Leather Dog Collar Sizes by Breed: A Fit Reference
The short answer
Breed tells you where to start looking and a tape measure tells you what to order. Every Leatherius size is the total girth of the collar itself, so your dog's neck has to measure smaller than the number on the size, and a dog who lands between two sizes goes up. If you would rather have the size computed for you, the dog collar size finder takes a breed or a neck measurement and returns the size on both of our ladders.
The Leatherius personalized leather dog collar – distressed cowhide with three lines of free engraving, $35.50 – runs from a 7 inch girth at the smallest to 30 inches at the largest across two widths, which covers the chihuahua and the great dane out of the same range.
The two size ladders
There are two widths, and each has its own ladder. Read the numbers as the circumference of the closed collar.
| Width | Size | Collar girth | Typical dog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8 in | XXS | 7–8 in | Teacup breeds and very young puppies |
| 5/8 in | XS | 8–10 in | Yorkies and maltese |
| 5/8 in | S | 9–12 in | Chihuahuas and shih tzus |
| 5/8 in | M | 11–16 in | Cavaliers and miniature schnauzers |
| 1 in | S | 10–12 in | Small dogs whose owners want a wider band |
| 1 in | M | 11–14 in | Jack russells and smaller corgis |
| 1 in | L | 13–17 in | Beagles, cockers, standard dachshunds, shibas |
| 1 in | XL | 16–24 in | Retrievers, shepherds, huskies, boxers |
| 1 in | XXL | 22–30 in | Great danes and saint bernards |
Breed starting points
The figures below are typical adult ranges, and two labradors from the same litter can sit an inch and a half apart. Use the row to find your ladder, then measure.
| Breed | Typical adult neck | Width | Start from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chihuahua | 8–11 in | 5/8 in | XS or S |
| Yorkie, maltese | 8–10 in | 5/8 in | XS |
| Pomeranian | 8–11 in | 5/8 in | XS or S |
| Shih tzu | 10–13 in | 5/8 in | S or M |
| Miniature dachshund | 10–12 in | 5/8 in | S |
| Cavalier king charles spaniel | 11–14 in | 5/8 or 1 in | M |
| Miniature schnauzer | 12–14 in | 1 in | M |
| Jack russell terrier | 11–14 in | 1 in | M |
| Pug | 12–16 in | 1 in | M or L |
| Corgi | 14–17 in | 1 in | L |
| Standard dachshund | 13–16 in | 1 in | L |
| Beagle | 13–16 in | 1 in | L |
| Cocker spaniel | 13–16 in | 1 in | L |
| Shiba inu | 13–16 in | 1 in | L |
| Springer spaniel | 14–17 in | 1 in | L |
| Border collie | 14–18 in | 1 in | L or XL |
| Australian shepherd | 15–18 in | 1 in | XL |
| Standard poodle | 14–18 in | 1 in | L or XL |
| Dalmatian | 15–18 in | 1 in | XL |
| Basset hound | 15–19 in | 1 in | XL |
| Golden retriever | 16–20 in | 1 in | XL |
| Labrador | 16–20 in | 1 in | XL |
| Boxer | 16–20 in | 1 in | XL |
| Husky | 16–20 in | 1 in | XL |
| German shepherd | 16–22 in | 1 in | XL |
| Pitbull and pitbull mixes | 16–22 in | 1 in | XL |
| Rottweiler | 20–26 in | 1 in | XL or XXL |
| Bernese mountain dog | 20–26 in | 1 in | XL or XXL |
| Great dane | 20–26 in | 1 in | XXL |
| Saint bernard, newfoundland | 22–28 in | 1 in | XXL |
The doodles and the mixes
Doodles and rescue mixes are where breed guessing breaks down. A mini goldendoodle can sit at 12 inches while a standard sits at 19, and the coat adds visual bulk that has nothing to do with the neck underneath. Part the fur and run the tape on the skin, then treat the result as the only number that matters.
Choosing the width
Width is a comfort decision more than a strength one. The 5/8 inch band suits small or fine-boned dogs, and long-coated dogs whose fur would flatten under a wider strap. The 1 inch band spreads pressure over more of the neck on a dog who leans into the leash, and it gives 18 engraved characters per line instead of 12.
Pugs deserve a note. A pug's neck is thick relative to its head, so the collar has to be snug enough to stay put while sitting clear of the trachea. If your pug slides out of everything, read what to do when a dog backs out of the collar before sizing down.
Puppies and dogs still growing
A puppy passes through two collars before adulthood in most breeds. Buy to today's neck rather than to the adult prediction, because a collar you can fit a fist under does nothing. The first collar for a puppy covers the timing.
Measuring, and what to do between sizes
Run a soft tape around the base of the neck where the collar will sit, flat against the skin, then allow room for two fingers. Because the published numbers describe the collar rather than the dog, a neck that measures exactly the same as the collar size will be too tight to fasten, so round up whenever you are close to the top of a range. The full measuring method has the step-by-step, and French bulldog owners have their own guide.
Two dogs at opposite ends of the ladder can still wear the same style. See matching collars for two dogs for a 5/8 inch terrier and a 1 inch shepherd in one household. The range sits in the dog collar collection, including the leather collar with a fast release buckle at $35.50.
FAQ
What size leather dog collar for a golden retriever?
Most adult golden retrievers measure 16 to 20 inches at the neck, which puts them in the 1 inch XL at 16 to 24 inches of collar girth. Measure first, because a lean field-bred golden can land in the L range at 13 to 17 inches.
What width collar for a german shepherd?
The 1 inch width, in XL for a neck between 16 and 22 inches. The wider band spreads leash pressure across more of the neck, which suits a dog with that much drive behind it.
How do I measure my dog's neck for a collar?
Use a soft tape at the base of the neck where the collar naturally sits, flat against the skin under the coat, then allow two fingers of slack. Order a collar girth larger than the neck measurement you get.
My dog measures between two sizes, which do I order?
Always the larger one. The published sizes are the girth of the collar, so the ranges overlap deliberately, and a size up still adjusts down through the holes.
