Dog Collar Size Guide: How to Measure Your Dog’s Neck

Choosing the pattern is the fun part. Getting the fit right makes it ready for your dog.

Whether you’ve fallen for Blackbird’s florals, Cowboy’s stripes, or another Lucky Love Dog favorite, take a minute to measure before you order. A comfortable, secure collar starts with your dog’s actual measurements.

This dog collar size guide walks you through measuring your dog’s neck and choosing between our regular, martingale, and wide collar sizes.

Why Measuring Matters

Dog collar sizes aren’t standardized across brands. A medium in one brand may fit differently from a medium in another.

Breed and weight can give you a general idea, but they don’t tell you your dog’s neck measurement. Even two dogs from the same litter can need different sizes.

Start with the dog in front of you, then check the size chart for the specific collar you’re buying.

How to Measure Your Dog’s Neck

You’ll need a soft measuring tape—or a piece of string and a ruler—and a reasonably cooperative dog. A treat may help with that last part.

1. Find Where the Collar Will Sit

With your dog standing comfortably, place the tape around the neck where their regular collar naturally rests.

Smooth long fur enough to get an accurate measurement without pressing the tape tightly into the coat.

2. Measure Snugly, Without Pulling Tight

Wrap the tape around the neck so it lies flat. It should touch comfortably without squeezing.

If you’re using string, mark where the ends meet, then lay it straight beside a ruler.

3. Record the Measurement in Inches

Write down the number and measure again to check it. If your dog is wriggling, pause and try once they’ve settled.

Keep this measurement handy while you shop.

4. Compare the Correct Collar Chart

Use the chart for the style you want: regular, martingale, or wide.

Choose an adjustment range that includes your dog’s measurement. Don’t automatically add several inches or order a larger size “just in case.”

5. Check the Fit When It Arrives

Adjust the collar on your dog and allow enough room to slip two fingers comfortably between the collar and neck.

That comfort check is only part of the process. A regular collar should also stay securely in place rather than easily sliding over your dog’s head.

Lucky Love Dog Regular Collar Size Chart

Our regular collars have a buckle closure. Collar width varies with size, giving smaller dogs a narrower option.

Not every pattern is offered in every size. Check the available options on your chosen product page.

See our regular collar size guide before ordering.

Lucky Love Dog Martingale Collar Size Chart

Our martingales have no buckle and slip over the dog’s head. Their loop design reduces the collar’s circumference under leash tension, so proper adjustment matters.

For martingale collar sizing, check both the neck fit and whether the loosened collar can comfortably pass over your dog’s head. A neck measurement alone doesn’t confirm that a slip-on collar will go on easily.

Once adjusted, it should remain secure without constricting the neck when the smaller loop closes. If you’re unsure about the fit, get help before using it for a walk.

Martingales are for supervised use. Remove them when your dog is unattended, sleeping, or crated.

See our martingale collar size guide.

Lucky Love Dog Wide Collar Size Chart

Our wide dog collars are 1½ inches wide in every size listed below. The same published measurement ranges apply to our wide martingales.

Wide regular collars have a buckle; wide martingales do not.

“Wide” describes the width of the collar—not a larger neck measurement. For example, a medium regular collar and a medium wide collar both have a 13–21-inch adjustment range, but they cover different amounts of the neck.

Consider your dog’s neck length and comfort as well as circumference. More width isn’t automatically the right choice for every dog.

See our wide collar and wide martingale size guide.

What If Your Dog Fits Two Sizes?

Overlapping ranges are normal. A dog with a 14-inch neck, for example, falls within both our small and medium regular collar ranges.

Compare the collar widths as well as the adjustment ranges. Small is ½ inch wide; medium is ¾ inch wide. Think about what sits comfortably on your dog’s neck, with room to adjust in either direction.

If you’re still unsure, contact us with your dog’s measurement and the collar style you’re considering.

Measuring Puppies and Fluffy Dogs

For puppies, fit the collar to the dog you have today. Recheck frequently as they grow, and adjust or replace it when needed. An overly loose collar isn’t a useful growth allowance.

For fluffy dogs, measure the neck rather than the outside of the coat. Check the fit again after grooming, especially if a haircut changes how the collar sits.

Recheck adult dogs’ collars, too. Weight changes, grooming, and everyday wear can all affect the fit.

Choosing a Collar and Matching Leash

Once you’ve found the right collar size, you can choose a matching leash.

Lucky Love Dog’s standard leashes are five feet long, with two widths:

• Small leash: ½ inch wide.

• Large leash: 1 inch wide.

Our regular collar-and-leash combinations pair XS and small collars with the small leash, and medium, large, and XL collars with the large leash.

Check the individual listing for the combination you’re ordering.

Beautiful Patterns, Thoughtful Fit

As a dog rescuer, I’ve helped many dogs begin a new chapter with a new collar. Taking a little time to check the fit is a simple act of care—and one worth repeating.

Lucky Love Dog was founded alongside that rescue work. Our colorful gear celebrates the dogs we adore, while every purchase helps us continue supporting dogs waiting for their own second chance.

Choose your fit first. Then enjoy finding the pattern that feels like your dog.

Explore our martingale collars or complete walking sets, and check your chosen product’s size guide before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure my dog for a collar?

Wrap a soft measuring tape around the neck where the collar will sit. Measure snugly without squeezing, record the number in inches, and compare it with the chart for your chosen collar.

Can I choose a collar size by my dog’s weight?

Use the neck measurement instead. Weight and breed don’t reliably predict collar size, and sizing varies between brands.

How tight should a regular dog collar be?

Allow enough room to slip two fingers comfortably underneath, while checking that the collar cannot easily slide over your dog’s head.

Are martingale collars sized differently?

Lucky Love Dog standard martingales come in small, medium, and large. Use their specific chart, and make sure the loosened collar passes comfortably over the head before adjusting the neck fit.

Does a wide collar fit a bigger neck?

Not necessarily. Our wide collars are 1½ inches wide, but medium and large share the same neck adjustment ranges as the corresponding regular collar sizes.

Should I buy a bigger collar for my puppy to grow into?

Choose a collar that fits securely now, with an appropriate adjustment range. Recheck often as your puppy grows rather than starting with an oversized collar.