How to Measure a Dog for a Collar

Start with the dog, not the leather. A handmade collar can only be as good as the number you write down first.

What you need to measure

You need a soft measuring tape, the sort used for sewing.¹ No tape? A piece of string works, and you can lay the string against a ruler afterwards.¹

1. Wrap the tape around the middle of the neck. One maker says this is usually the widest part, just above the shoulders.¹
2. Keep the tape snug against the fur. It shouldn't dig into the skin.¹
3. Write the number down.

A punched hole can't be unpunched. So measure twice before you cut.

Using an old collar instead

If the dog already has a collar that fits well, you can measure that. One leathercraft supplier suggests using the dog, or an old collar that you know fits, as your reference when you trim the strap.²

The two-finger check

Once a collar is fastened on the dog, slide two fingers, ideally the index and middle finger, between the collar and the neck.¹

• Two fingers go in with a little resistance: that's the fit to aim for.¹
• Two fingers won't fit: the collar is too tight and needs loosening.¹
• More than two fit: the collar is too loose, and the dog could easily slip its head out.¹

Very small dogs and puppies are different. For them the same maker says a single-finger fit is usually a safer bet.¹

Coat and grooming

Fur changes the number. A freshly clipped dog has a thinner neck than a fluffy one. Measure the dog as it will usually be, and check the fit again after a groom. If you see redness or hair loss under the collar, the collar may be too tight, or the material may be too rough for that dog's skin.¹

Turning the number into holes

A buckle collar has a row of holes so the fit can be adjusted. One maker's project punches the buckle holes half an inch apart.² It uses a paper template cut to the width of the strap, with a line down the middle and a dot for each hole.² That keeps the holes in a straight line.

Plan the row so that the hole the dog will actually use sits near the middle. Then you can go tighter or looser later. If the neck measurement falls between two holes, take the looser one and check it with two fingers. A loose collar can be tightened. A tight one can't be fixed without new holes.

Width and thickness

Width and thickness belong together, and bigger dogs need more of both. The same supplier says the bigger the dog, the thicker and stiffer the leather you may need.² Its own sample collar uses a ¾ inch strap with a ¾ inch buckle and a ¾ inch D-ring.² That's one example, not a rule for every dog. Choose the buckle and ring to match the strap, and read Choosing Leather for Dog Collars and Leads before you buy a hide.

Where this fits

Leather is one of the most common collar materials, along with nylon webbing.³ Whatever you pick, the neck measurement and the two-finger check work the same way. When the fit is settled, go on to Collar Hardware and then Making a Flat Leather Collar.