How To Measure Your Dog’s Neck for a Collar

Want to treat your pup to a new dog collar? Has the one you’ve been using become frayed, allow for too much pulling, or does it just not fit right? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then it’s time for a new collar—which means it’s time to remeasure. We know, it’s everyone’s least favorite part about this process. But we’ve got some stellar tricks on how to measure your dog’s neck for a collar that will make it a breeze. Learn more below!

Head Size vs. Neck Size

To begin, there are two different areas of your dog to measure—both the head and the neck. Why? Collars move around, and you want it to be big enough to fit the neck comfortably, but not so big that it slides right on over your dog’s head. In addition, two different measurements are a must if you’re getting a martingale or tag collar. If you aren’t getting either of those, you are free to measure only around the neck.

• Head Size—Measure from underneath the dog’s throat, then over the ears and the top of the head.
• Neck Size—For this measurement, loosely measure the neck where the collar would normally sit, then slide two fingers between the dog’s neck and the measuring tape. If you’d rather get an exact measure without sliding two fingers in and simply add two inches to the final number.

What To Measure With

So we’ve explained the two different measurements you need, but what’s the best device to measure with? Not every dog will feel comfortable or sit still long enough for you to take an exact measurement. If you’re able, of course you’ll want to use a measuring tape. But if that’s not the case for you—don’t fret!

One of our best tricks on how to measure your dog’s neck for a collar asks you to grab a piece of string or even a phone charger. Make note of where your finger met the charger or string end. Once you’ve made that mark, you can then use a tape measure or ruler to get the exact measurement. This technique often works well for dogs that don’t sit still for long periods or for smaller dogs.

Once you’ve measured, turn to Julius-K9! We have different K9 dog collar options for you to choose from. In addition, we offer harnesses, leashes, fun accessories, patches, and so much more. If you need something for your dog, we’re bound to have it. Shop our collections now and make all of that measuring worthwhile!