However, gone are the days when the dog need just wear a plain brown leather collar. The first collar purchased for a new puppy must be light weight and adjusted or replaced as the dog grows. Failure to check the collar regularly for fit can result in the collar becoming too tight and, if neglected too long, it can become embedded in the dog s neck. There should be the width of two fingers between the neck and collar. Any looser than this and the collar could slip over the dog's ears but any tighter will be uncomfortable.
Collars fasten with buckles or snap clips and are usually made of leather, nylon or cotton webbing.
Leather collars are either flat, or rolled which are best on long coated dogs as they do not tangle the coat as easily. Some breeds of dogs such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers traditionally have wide leather collars with decorative studs and often matching leads. Sight hounds Afghans. Salukis, Whippets etc may look very swish in a hound collar which is an embroidered flat fabric collar. The size and weight of the collar is important as heavy collars on small dogs can really weigh them down, while large dogs can break a collar or lead which is too light or weak.