Comfortable Dog Collar Tips for Happy Pups

Making Measurements

Everyone is familiar with measuring a dog's neck circumference, but there's an important point to keep in mind: puppies grow out of their collars much faster than adult dogs, as their necks change almost daily.

What about adult dogs, though? Should you just buy a new one when the old one wears out?

Of course not. When selecting a collar for an adult dog, it's not only crucial to choose one that's slightly larger than their current neck size, but also to consider their age and lifestyle. An adult dog's collar can become unsuitable due to changes in lifestyle or other factors.

In simpler terms, this could mean they've gained or lost weight.

Inspection

Building on the previous point, while the fluctuations in an adult dog's neck circumference may not be as dramatic as in puppies, it doesn't mean there won't be any changes. According to statistics from the American Veterinary Medical Association, a dog's neck circumference can visibly change within two weeks of a change in their lifestyle or diet.

So, if you've recently switched your dog's food and notice that the collar that once fit perfectly is now a bit snug, don't worry—it's perfectly normal.

On the other hand, if your dog has been showing a lack of appetite and the collar that used to fit well is now loose, it's time to take them to the vet for a checkup.

In other words, by measuring and recording your dog's neck circumference every two weeks, you'll quickly be able to track their recent weight changes.

What's the perfect collar length for comfort?

American dog owners often use the "twofinger rule" when choosing a collar. This rule states that when the collar is worn on the dog's neck, if a person's index and middle fingers can comfortably fit between the collar and the dog's neck, the collar is the right size.

If three fingers can fit, the collar is too loose; if only one finger can fit, the collar is too tight.