Dog Collar Sizing: How to Choose the Right Size for Your Dog

Choosing the right dog collar size isn’t just about comfort — it’s about safety, control, and long‑term durability. A collar that’s too loose can slip off at the worst moment, while one that’s too tight can cause discomfort or injury.

This guide walks you through exactly how to measure your dog for a collar, explains how we measure our collars, and helps you confidently choose the right size — whether you have a small family dog or a large working K9.

All of our collars feature adjustable size ranges. For our 1" Sport and 1.5" Sport and Fi-Compatible collars, we offer 4 size ranges, and for our 2" Pro collars (or with handle) we offer 3 size ranges. Below we'll share our methodology for sizing, and tips for how you can choose the best size range for your dog. 

How We Measure Our Collars:

We measure our collars from where 2 points of the buckle would meet when closed. We do not measure end-to-end, since the tongue of one end of the Cobra Buckle goes inside the other end. See the image below for an idea of what that looks like.

Measure the collar from where two points of the buckle meet, not end-to-end.

Opting for the added hook-and-loop (Velcro) strip for our Custom Name Patches does change the size ranges a bit, however our size selections automatically adjust so you know what you're picking. For example, without the added hook-and-loop our Small size for our 1" and 1.5" Sport Collars is 11.5"-16", however, with the hook-and-loop, our Small size is 13"-16". This is because the hook-and-loop strip limits how low the adjustment slider can go.

• Each of our collars have a "Size Guide" which will give you the measurements in inches for each size, taking into account the different options. 

How To Measure Your Dog's Current Collar:

The easiest way to find your dog's ideal collar size is to measure their current collar. Lay the collar out flat, similar to how we've shown above, and using a ruler or tape measure, measure the collar from where two points of the buckle meet. Since that's what your dog currently wears, that measurement should be a good indicator of what size collar to get. 

• Ensure it's laid out flat and not curving. Stretch it out if necessary. 
• You can always snap a photo and send it to us before ordering!

How To Measure Your Dog's Neck:

If you don't have a collar to measure, then you can also measure your dog's neck. Use a fabric ruler and measure the circumference of your dog's neck, ensuring that you can still get 2 or 3 fingers underneath (so it's not too tight). If you don't have a fabric ruler, you can use a string or belt, and then measure where the two points meet using the flat method we talked about above.

For Example: This German Shepherd's neck measures at 20".

• Measure slightly above the base of the neck, where the collar naturally sits.
• Don't try to use a metal tape measure to directly measure your dog's neck, they tend to bind and bulge and give inaccurate measurements.

Best Practices For Choosing A Size Range:

• We recommend choosing whichever size range your dog falls most in the middle of. For example, if your dog's neck measures 17", we recommend the Medium (15.5"-19.5") instead of the Large (17"-22").
• If you have a dog that's still growing, then we recommend choosing a size range where they'd fall on the lower end of, that way they have plenty of growing room!
• You want the collar to be snug enough that it can't slide over their head, but comfortably loose enough that you can slide 2 or 3 fingers underneath.
• When in doubt, size up! We get more exchanges for a larger collar than we do for a smaller collar. 

• If you get your collar and it just doesn't quite fit right, no worries! At Landshark Supply we offer easy exchanges, just reach out.