How to Measure Your Dog for a Collar
Measuring your hound for a collar should be simple. A tape measure, a dog, two minutes.
In reality it's a tape measure, a hound who thinks the tape is a new toy, and a surprising amount of licking. George once ate the end of ours. We don't talk about it.
Here's how to get it right first go.
Our collar sizes at a glance
| Size | Fits neck (first to last hole) | Total leather length |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 23 to 31cm | 36cm |
| Medium | 31 to 41cm | 46cm |
| Large | 41 to 51cm | 56cm |
| X-Large | 51 to 61cm | 66cm |
Total leather length doesn't include the buckle. Every collar is handmade, so please allow up to 1cm variation. See our full collar size chart.
What you'll need
- A soft tape measure (the sewing kind). No soft tape? Use a piece of string, then measure it against a ruler.
- Treats. Bribery is not just allowed, it's recommended.
- A helper, if your hound is a professional wriggler.
Already have a collar that fits?
Lucky you. This is the easiest way. Lay your hound's current collar on a flat surface and measure from the buckle end to the hole it's worn on. Then find that measurement in the chart above. (Measure the hole they actually use, not the one you wish they used.)
No collar? Measure your hound, step by step
- Find the right spot. A collar sits around the middle of the neck, where it naturally rests. Not up behind the ears, and not down on the shoulders.
- Wrap the tape around. Snug, but not tight. For fluffy hounds, push the tape down through the fur to the actual neck. A big coat can add a few centimetres of "fake neck".
- Do the two-finger test. Slip two fingers flat under the tape. They should fit comfortably, without the tape going slack. That's your measurement.
- Write it down. Quickly, before the tape is confiscated. Then measure again, just to be sure.
- Check the chart. Find your measurement in the table above and pick the matching size.
Stuck between two sizes?
Choose the size where your measurement sits closest to the middle of the range. That leaves holes to spare in both directions, for winter coats, summer clips and the occasional post-Christmas waistline.
For example, a 31cm neck sits at the very top of Small and the very bottom of Medium. Medium gives your hound more room to grow into (and a little leeway after Christmas lunch).
Tips for special hounds
- Long-necked hounds like greyhounds and whippets: they need a wide collar to support their vertebrae when on a lead. Our Duke collar is made just for them. Many long-necked hounds also wear a looser collar every day for their ID tags. For that everyday collar, slip four fingers under the tape instead of two.
- Small hounds: our Small collars are narrower than the other sizes and have smaller hardware, so they don't look like they're wearing a seatbelt.
- Young hounds: they grow faster than a zucchini in summer. Measure every couple of weeks to handle the growing years.
- Fluffy hounds: always measure the neck, not the fluff. And re-measure after a big haircut.
How do I know it fits?
Too tight: you can't fit two fingers underneath, or you spot rubbed fur.
Too loose: your hound can slip it over their head when they back up. Also known as "the Houdini".
Just right: two fingers fit snugly, it doesn't spin around the neck, and your hound forgets they're wearing it.
Check the fit every few months, and after any big change in weight or coat.
Still not sure?
Email us at ask@georgiepaws.com with your hound's measurements and breed, and we'll help you choose. Then browse our leather dog collars and matching leads. Save 10% when you buy a matching collar and lead together.
George has now been measured. He would like his treat.