Growing Your Craft Etsy SEO Guides

Best Keywords & Tags for dog collar

Getting found on Etsy can feel like a challenge, but mastering Etsy Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is your best chance of getting traffic on Etsy. SEO is about using the right keywords to tell Etsy (and your target customers) exactly what you sell so you appear in the right Etsy search results.

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Let me walk you through everything you need to know in this SEO guide, including:

Understand your ideal target customer
Discover high-impact broad and long-tail keywords for your listings
Analyse what successful dog collar sellers are doing right
Learn how to use keywords to optimise your titles, tags, and description
6 ways to find more keywords for your listings

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How to Optimise Listings

Ways to Find Keywords

Understanding Your Ideal Target Customer

Before you dive into keywords, you need to understand who your target customer, including their needs, desires, and the language they use. Because when you know what they are looking for, you can target them with the same keywords that they would use in Etsy search. Here’s a closer look at your typical customer in the dog collar niche:

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The typical customer is a dog owner who views their pet as a family member. They range from practical-minded individuals focused on safety and training to style-conscious owners who want accessories that reflect their dog's (and their own) personality.

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What problems are they trying to solve or desires are they trying to fulfill when searching for dog collar products?

They need a durable, reliable, and safe tool for walking and identifying their dog. They are concerned about their dog pulling, getting lost, or having a collar that might break during a walk.

This can lead them to search for terms like: heavy duty martingale collar with metal buckle

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They want to express their dog's unique personality and their own personal style through a cute, fashionable, or custom accessory. They see the collar as part of their dog's "wardrobe" and want something more special than a generic store-bought option.

This can lead them to search for terms like: personalized floral dog collar for girl dog

dog collar is a pretty competitive niche with high demand and high competition, so it's important to use long-tail keywords to niche down and have a better chance of ranking on Etsy.

Top 10 Broad Keywords for dog collar Sellers

Core keywords (also known as short-tail keywords) are the broad, popular terms that describe your main products. While they often have very high search volume and competition, they are the starting points for you to build your long-tail keywords for the next steps.

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Here are 10 popular broad keywords for the dog collar market:

Dog Collar

This is the most essential, high-volume search term. It is the foundation of your SEO and should be present in some form in every relevant listing to capture the broadest audience.

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Personalized Dog Collar

A crucial keyword phrase targeting buyers with high purchase intent. These customers are specifically looking to add a name, phone number, or custom text, making it a key term for custom sellers.

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Leather Dog Collar

This keyword attracts customers looking for a classic, durable, and premium product. It signals quality and craftsmanship and is often searched by owners of larger breeds or those seeking a timeless look.

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Martingale Collar

This targets a specific customer who needs a training or no-pull solution. It's a functional keyword for owners of breeds known for pulling or slipping out of regular collars, like greyhounds.

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Puppy Collar

This term captures new pet owners who need a smaller, lightweight, and often adjustable collar for their growing dog. It's a key term for tapping into the "new pet" market.

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Waterproof Dog Collar

A problem-solving keyword for owners of active, swimming, or "stinky" dogs. It's often associated with materials like Biothane and signals durability and ease of cleaning.

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Custom Dog Collar

Similar to "personalized," this term implies a made-to-order product. It attracts buyers who want a unique item tailored to their specific style, size, or feature requirements.

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Dog Bow Tie

This is a major accessory keyword for sellers offering add-ons or formal wear. It targets owners looking for something special for photoshoots, weddings, or holidays.

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Tactical Dog Collar

This niche keyword targets owners looking for military-style, heavy-duty collars, often with a handle and wide webbing. It appeals to owners of large, working, or protection breeds.

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Designer Dog Collar

This keyword attracts buyers with a higher budget who are looking for fashionable, unique, and high-end patterns or materials. It signifies luxury and style over basic function.

Top Long-Tail Keywords for dog collar

While core keywords are important, long-tail keywords are how you can really get found on Etsy. These are longer, more specific phrases (usually 2-5 words) that buyers use when they have a clearer idea of what they want or are closer to making a purchase. They often have lower search volume than broad keywords but higher conversion rates because they target a more specific need.

