A good fit is very important to ensure the collar is snug enough to keep from slipping over your dog's ears, yet loose enough to be comfortable. A good fitting collar will not be the exact size of your dog's neck. This is too tight. It should be snug but not choke.

To measure your dog, use a soft measuring tape, such as a seamstress's cloth tape measure. You may also use a piece of string, simply measure it after. Make sure your dog is standing. Measure snugly around your dog's neck where the collar would sit. Then add from one to two inches; one inch for a small dog and two inches for a large dog. This is the collar size for your dog. For a correctly fitted collar, you should be able to slip two fingers, flat, in between the tape and neck. For a very small dog, it may be one finger and for a much larger dog, three fingers

This technique will match the size of the collar when the collar is measured from the buckle to the last hole (the largest fit). Since some manufacturers size collars differently, see the manufacturer-specific Size Guide link on the collar product page you are considering purchasing, just above the size selector.

A History of Dog Collars

Join us as we take a look at dog collars from the ancient to the post-modern, and see how history and our changing attitude toward animals has influenced the way we collar our pooches.

Airline In-Cabin Dog Carrier Specifications

Find your airlines specific requirements for in-cabin dog carriers. Information and links to pet travel information for American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, AirTran Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines