Dog Collar Size Guide by Breed
A collar that doesn't fit isn't just uncomfortable — it's unsafe. Too tight, you've got a choking hazard. Too loose, you've got a dog that's slipped the lead. We've been making collars in Colorado since 1995, and we've seen every shape and size of dog walk through our shop. Use this guide to find the right neck size for your breed, then double-check by measuring.
How to measure your dog's neck
- Use a soft tape measure (or a piece of string and a ruler).
- Wrap it around the middle of your dog's neck — where the collar will sit.
- Snug, but not tight. Two fingers should fit comfortably between the tape and your dog's neck.
- Write that number down. That's your neck size in inches.
- When choosing a collar, pick a size where your measurement falls in the middle of the range — not the very end.
Need a printable version? See our full How to Measure Your Dog guide.
Size by breed
These are starting points. Every dog is an individual — measure to confirm.
Toy & Tiny Breeds (Neck: 8"–12")
- Chihuahua
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Pomeranian
- Maltese
- Toy Poodle
- Papillon
Recommended width: 1/2" or 5/8". Anything wider overwhelms a small neck.
Small Breeds (Neck: 10"–14")
- Dachshund
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Boston Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Shih Tzu
- French Bulldog (small)
Recommended width: 5/8" or 3/4".
Medium Breeds (Neck: 13"–18")
- Beagle
- Border Collie
- Cocker Spaniel
- Australian Shepherd
- English Bulldog
- Brittany
- Whippet
Recommended width: 3/4" or 1".
Large Breeds (Neck: 16"–22")
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Vizsla
- Boxer
- Pointer
- Husky
- Doberman
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
Recommended width: 1" or 1-1/4". For pullers, consider a martingale.
Giant Breeds (Neck: 20"–28"+)
- Great Dane
- Mastiff (English, Bull, Cane Corso)
- Saint Bernard
- Newfoundland
- Rottweiler
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Anatolian Shepherd
- Great Pyrenees
Recommended width: 1-1/4" or 1-1/2". A wider collar distributes pressure across a powerful neck and looks proportional. See our For Big Dogs collection.
A few tips from our workshop
- Puppies grow fast. If your puppy's neck is between sizes, size up — they'll grow into it. Adjustable collars give you 3–4 inches of room.
- Coat type matters. Double-coated breeds (Huskies, Goldens, Bernese) measure larger when their winter coat is in. Re-measure seasonally.
- The two-finger rule isn't optional. A collar that's too tight can damage the trachea. Too loose and a determined dog will back out of it.
- Leather stretches a little. Our full-grain American leather will give about 1/4" with regular wear. Climbing-grade nylon rope and waterproof PVC-coated nylon hold their size.
- Hardware matters as much as fit. Every collar we make uses European steel D-rings and Japanese YKK polyacetal buckles — the parts that actually have to hold under load.
Still not sure?
Send us your dog's neck measurement and breed and we'll point you to the right collar. We've been doing this since 1995, and every collar we ship is backed by our 1-Year Guarantee with no fine print.