What size collar does a puppy need?

Your puppy will outgrow their first collar, probably within a few months. That is not a fitting mistake, it is what happens when an animal doubles in size before its first birthday.

What matters is knowing the number to look for, how often to check it, and when the collar you bought at nine weeks has stopped doing its job.

If you are not sure how to take the measurement, our dog collar fit guide walks through it. This page picks up from there.

Every EzyDog collar size

Neck circumference each size fits in cm.

Two things worth knowing before you choose.

The smallest collar we make is the Oxford Leather Classic in 2XS, which fits a 15cm neck. Nothing else in the range starts below 22cm.

All smalls are NOT the same. An Oxford Small starts at 22cm. A Neo Classic Small starts at 34cm. Twelve centimetres apart, same word on the label. Read the chart for the collar you are actually buying.

Which collars actually fit a puppy?

For most puppies it comes down to the smallest few sizes in the range.

• Under 20cm at the neck. The Oxford Leather Classic in 2XS is the only option.

• 19 to 26cm. Oxford Leather Classic in XS.

• 22 to 29cm. Double Up in Small, or Oxford Leather Classic in Small.

• 26 to 34cm. Checkmate in Small.

• Over 34cm. Neo Classic in Small, which for most breeds means a larger puppy or one already several months old.

A large breed puppy can arrive at eight weeks already measuring 35cm, so do not assume small just because they are young.

What size collar for an 8 week old puppy?

Always measure their neck size to ensure the most comfortable fit for your puppy.

An eight week old toy breed might measure 18cm. A large breed puppy of the same age could be closer to 35cm, which is a Medium on several collars.

There is no size for eight weeks. There is only the number on the tape.

How often should you re-measure?

Every fortnight for the first few months, then monthly.

Puppies grow fastest between roughly eight and sixteen weeks, and a neck can gain a couple of centimetres in that window without anything looking different. Growth slows after that without stopping. Smaller breeds are close to full size somewhere around eight to ten months. Larger breeds keep going past a year.

Tie the check to something already on a schedule, like a worming treatment or a vet visit.

When to move up a size

Three signs, and any one is enough.

• You can no longer fit two fingers under the collar comfortably.

• The collar has run out of adjustment. You are on the last hole, or the strap is pulled as far as it goes.

• You can see a flattened line in the coat where the collar sits, still there after the collar has been off a while.

Do not wait for all three.

Can you buy a bigger collar and let them grow into it?

An oversized collar sits lower on the neck than it should, where there is less shape to hold it in place. It rotates when your puppy moves, and a determined dog can back straight out of it. That tends to happen at the moment you need the collar most, usually when something has startled them.

Adjustment within a size is the thing to look for instead. Every EzyDog collar adjusts, so one size covers months rather than weeks. A Double Up in Small spans 22 to 29cm. An Oxford Leather Classic in Small spans 22 to 32cm, which is ten centimetres of growing room.

Most owners go through two or three collars before a dog is fully grown. That is normal, and it is cheaper than replacing a collar your dog has slipped out of somewhere inconvenient.

Choosing a first collar

Beyond the size, four things make a collar easier to live with on a young dog.

• A quick release buckle. Puppies wriggle, and getting a collar off in a second is worth more than you would expect.

• Soft webbing or padding. A young dog's neck is more sensitive than an adult's and their coat is thinner. The Double Up uses a soft touch webbing. The Neo Classic is padded with neoprene, the same material wetsuits are made from.

• Room to adjust. Read the range, not the size name.

• A separate ID attachment. Your council will require registration and the tag has to live somewhere. A collar with its own ID point keeps the tag clear of the leash clip, so it rattles less and catches on less.

If you want to compare collar styles rather than sizes, the fit guide covers that.

Frequently asked questions

When can a puppy start wearing a collar?

Most puppies can wear a lightweight collar from around eight weeks, once they have settled in at home. Start with short stretches indoors before going anywhere with it on.

Can a puppy wear a collar all day?

Most can once they are used to it, though take it off when they are crated or left unsupervised. Check the fit daily in the first few weeks, since a puppy growing quickly can outpace a collar faster than you expect.

What is the smallest collar EzyDog makes?

The Oxford Leather Classic in 2XS, which fits a neck of 15 to 20cm. Nothing else in the range starts below 22cm.

What is the best collar for a puppy?

The one that fits today, adjusts as they grow, and comes off quickly. For a small puppy, the Oxford Leather Classic goes down to 15cm. For a medium or large breed puppy, a Double Up in Small covers 22 to 29cm and sees most through their first months.

My puppy keeps scratching at their collar. Is it the wrong size?

Check the fit first. If it is right, the scratching is usually novelty. Put the collar on before something they enjoy, like a meal or a walk, so they connect it with good things. Most puppies stop noticing within days. If it carries on past a week, measure again.

How much growing room should I leave?

None beyond the adjustment the collar already gives you. Size to the neck as it is today and use the adjustment range as they grow. Sizing up early creates a collar they can back out of.