How to Brainstorm Your Long-Tail Keywords

A systematic way to build long-tail keywords is by adding descriptive modifiers to your broad keywords. Here are the modifiers I recommend:

Style/Aesthetic Long-Tail Keywords

boho floral fabric dog collar
preppy blue heavyduty dog collar
gothic leather spike dog collar
western hand tooled leather collar
minimalist neutral color dog collar

Occasion/Use Long-Tail Keywords

dog ring bearer wedding collar
my first birthday puppy collar
spooky ghost halloween dog collar
red and green christmas dog collar
fourth of july patriotic dog collar

Target Customer Long-Tail Keywords

collar for greyhound or whippet
gift for new puppy owner
matching friendship bracelet and dog collar
dog collar for small dogs girl
heavy duty collar for large dogs

Materials & Finishes Long-Tail Keywords

File Type/Platform Long-Tail Keywords

waterproof biothane dog collar with brass buckle
soft velvet dog collar with rose gold hardware
hemp eco friendly dog collar
embroidered nylon personalized dog collar
recycled canvas dog collar

Technique/Production Method Long-Tail Keywords

hand stamped personalized dog collar
macrame rope dog collar
laser engraved buckle dog collar
hand braided paracord dog collar
hand painted leather dog collar

Feature/Benefit Long-Tail Keywords

quick release metal buckle dog collar
reflective dog collar for night walking
breakaway safety collar for dogs
martingale collar with chain loop
dog collar with handle for extra control

Theme/Subject Matter Long-Tail Keywords

mountain and forest adventure dog collar
nautical anchor pattern dog collar
daisy floral dog collar for spring
buffalo plaid flannel dog collar
sunflower print dog collar

Size/Shape/Fit Long-Tail Keywords

extra small puppy collar for chihuahua
wide 2 inch collar for pitbull
adjustable collar for growing puppy
thin rolled leather collar for long fur
extra large collar for great dane

Problem Solved Long-Tail Keywords

no pull martingale training collar
stink proof collar for dogs that swim
silent slide on dog tag collar
lightweight collar for small dogs
machine washable fabric dog collar

To speed up the process and get even more relevant long-tail keyword ideas, consider using SEO research tools like Alura which you can get a big similar keyword list with information like estimated search volume and demand. Their free plan is pretty generous and you can sign up for free here.

Analysing Best Selling Listing Titles

One of the best ways to improve your Etsy SEO strategy is to see what's working for other successful sellers. By analysing best selling listings, you can gain valuable insights into what effective keywords they use, and how they structure the titles, so that you can apply to your own listings as well.

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Let's look at the listing titles from two dog collar bestsellers to see what we can learn from them:

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 01:

Personalized Dog Tag with HEART Design - Hand Stamped Dog Tag - Cat Tag - Dog Collar Tag - Heart Dog Tag - Pet ID Tag - Pet Name Tag by FluffPetCare

This title, while for a tag and not a collar, excels by using a "keyword stacking" method. It repeats core concepts like "Dog Tag" and "Pet Tag" combined with powerful modifiers like "Personalized," "Hand Stamped," and "Heart Design." This allows it to appear in a wide variety of searches from buyers looking for a custom, artisanal, or themed ID tag, and it even captures cat owners by including "Cat Tag."

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 02

Slide On Dog Tag - Silent Dog Tag - Dog Tags For Dogs Personalized - Dog Name Tag - Custom Dog Collar Tag - Black Dog Tags with Elastic Band by CookiePetTag

This title's strength comes from its problem-solving angle. It leads with "Slide On Dog Tag" and "Silent Dog Tag," which immediately attract buyers annoyed by the jingling of traditional hanging tags. It reinforces the product's function and features ("Elastic Band") while also hitting all the essential keywords like "Personalized," "Custom," and "Dog Name Tag" to cover all search bases.

Click here to see more Etsy bestseller title inspirations

How to Use Keywords to Optimise Your Etsy Listings

Now that you have a list of descriptive long-tail keywords for your dog collar, let's see how we can use them to optimise your Etsy listings.

How to Craft Highly Descriptive, Keyword-Rich Titles

Your listing title can make-or-break your Etsy SEO. Write your long-tail keywords to be highly descriptive. For example, compare these two:

Okay Title: Green Dog Collar

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Better Title: Forest Green Dog Collar, Personalized Engraved Buckle, Custom Dog Collar for Boy or Girl, Durable Pet Collar

Then put your strongest, most descriptive keyword in the front. Separate each long-tail keyword with symbols like commas or dashes so that the title is easy to read.

Use All 13 Tags with Specific, Long-Tail Keywords

Tags are another important place to tell the Etsy algorithm what your product is about. Use all 13 tags for your listings.

