Short answer
Buy your puppy a collar that fits now and is easy to adjust: the Royal Kennel Club says "Don't get one you think they'll grow into eventually"1. It should not be so loose that it slips over your puppy's head, nor so tight that you can't slip two fingers underneath, and it should be checked "almost daily"2.
Buy for now, not later
This article answers one question from our complete guide to sizing your puppy through the first year.
The Royal Kennel Club says to buy a collar "that fits them now but is also easy to adjust as puppies grow very quickly"1. It adds: "Don't get one you think they'll grow into eventually, because that's just going to be too big, heavy and intimidating."1
How to measure your puppy's neck
- Use a soft tape measure, or a piece of string and a ruler.
- Measure around the neck where the collar will sit. Our measuring guide shows where.
- Read the number in centimetres, and measure twice.
- Choose a collar whose adjustment range includes your puppy's neck now, with room to let it out as your puppy grows1.
How tight should a puppy collar be?
The Royal Kennel Club says puppy collars "should not be so loose that they can slip over your puppy's head nor so tight that you cannot slip two fingers underneath"2. Battersea says a flat collar "should fit snugly - two fingers between the collar and your dog's neck"3.
This two-finger rule is a collar rule. Harness brands give their own checks: see how tight should a dog harness be?
- Slide two fingers flat under the collar. They should fit, but only just.
- Gently try to pull the collar forward over the head. It shouldn't come off.
- If you can fit more than two fingers, or it slips over the head, tighten it. If you can't fit two, loosen it.
How often to check
The Royal Kennel Club says: "Puppies grow rapidly and collars should be checked almost daily for condition and fit. These should not be so loose that they can slip over your puppy's head nor so tight that you cannot slip two fingers underneath."2
We suggest checking each time you put the collar on or pick your puppy up, and re-measuring the neck every two weeks while your puppy is growing fast. See how often should I re-measure my puppy?
Putting it on for the first time
The Royal Kennel Club suggests putting the collar on and "immediately after give them a treat"1. Battersea says you can start as soon as your puppy comes home, and to "Go at your dog's pace"3.
Safety
- "Keep an eye on them in case the collar gets caught on anything such as furniture"1.
- "Always remove the puppy's collar when in the crate in case it gets caught up on it."2
- Check the condition as well as the fit2: look for fraying, cracked buckles or a loose ID tag.
ID tag: the UK rule
The Control of Dogs Order 1992 says every dog "while in a highway or in a place of public resort shall wear a collar with the name and address of the owner inscribed on the collar or on a plate or badge attached to it"4. The Order lists some exceptions, for example for certain working dogs, so check the legislation if you think one applies.
When your puppy moves up a collar size, move the tag or plate to the new collar straight away.
Collar or harness for walks?
Many owners clip the lead to a harness and keep the collar for ID. For flat-faced breeds, the RSPCA advises walking on a harness rather than a collar and lead "to avoid putting pressure on their neck and help them breathe easier"5, and the PDSA says "pressure on their neck can make breathing problems worse"6. See when can a puppy wear a harness?
Breed puppy harness guides
Our puppy guides take each breed from 8 weeks to 12 months: how it grows, when to re-measure, and when to move up a size.
- Cockapoo puppy harness size8 weeks to 12 months, stage by stage
- Golden Retriever puppy harness size8 weeks to 12 months, stage by stage
- German Shepherd Dog puppy harness size8 weeks to 12 months, stage by stage
- French Bulldog puppy harness size8 weeks to 12 months, stage by stage
Find your puppy's harness size All breeds
Questions
What size collar for a puppy?
One that fits your puppy's neck now and is easy to adjust as it grows1. Measure the neck where the collar sits and check the collar's adjustment range.
How many fingers should fit under a puppy collar?
Two. The Royal Kennel Club says not so tight that you cannot slip two fingers underneath, and not so loose it slips over the head2.
Should I buy a collar my puppy can grow into?
No. The Royal Kennel Club says that will be "too big, heavy and intimidating"1.
How often should I check my puppy's collar?
"Almost daily for condition and fit," according to the Royal Kennel Club2.
Should my puppy wear a collar in its crate?
No. The Royal Kennel Club says always remove it in the crate in case it gets caught2.
Does my puppy legally need a collar?
In a highway or public place, yes, with some exceptions: a collar with the owner's name and address on it or on an attached plate or badge4.