A dog flea collar should have a few important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting a dog flea collar:

• Natural or chemical. Dog flea collars are either infused with chemical pesticides or natural essential oils. As a rule, natural flea collars tend to be less effective than their chemical counterparts (although there are some exceptions), however, they also have fewer side effects.

• Water-resistance. Dogs don’t tend to stay dry 100 percent of the time. Whether your dog is jumping in lakes or rivers for a swim, going out on walks on rainy days, or being bathed, it can take a toll on her flea collar. Some flea collars are water-resistant, meaning they can stand up to occasional soakings.

• Size and adjustability. Since dog flea collars come in a range of sizes, you’ll need to find one that’s the correct size to fit your dog. If in doubt, you may need to measure the circumference of your four-legged friend’s neck with a soft measuring tape. Also check how adjustable your chosen flea collar is. Most have a slide style buckle, which can be adjusted to any size up to the maximum length of the collar, but some options aren’t as adjustable.

• Protection period. Your chosen flea collar will list its protection period, which is generally between three and eight months. The longer the protection period, the less often you’ll need to change the flea collar, which means less work for you.

• Effectiveness. Some dog flea collars are simply more effective than others. Some options only offer protection from fleas, which is fine if your pup doesn’t currently have any tiny residents in her fur, but it won’t do anything to clean up an infestation. Of those dog flea collars that can kill fleas, some only kill adult fleas, whereas others will sterilize eggs and young fleas, breaking their life cycle.

• Tick protection. Many, but not all, flea collars also offer protection from ticks. A handful of collars only kill and detach ticks, but don’t kill or prevent fleas.

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