Is Your Dog’s Collar Too Tight?

Puppies grow quickly and dogs change size throughout their lifetime.  You should check a growing puppy’s collar at least once a week to ensure it isn’t too tight.

If your dog’s collar is too tight, it may dig into and injury the skin or cause choking or gagging.  Left too tight for too long, a collar can become embedded in the skin.

Hair Loss and Skin Irritation

Embedded Collar

If the collar is too loose, it may slip over you’re dogs head, slip down too far and risk damaging its throat, or the collar may become snagged on something and cause your dog to choke.

To make sure your dog’s collar isn’t too tight or too loose, follow these easy tips:

1. The collar should be loose enough to move it around your dog’s neck without you needing to force it to move.  Hold it by the loop where you clip the leash and move the collar around your dog’s neck.  The collar should move with slight resistance.
   
2. Place two fingers under your dog’s collar.  If your two fingers fit comfortably, you dog should be comfortable.
3. Lift the collar up toward your dog’s ears as if you were removing a necklace from your neck.  Gently lift it like you were going to take it off like a necklace.  The collar should fit snug right at your dog’s ears.  If it slides over the ears, it’s too loose. If you can’t life it to their ears without choking, it’s too tight.