Flea treatment has a gap in it, and the gap is usually the tail end of the month, when a spot-on has worn thin and the next dose is not due yet. A collar quietly covers that stretch in the background. There is no date to remember and no wrestling a cat over a pipette, just something worn that carries on working while you get on with everything else.

The band is lightweight silicone, cut long so it trims down to a neck rather than arriving in fixed sizes. Silicone is the sensible material here because it is water-resistant, so it carries on through rain, wet grass and a muddy walk instead of losing its effect on the first proper soaking. It is designed to keep working over an extended period rather than needing anything done to it day to day, and one collar suits dogs or cats.

• Adjustable silicone band that trims to fit
• Water-resistant construction
• Helps deter fleas and ticks
• Suitable for both dogs and cats
• Worn rather than applied, so nothing to remember
• Supplied weight 74g

Being straight with you. A repellent collar helps keep pests off. It is not a veterinary treatment and it will not clear an established infestation, which needs a proper product from your vet alongside treating the house itself. Use it as a supporting layer, and keep checking your dog by hand for ticks after walks regardless.

Who it's for: Owners wanting a low-effort background deterrent between veterinary treatments, particularly through spring and summer.