Bringing a new puppy home is exciting, and there are many things to think about and get ready before your dog arrives.
Choosing the perfect collar is one of these things, and making sure the sizing is right is important.
However, it can be tricky to guess what size collar your dog will need.
There are, however, a few ways to make sure your new puppy ends up with a collar that looks great and fits perfectly.
What size collar should a Labrador puppy wear?
Labrador puppies grow quite a bit in their first year of life, which means that you’ll need to replace their puppy collar.
However, it’s important to start with a puppy collar or a collar designed for small dogs, instead of a collar designed for full-grown dogs, for a few reasons.
Puppy collars aren’t usually as wide as collars designed for medium or large adult dogs.
They’re also often designed with lighter buckles or materials.
Together, these things make for a collar that’s less cumbersome and more comfortable for a puppy.
Puppy collars come in smaller sizes than adult collars, but there are still several sizes to choose from.
Some people use weight as a way to estimate what size collar to get.
Puppies, or dogs of any age, that weigh less than 10 pounds generally need a collar that’s 12 inches or less in length. Dogs that weigh between 11 and 25 pounds usually need collars between 11 and 15 inches long. Dogs that weigh between 26 and 55 pounds may need a slightly longer collar, usually between 13 and 18 inches. Collars that measure between 16 and 24 inches are best for dogs that weigh between 56 and 80 pounds.
Lab puppies gain about 2 pounds for every week of life until they reach their adult size, which is somewhere between 55 and 79 pounds, depending on the dog’s gender.
This means that a puppy that’s eight weeks old will weigh about 16 pounds, and it will probably need a collar that’s about 11 or 12 inches long.
This is usually considered to be a small dog collar.
It’s a good idea to get a collar that’s a couple of inches longer than you think you’ll need, as this allows for growth.
Also, you can always buckle a collar so that it’s shorter, but you can’t make a collar longer.
| Labrador weight | Collar size |
|---|---|
| Less than 10 pounds | 12 inches or less |
| 11 to 25 pounds | 11 to 15 inches |
| 26 to 55 pounds | 13 to 18 inches |
| 56 to 80 pounds | 16 to 24 inches |
Growth and Adult Collars
You’ll need to replace your new dog’s first collar and possibly their second collar before the dog is done growing.
As your dog grows and begins to reach its adult weight, you can still use the weight method to figure out a rough collar size.
However, measuring your dog’s neck is often the best method for fitting an adult dog for a collar.
Use a cloth or flexible tape measurer to measure around your dog’s neck.
It’s important to measure at the base of the neck, as this is where the collar will usually rest.
Measuring several places around your dog’s neck, however, can give an even more accurate measurement.
Remember that a collar shouldn’t be able to slip over the dog’s head, but it should be loose enough that you can fit two fingers under it easily.
When should a puppy first wear a collar?
Most puppies can wear a collar as soon as you bring them home as long as it’s not too heavy or too wide.
Some puppies may have already been wearing soft breakaway collars for training or to distinguish them from their littermates.
It’s a good idea to start having your puppy wear a collar as soon as possible, as it will help get the dog used to the feel of a collar.
This can make training, particularly leash training, much easier in the future.
Collar Types
There are several collar options available, and picking the right type is often as important as choosing the correct size.
Leather collars are durable and stylish. They’re also comfortable for dogs to wear.
These collars, however, aren’t a good choice for dogs that will do a lot of swimming.
Nylon collars, on the other hand, can stand up to swim time or washings, and they’re also extremely durable.
Nylon collars are also comfortable for the dog and are available in a number of colors and patterns.
Plastic collars are also available for dogs that tend to swim a lot or are frequently dirty.
These collars wash easily and don’t retain odors, but they may not be as comfortable.
Harnesses are also a good option when you’re considering your dog’s first collar.
Harnesses are an excellent training tool for puppies that are just learning to walk on a leash.
They can curb bad leash habits, such as pulling.
They’re also gentle on the dog and don’t put as much pressure on its neck.
Harnesses can be switched out for a collar as the dog grows, or you can upgrade to an adult harness size.
