook Petz can accommodate you. Plus with so many choices (20+) to choose from, you can find a color that aligns with your dog’s gear or makes them more visible.

Where the Mayerzon Wins

Convenient every day. The concealed buckle is the real deal. After a week of adjusting and re-adjusting the Country Brook Petz slider two times a day, the Mayerzon's quick-release really felt like the difference between manual and power windows. If you hate the daily struggle of putting a collar on your dog through his ears every morning, the Mayerzon's buckle is an absolute must. If you take the collar off your dog indoors to give his neck a break, the buckle pays for itself every day because you save so much time and can get a collar that fits perfectly. You adjust the slider once and forget it.

Reflective stitching. As the name suggests, these are beneficial for those who walk in the dark. Country Brook Petz's collars are entirely non-reflective, and the Mayerzon's are reflective from a whole city block. Urban dogs and those who walk in the dark months of winter have to pick their collars based on this characteristic.

Lower noise level. Smaller links mean less jingle as the collar tightens and loosens. Mayerzon makes a great collar if your dog is shy and/or noise-sensitive. My dog is scared of sudden metallic noises, and the Mayerzon collar jingled much less than others, so my dog flinched much less while on walks.

Which Martingale Collar Should You Pick?

If your dog needs to wear a collar 24/7 and you care more about durability than convenience, look at the Country Brook Petz. With no buckle and a made in the USA, tougher than average, thicker nylon and more than 21,000 reviews, this collar is a way better bet than everything else for dogs that are gear tough or that escape all the time. At 16.99 USD, we recommend this collar as a no-brainer.

For those who prioritize fast on/off connections for their dog collar and remove the collar after every walk, the Mayerzon collar is better offer for you. The hidden buckle encourages dog owners to use this collar more, as it is a simpler process to adjust the fit. There are other features that separate the Mayerzon collar from other offers, like reflective stitching and a quieter chain. This collar is a great offer for daily use especially for dog owners living in urban or suburban areas.

For Roxy, I chose Country Brook Petz. As she’s a bit of an escape artist, I want to make sure her gear always holds up to her antics. I take her collar off at night, which makes me readjust the metal slider every morning, and I have to admit, that's a minor hassle, I guess. I just can’t fully trust a plastic clip for a dog that lunges. Daily hassle for peace of mind is a fair trade off.

Both collars work as intended. They prevent your dog from escaping. If you prefer a quick-release buckle for walking, the Mayerzon is a good option. However, I think the Country Brook Petz is the better option. For about $17, this practically indestructible collar is the best gear investment I have made for a dog that escapes.