Focus on specific, long-tail keyword phrases
Tags have a 20-character limit
While it's ok for some broad keywords to appear in multiple tags, try to use a wide variety of descriptive terms across your 13 tags

Find Accurate Attributes & Categories

When you list a product on Etsy, you'll select a category and then be prompted to fill out attributes specific to that category (e.g., colour, material, size, occasion). These are just as important for SEO and helping buyers find your items through Etsy's filters.

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Be thorough and fill out as many relevant attributes as possible and be accurate for your product category.

Write Description for Shoppers & Etsy search algorithm

Etsy now uses keywords in your listing description for SEO. What I recommend to Etsy seller is to write compelling short paragraph (1-3 sentences) at the very beginning of your listing description that naturally include 3-5 relavant long-tail keywords for the product. Clearly communicate what the product is, its key features, and the benefits it offers the customer.

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Let's look at some listing description examples for dog collar:

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Listing Description Example 01

Give your best friend a touch of timeless style with our classic leather dog collar, handcrafted from durable, full-grain leather that softens beautifully with age. This personalized collar features a solid brass buckle and a deeply engraved nameplate to ensure your dog is always identifiable. It's the perfect combination of rugged durability and sophisticated style for daily walks and adventures.

Listing Description Example 02

Make walks a breeze with our floral martingale collar, designed to provide gentle control without choking for dogs that tend to pull. Made from washable, high-quality cotton fabric with a vibrant print, this collar is as fashionable as it is functional. The limited-cinch design is a safe and effective training tool recommended by vets and trainers.

Listing Description Example 03

Equip your adventurous pup with our stink-proof waterproof dog collar, built for swimming, hiking, and rolling in the mud. Made from ultra-durable Biothane, this collar repels water and dirt, so a quick rinse is all it takes to make it look brand new—no more damp, smelly collars! It's the ultimate low-maintenance, high-performance collar for active dogs.

6 Ways to Find More Keywords for dog collar

Keyword research is an ongoing process. I recommend these 6 ways to find effective long-tail keywords for your listings:

Etsy Search Bar

Start typing your core keywords into Etsy's search bar and pay close attention to the auto-suggestions that appear (guide here). These are real searches from actual Etsy shoppers.

Competitor Research

Look at the titles of listings that rank on page 1 (especially those with "Bestseller" badges). Don't copy directly, but use their keyword choices as inspiration for terms you might have missed.

Your Own Shop Stats

Your shop stats show you the exact search terms shoppers used to find your listings. Pay special attention to those that you are not directly targeting, and consider targeting them in listing titles.

Alura

One of my favourite Etsy keyword research tools. Alura speeds up the process of giving you a list of related popular keywords, and analyse which ones are the best for you.

eRank

Another popular tool among Etsy sellers, eRank offers robust keyword tools, trend analysis, grading your current listings, and checking keyword strength.

Everbee

Another great keyword research tool. I especially love Everbee's Chrome extension that shows you the estimated search volume directly on Etsy.

Your dog collar Etsy SEO Checklist

Phew, that's a lot of information. Let's do a little recap:

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Understand My Customer: Do I understand my target customer and their primary search motivations?
Core Keyword Research: Have I identified the top core keywords for the dog collar niche?
Long-Tail Keywords: Have I brainstormed a diverse list of long-tail keywords using various modifiers?
Ongoing Etsy SEO: Am I using at least 2-3 methods (from Section 7) to regularly find new keyword opportunities for dog collar?
Optimised Titles: Are my listing titles highly descriptive, front-loaded with strong keywords?
Maximised Tags: Am I using all 13 tags with specific, long-tail phrases?
Compelling Descriptions: Does the opening paragraph of my listing descriptions naturally include 3-5 important keywords and clearly state benefits/features?
Analyse & Improve: Am I reviewing my Etsy stats and competitor listings in the dog collar niche regularly to improve my SEO strategy?

Get More Etsy SEO Resources Here:

GYC Etsy SEO Checklist

A handy checklist for you to print out and make progress.

GYC Etsy SEO Guide

Our free SEO guide walking through everything you need to know.

Full Etsy SEO Course

A step-by-step comprehensive course in GYC Etsy Academy 2.0

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Growing Your Craft is supported by Etsy sellers. When you purchase/subscribe through affiliate links in this guide, I'll earn some coffee money at no extra cost to you. Blog illustrations by Freepik Stories.