What is the Recommended Space Between Dogs Neck and Collar? Detailed Guide 2022

The perfect size dog collar is comfortable and ideal, as it gives you full control of your dog. However, when you put the collar on the dog’s neck, so it is very significant for you to know the recommended space between dogs neck and collar. You need to keep in mind lots of things when putting the collar on the dog’s neck.

The recommended space between a dog’s collar and neck should be between 1 to 3 inches, but it depends on the size of the dog’s neck. If your two fingers perfectly fit between the dog’s neck and collar, it should consider the perfect and ideal size between the dog’s neck and collar.

On the other hand, it depends on the size of the dog’s neck, so here you get the step-by-step guide about measuring the size of the dog’s neck. But, first, let’s take a closer look at all the steps mentioned below and figure out what is the right size of the collar.

What is the Importance of Right Sized Collar?

Choosing the best and right size dog collar is significant for you as well as for your dog. Most dog owners buy a dog collar without measuring the dog’s neck size, which is a huge mistake. The absolute safety depends upon the dog collar that perfectly fits on the dog’s neck. Therefore, you must know that if your dog’s collar is too loose and too tight, it will affect your dog’s comfort.

If the dog collar is too loose on the dog neck, it will slip out of it even while a simple walk. If the collar is too loose, so you are not able to effectively control your dog safely. Due to the loose dog collar, your dog could easily put itself in danger and could back out of the collar easily.

Conversely, if the dog’s collar is too tight so it gives irritation to your dog, and they feel uncomfortable. In addition, due to the too-tight dog collar, it is difficult for your dog to breathe sometimes, and it provides limited neck movement. 

In the end, if you buy the right size collar, so it gives you full control over your dog without sacrificing the comfort of the dog. Also, the right size dog collar maintains the dog’s health, and your dog feels happy during walking and training.

See: How to train your dog properly without any hesitation.

Measuring the Size of Dog Neck

As you know that the recommended space between a dog’s collar and its neck all depends on the dog’s neck size. Therefore, if you are thinking about buying the right size collar, you get the step-by-step guide about measuring the size of the dog neck.

1. First of all, you need soft tape, ribbon, or any string that works to obtain the dog collar’s accurate size by measuring the dog’s neck.
2. Secondly, wrap the soft tape or ribbon around your dog’s neck and measure the size of the dog’s neck.
3. Now, when you measure the dog’s size using soft tape or string, you need to add 1 or 2 inches for your dog’s comfort and security.

By following the 3 steps mentioned above, you can easily measure the size of the dog’s neck. After adding the 1 to 2 inches space, you get the perfect size of the dog’s collar, and you can buy the collar by considering this size.

Before buying the dog’s collar, you need to keep in mind that it should feel snug but not too tight on the dog’s neck. To get the dog collar, he/she should feel snug on the dog’s neck it is imperative to add the 1 to 2 inches depending upon the dog’s neck size.

How to Choose an Ideal Size Dog Collar?

Choosing the best and ideal size dog collar is effortless, and you don’t need to worry more. However, finding the best dog collar is depends upon some essential things mentioned below.

1. Size of Dog’s Neck
2. Size of the Dog Collar
3. Neck Sensitivity of the Dog
4. Age of the Dog
5. Weight of the Dog

You get to see the dog collars in different sizes in the market that comes with the XS, S, M, L, XL, sizes, etc. Even if the size of the collars is available, it is imperative for you to measure the length and width of the dog’s neck.

The collar that comes with the wider size proves to be best for strong dogs that tend to pull the collars. Another dog’s collar, known as a narrow collar is perfect and useful for smaller breeds of dogs with a shorter neck.

In addition, if you don’t know how to measure the size of the dog’s neck, here you get some recommended dogs collar that is based on the weight and breeds of the dogs. So, if you buy these dogs’ collars mentioned below your concern about the recommended space between dogs neck and collar, will go.

• XX-Small: When it comes to the XX small collar, it is the best dog collar for up to 5Ibs, and you can use it for Chihuahuas and similar small dog breeds.
• X Small: The X small collar is used with the dog breed that weighs 5-10lbs, and you can use it with Dachshund, Pomeranian, and similar sized dogs breeds
• Small: Small size collars are perfect for Pekingese, Miniature Schnauzer, and other similar-sized dog breeds that weigh are 10-25lbs.
• Medium: The medium-sized dog collars are recommended to use with the eagle, Border Collie, Bulldog, and other similar-sized dog breeds and use with the 25-55lbs weights.
• Large: This collar is best for dogs that weigh is 55 lbs-75lbs, and you can use it with Boxer, Dalmatian, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever dog’s breeds.
• X-Large: The X-large dog collars are best for dogs with a weight of 75+lbs, and you can use them with Great Dane, Mastiff, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, and similar dog breeds.

Challenging You Face When Buying a Dog Collar

While buying a dog collar that is designed by keeping in mind the recommended space between the dogs neck and collar, you may face some problems. You can measure the dog collar by following the rule of thumb as the dog collar is not too tight and too loose. The rule of thumb is that your two-finger perfectly fit between the dog’s collar and neck.

When you are buying a dog collar, you may face some problems mentioned below.

See: How tight should the dog collar be?

Dog Collar is Too Tight

The first problem you may face while buying a dog collar is that it is too tight on your dog’s neck. It will cause many health and breathing problems, and your dog feels uncomfortable. Another biggest disadvantage of the tight dog collar is that it will damage the dog’s hair around the neck. Finally, the tight dog collar irritates your dog, and you get some allergies around your dog’s neck.

Dog Collar is Too Loose

Secondly, if the dog collar is too loose, it will also cause many problems as it will slip off its neck. If you are specifically using the collar to prevent your dog from attacking someone or other pets, the loose dog collar is very dangerous for you. The loose collar allows your dog to attack someone easily because it will slip off around the dog’s neck.

Here you get the best shock collar for an aggressive dog that allows you to train dog properly.

Difficult to Adjust the Dog Collar

If you don’t find the perfect size dog collar, you can buy an adjustable dog collar. However, you can also face many problems even by using the adjustable collar. Sometimes it is complicated for you to adjust the dog collar and get the right space between the dog’s neck and collar.

In the end, always keep in mind that buy a collar that will easily adjustable and especially use it on the young dog that grows in size.

Above, you get to see the three difficulties that you may face when finding the best and right size dog collar.

Final Verdict

We hope you are well aware of the recommended space between dogs neck and collar by following the guide mentioned below. We especially recommend you to buy a dog collar that comes with 2 to 3 inches of space between the dog’s neck and your finger. The right size dog collar allows your dog to walk comfortably without any hesitation.

In the end, we hope that you can easily conclude what is recommended space between a dogs collar and its neck.