What is the Dog Collar and Why Does It Matter?
The Dog Collar is a Rare item in Arc Raiders. Its main uses are:
Training Scrappy, your robotic companion.
Recycling for crafting materials if you don’t need it for upgrades.
In practice, most players hold onto Dog Collars because Scrappy upgrades require them. Recycled Dog Collars give you 8 Fabric and 1 Metal Part, while salvaging them gives only 5 Fabric. So if you’re focused on Scrappy, don’t recycle them prematurely.
Where Can You Find the Dog Collar in the Dam?
In the Dam, the Dog Collar can appear in residential areas—places like abandoned apartments, small cabins, or storage rooms inside the complex. Players often report that it spawns near shelves, tables, or on top of cabinets.
A few tips based on player behavior:
Check upper floors first; the Dam’s AI enemies usually patrol the lower floors more heavily, and upper floors often have less loot contention.
Look for interactive containers like crates or toolboxes. Dog Collars are sometimes tucked inside these rather than lying out in the open.
Keep moving. The spawn points are consistent enough that a quick sweep of each residential area will usually net at least one Dog Collar per run.
Some players mistakenly expect the Dog Collar to be in weapon caches or in the main control room, but in practice, these areas rarely contain it. Focus your search on residential rooms scattered throughout the Dam.
How to Use the Dog Collar in Practice
The most common reason players hunt for Dog Collars is to upgrade Scrappy. Here’s how it works in the workshop:
Scrappy I → Scrappy II requires 1 Dog Collar.
Upgrading improves Scrappy’s combat efficiency and utility, making him better in fights or for gathering resources.
When planning your runs, prioritize keeping at least one Dog Collar per upgrade cycle. Many experienced players even run the Dam repeatedly to stock up, because Scrappy upgrades are a long-term investment.
If you’ve been farming other rare materials, it’s worth noting that the same residential areas where Dog Collars spawn often also contain other items useful for upgrades—like Fabric or Metal Parts—so you can multitask your scavenging trips.
Recycling and Salvaging the Dog Collar
If you already have enough for Scrappy upgrades, you can recycle or salvage extra Dog Collars:
Recycling: 8 Fabric + 1 Metal Part
Salvaging: 5 Fabric
In practice, recycling is usually more efficient if your goal is gathering crafting materials. Salvaging is mainly for players who are conserving inventory space. Experienced players often keep a few spare Dog Collars, just in case they need them for future workshop upgrades.
A useful tip: if you’re looking to craft items later, you might combine materials from Dog Collars with other components. For example, Fabric from Dog Collars can help you craft parts for various blueprints—some players even plan ahead to
buy Shredder Gyro blueprint later, so stockpiling these crafting materials makes sense.
Player Behavior and Loot Patterns
From experience, here’s how players usually interact with Dog Collars:
Early players often miss them because they prioritize enemies or weapons first.
Experienced players sweep all residential areas systematically. They move quickly, mark cleared areas, and come back after respawns.
Dog Collars are rare, so multiple runs may be necessary to collect enough for several upgrades.
In the Dam, it’s also common for players to work in pairs. One player can clear enemies while the other focuses on looting, which increases efficiency and ensures you don’t miss spawn points.
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