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Chances are good that your dog has at some point experienced the classic “cone of shame”—that plastic Elizabethan collar that keeps them from licking or chewing areas that are healing, whether from surgery, an injury, or periodic skin issues like hot spots. Those cones certainly get the job done—but there are a lot of cone alternatives for dogs that do the job better and more comfortably.
Not sure where to start? Hop down to our explainer on the different types of e-collars out there, or read on for some of our favorite plastic cone alternatives.
Best Overall Soft Cone: The Comfy Cone
Soft or fabric cones are some of the most comfortable options for dogs—and they tend to be the easiest for humans to take on and off.
The Comfy Cone lives up to its name, with multiple size options and adjustable Velcro tabs to help you get the right fit. It attaches to your dog’s collar and can be reversed to cover your dog’s neck and shoulders instead of their head. Helpfully, the cone can be reinforced with plastic spines to make it firmer than many soft cones, which adds a degree of security most fabric options don’t have.
That said, soft cones will always be less effective against especially determined lickers and chewers than plastic ones—which may mean holding off on this option until the later phases of recovery.
Key features:
- Can be reinforced for added firmness
- Flexible material for comfort
- Reversible to cover your dog’s neck and torso
- Available in eight sizes and has multiple adjustment points
- Washable
Best Comfortable Dog Cone: Boomaker Extra Soft Dog Cone
You won’t be able to miss your dog in this bright soft cone. It’s lightweight, breathable, and easy to clean. It comes in an impressive nine different sizes and is flexible enough to keep your pet comfortable. Since it’s not as deep as some cones, it also blocks their vision less—which can be a boon to especially anxious pups.
It’s a strong choice for dogs who need just a mild deterrent to leave their affected area alone, though as with most soft cones, it’s not as foolproof as plastic ones.
Key features:
- Made of flexible and soft mesh fabric to promote rest and recovery
- Lightweight and easy to clean
- Available in nine sizes
- Allows pet to eat, drink, and sleep, and blocks less vision
Best Inflatable Collar: E-Komg Protective Inflatable Collar
Inflatable collars may look funny, but they’re a smart choice for a dog who hates to have their movement or vision restricted.
This inflatable collar is a durable, soft, and washable alternative to dog cones soft and plastic alike. It allows your dog to eat, drink, and sleep while preventing them from licking or biting sensitive areas. The collar has an inner ring that’s adjustable to your dog’s neck, and it comes in several size options. When not in use, you can deflate it for easy storage.
Note that inflatable collars are best for injuries closer to the front of the body, since they won’t always prevent a dog from reaching their foot or tail (especially long-bodied dogs like Dachshunds and Corgis).
Key features:
- Soft, lightweight, and adjustable
- Washable
- Allows your dog to eat, drink, and sleep more comfortably than many cones
- Good for dogs who are not aggressive chewers
- Easy to deflate and store
Best for Small and Medium Dogs: IDOMIK Recovery Collar
This padded dog cone alternative is designed for comfort and major flexibility. A bungee tie at your dog’s neck helps you find the right fit, with different size options containing different numbers of inflatable rings.
This particular model is quite shallow, so it doesn’t block your dog’s vision too much, and it allows for comfortable eating, drinking, and sleeping. As a nice touch, it’s made from a high-density microfiber cotton that’s noise-free and fur- and water-resistant.
It may not be suitable for preventing paw or back chewing—but for injuries at the torso and up, pet parents report it’s a successful deterrent, especially among flat-faced pups.
Key features:
- Can be fitted closely at collar
- Allows for eating, drinking, and sleeping
- Made from water-resistant and noise-free fabric
- Available in several sizes and adjustable
Best Elizabethan Collar for Large Dogs: Dvfroy Adjustable Dog Cone
This Elizabethan collar is ideal for large dogs and comes in two big sizes. Made from soft, water-resistant fabric, it’s shallower than many cone alternatives, allowing your dog to retain more peripheral vision. Made from a memory-foam material, it conforms to your dog’s shape, offers a soft headrest when they’re lying down, and features an adjustable buckle.
Key features:
- Soft memory foam offers maximum comfort
- Can be reversed to cover the neck and shoulders
- Allows your dog to eat, drink, and sleep
- Doesn’t block peripheral vision
Best Cone Alternative for Body Injuries: Recovery Suit for Dogs
This recovery suit comes in many sizes and works by covering the area that needs protecting. It’s a great option for dogs whose injury site is somewhere on their torso, and it works for both males and females. This washable cotton-poly blend wrap is adjustable—you can wrap the bottom along your dog’s rear or fold that portion up along the belly and Velcro in place for when they need to do their business.
Note that it’s possible for a particularly determined dog to chew at a wound through a recovery suit—if that’s your pup, you’ll want to make sure the wound is fully protected under the cloth, or leave the suit until a later stage of recovery when gnawing at the wound isn’t quite so appealing.
Key features:
- Made from soft and washable fabric
- Available in six sizes and many colors and patterns
- Prevents dogs from licking injuries on their back, neck, and belly
- Allows your dog to move comfortably, with no head restriction
Best Cone Alternatives for Leg Injuries: Abrasion-Resistant Recovery Sleeve for Dogs
Recovery sleeves are ideal dog cone alternatives for leg injuries, since they isolate the problem area while allowing your dog reasonable freedom of movement and no visual restriction. This one is designed for front legs; here’s an option for back legs. Sleeves fasten at the shoulders and can be used for either the left or right front leg. Made from neoprene and water-resistant, these sleeves are durable enough to withstand long wear, both outside and in.
Key features:
- Isolates and protects leg injuries
- Washable and durable enough for outdoor wear
- Thick neoprene is water-resistant and prevents licking or biting
- Allows more movement than cones or inflatable collars
What Kind of E-Collar Alternative Is Best?
The style of dog cone alternative that will work best for you depends a lot on both your dog and the injury that needs protecting—especially where it is on their body.
Soft collars are shaped like plastic cones but are usually made of padded nylon or similar durable fabric. These are more comfortable, flexible, and adjustable—but since they’re so soft and bendable, they won’t always hold up against a truly determined chewer. They’re best for mild cases or the later stages of recovery, once the worst of your dog’s urge to lick has passed.
Inflatable collars allow your dog a little more movement, comfort, and visibility; these work well for injuries closer to the front of the body and on shorter-bodied dogs, but they don’t necessarily prevent a dog from reaching a foot or tail. They’re an especially smart choice for anxious dogs, since they leave your pup’s peripheral vision clear and only minimally restrict movement.
Lastly, many pet parents look to surgical recovery clothing to cover sensitive areas. These are good for dogs who just can’t adjust to a soft or inflatable collar—or who continually outsmart them. Recovery suits can be full-bodied or confined to specific limbs. Recovery suits may need to be adjusted or removed for potty breaks, and it’s recommended that your pup generally get a periodic break from one.
Whatever your choice, make sure your cone alternative adequately protects the injury site and talk with your vet to understand your pup’s recovery needs. Also remember that dogs need supervision after surgery and when wearing any of these items (as well as some mental stimulation to boot). An experienced pet sitter can help when you can’t be around to monitor them.
How We Chose Cone Alternatives for Dogs
We selected cone alternatives for dogs based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized products that are high-quality, comfortable, and functional that provide some flexibility to adjust to your particular dog’s needs. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.