How Do You Measure a Dog for a Collar? A Simple Fit Guide
To measure a dog for a collar, wrap a soft measuring tape around your pup's neck where their collar naturally sits. Keep it snug but not tight, with room for two fingers to slide comfortably underneath. Then compare that number with the size chart for the exact collar you're buying.
It's a two-minute job, though a wiggly doggo can make it feel a lot longer.
How to Measure Your Dog's Neck Step by Step
Here's the good news. For a standard collar, your pup's neck is the only measurement you need, so there's no wrestling them into a full-body fitting. The tape goes at the base of the neck, right where the collar sits, close to the skin without pulling tight.
- Grab a soft, flexible measuring tape (the kind used for sewing works perfectly) and a pocketful of treats.
- Ask your pup to stand or sit calmly with their head in a natural, level position. Easier said than done with a puppy, we know!
- Find the spot where their collar naturally rests.
- Wrap the tape around that spot so it lies flat against the neck, snug but not tight.
- Slide two fingers under the tape. They should slip in comfortably, no squeezing required.
- Read the number where the tape meets its starting end, and write it down before your dog decides the session is over.
- Reward your very patient model with a treat (or three).
How to Measure a Dog for a Collar Without a Tape
If the sewing tape has gone missing, no problem, because a piece of string, ribbon or even a shoelace works just as well. Wrap it around the same spot on your dog's neck, mark where the ends meet, then lay it flat beside a ruler and read off the length.
Just pick your string carefully. A stretchy cord can give you a number that looks perfectly legitimate right up until the collar arrives and very much isn't. Elastic, yarn and anything with give stretches as you wrap it, so your number comes out smaller than your dog's neck.
How to Measure a Dog Collar You Already Have
If your pup already has a collar that fits like a dream, you can measure that instead. Fasten it at the setting they usually wear, then measure around the inside of the loop, right where it touches their neck.
Don't lay it flat and measure tip to tip, though. That adds the spare strap and all the holes your dog never uses, so you'd end up ordering a collar that's too big. And only borrow measurements from a collar that truly fits, because copying one that's already too snug just leaves you with two snug collars instead of one.
Matching Your Measurement to a Dog Collar Size Chart
Once you've got your number, it's time for the size chart of the exact collar you're eyeing. Collar sizes aren't standard, so one brand's medium can be another brand's large, and different types of dog collars adjust in different ways too. Your dog's breed won't tell you their size either, because two wildly different pups can share the same neck. A chunky pug and a slender greyhound can measure the same around the neck and wear the very same collar size. How long the neck is makes a difference too, since it changes where the collar sits, so always measure the exact spot where your dog's collar rests.
Our collars come in four sizes, with XS fitting necks from 8 to 12 inches, S from 11 to 16, M from 13 to 19 and L from 18 to 28. There's no need to add extra inches, since you already left your pup some breathing room with the two-finger check. If your dog falls between two sizes, go with the larger one and tighten it to fit. Whether you're shopping small dog collars for a tiny terrier or large dog collars for a gentle giant, the chart has the final say.
Checking Your Dog's Collar Fit Once It Arrives
Once the new collar arrives, slide two fingers underneath and gently ease it forward toward your pup's ears. It should feel snug without squeezing and stay put without slipping, because a loose collar can let your dog wriggle free. For the full list of warning signs, see our guide on how tight a dog collar should be.
How to Measure Puppies and Long-Necked Breeds for a Collar
Puppies grow like weeds, so expect to size up a few times before your little one is fully grown. Keep checking that just two fingers fit under their collar, especially during those growth spurts.
Long-necked beauties like greyhounds and whippets are a little different, since their collars tend to sit higher because their necks taper. For these pups, measure lower on the neck, between the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades) and the usual collar spot.
Finding a Dog Collar That Fits and Feels Like Them
With your number in hand, the hard part's done and the fun part begins! Take it to our dog collars, pick a style and color your pup will rock, and peek at our guide to dog collar color meanings if you're wondering whether that bold red sends a message.
Frequently asked questions
What if the larger size feels loose on my in-between dog?
Tighten it until two fingers still fit underneath but the collar can't slip over your dog's ears. If it won't snug up that far, try the smaller size or a different style.
What size collar does a golden retriever need?
Most adult golden retrievers wear our Large, which fits necks from 18 to 28 inches, while golden puppies often start in a Small or Medium and size up as they grow. Breed is only a rough guide, though, so measure your pup before you order.
