How Tight Should a Dog Collar Be?

Because dogs and puppies are all different sizes, from tiny Chihuahuas to large Great Danes, we often get asked how to work out what size collar is suitable for our customers' dogs, how tight should a dog collar be and how should it be adjusted for the best and safest fit.  

At Noggins & Binkles all of our vegan dog collars are fitted with a quick release buckle and are fully adjustable. We make miniature collars for small dogs and puppies and little breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Miniature Dachshunds, and our standard size brass buckle dog collars are available in extra small to large, with narrow and wide options available for some sizes. This means that one of our dog collar sizes will be suitable for the vast majority of dogs and puppies. Although we try to have a size for everyone we can also make any of our dog collars in a bespoke size to ensure it's a perfect fit, it's just a question of contacting us at hello@nogginsandbinkles.com and we will be able to make a custom size dog collar for your puppy or dog. It's worth mentioning that we also recommend that you attach a personalised dog ID tag to your dog's collar for additional safety and security and to ensure you are complying with the law in the UK. You can find out more in this post.

Gorgeous @Lolalittledash wearing her orange vegan cork leather dog collar and brass dog ID tag.

How to Measure Your Dog’s Neck

To find out what size collar your dog needs, or if you need a custom size dog collar, you will need to know the size of your dog's neck. You can measure your dog's neck with a flexible tape ruler (just like the ones that tailors use) or by putting a piece of string snugly (but not too tightly) around your dog's neck, marking where the ends meet and then laying the string on the table and measuring to the mark using a standard flat ruler or tape measure. Alternatively, if your dog has an existing collar that fits them well, you can measure the length of it adjusted to the size that fits them perfectly. If you are choosing an existing standard dog collar size, we recommend choosing a size that allows for growth, if your dog is still growing, but that will fit them when it's adjusted to a smaller size too. If they are fully grown we recommend having at least a few extra centimetres available on the size just to ensure it's a good fit and not too tight. If we manufacture a bespoke dog collar for you we can advise on a suitable size using a range either side of the measurements that you send to us to make sure that you get the right fit for your dog. 

How to Fit a Dog Collar

We recommend that when you put a collar on your dog, you adjust the collar to leave enough space to be able to snugly slide two fingers in between the collar and your dog's neck, this is also recommended by the Humane Society. This will ensure that the collar is not too tight so as to be uncomfortable or dangerous for your dog, but will also ensure that it is not loose enough for your dog to get his or her foot caught under the collar, which might lead to an injury or your dog trying to remove the collar. If it is the first time that your puppy or dog is wearing a collar, we recommend that you double check the fit a few minutes after you have first fitted the collar to ensure that your dog is relaxed and the fit is accurate. 

If you are buying a collar for a puppy or dog that is not yet fully grown, it is important to regularly check the fit of the collar to ensure that, as your dog grows, you can still slide two fingers in between your dog and the collar. If the collar becomes too tight, you can simply adjust it using the slider on the collar or if there is no more room to adjust the collar, it is time to size-up!

If you need any advice in relation to the appropriate size for a dog collar or would like a bespoke size then please contact us at hello@nogginsandbinkles.com.