Best collar for a Great Dane
A Great Dane's sheer size and strength are the main things to build a collar choice around — a collar wide enough to spread pressure comfortably, with genuinely strong hardware, matters more for this breed than it does for most dogs. A collar built for a medium-sized dog, even at the largest size offered, is often not up to the job.
Why width and hardware strength matter so much
A narrow collar concentrates pressure on a small area of the neck, which is uncomfortable for any dog but matters more for a breed carrying the weight and pulling strength a Great Dane has. A wider collar, generally at least an inch or more, spreads that pressure over a larger area and is more comfortable for sustained wear.
Buckles, D-rings and stitching all need to be rated for genuinely large dogs rather than a general 'large breed' label that may still be built with a mid-sized dog in mind. Cheaper hardware can fail under the kind of sudden pull strength a Great Dane is capable of, so it is worth checking reviews or specifications for actual weight or strength ratings where they are given.
Flat collar versus martingale
A well-fitted flat collar works fine for many Great Danes with reasonable leash manners, but a martingale-style collar, which tightens slightly when pulled rather than staying a fixed size, is popular for large breeds because it offers a bit more security without behaving like a choke chain, which is not recommended for this breed or any other.
Whichever style you choose, the collar should sit comfortably without being loose enough to slip over the head, and you should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and the neck when properly adjusted.
Getting the size right
Great Danes have a genuinely wide range of neck sizes depending on sex and individual build, so measure your own dog's neck rather than relying on a generic 'giant breed' size chart. Re-measure as a young Great Dane grows, since their neck size can change considerably during their first one to two years while they are still maturing.
A collar bought slightly ahead of a growing puppy's current size, with room left on the adjustment, saves repeat purchases through a growth spurt that can be surprisingly fast for this breed — but leave enough margin that it still fits securely rather than buying so far ahead that it is loose and unsafe in the meantime.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Red Dingo Design Dog Collar
Red Dingo Design Dog Collar in 28 designs, sizes XS to Large. Hard-wearing, comfortable and finished with solid hardware — and, like all Red Dingo gear, covered by their 5-year guarantee.
From£9.49
Red Dingo Classic Dog Collar
Red Dingo Classic Dog Collar in 18 colours, sizes XS to Large. Hard-wearing, comfortable and finished with solid hardware — and, like all Red Dingo gear, covered by their 5-year guarantee.
From£10.99
Rechargeable LED Safety Dog Collar
A tough nylon collar with a built-in rechargeable LED strip — up to 8 hours of bright visibility on a single 2-hour charge.
From£7.99
Kingdom Pet Cooling Collar
A fridge-cooled collar that keeps a dog cool for up to 4 hours on hot walks
From£3.99
Red Dingo Reflective Bones Dog Collar
Red Dingo Reflective Bones Dog Collar in five colours, sizes XS to Large. Hard-wearing, comfortable and finished with solid hardware — and, like all Red Dingo gear, covered by their 5-year guarantee.
From£12.99
Ancol Timberwolf Collar
Top-grain leather dog collar, running across four neck sizes from Ancol's numbered range
From£8.79
Ancol Heritage Leather Collar Oxblood
An oxblood bridle leather collar, UK crafted, in the timeless Heritage design
From£5.79
Personalised Engraved Nameplate PU Dog Collar
Personalised Engraved Nameplate PU Dog Collar. Material: PU.
£14.99
Personalised Reflective Dog Collar with Engraved ID Plate
A padded reflective nylon collar with a slide-on metal ID plate engraved with your dog's details.
£12.99
Ancol Collar Reflective Paw Blue
A nylon collar with a reflective blue paw print applique and a sturdy D-ring
£7.29
Ancol Timberwolf Collar Sable
Ancol's Timberwolf collar in sable: top-grain bridle leather with bonded stitching, in four sizes from 28–36cm to 45–54cm.
From£8.79
Personalised Padded PU Dog Collar
Personalised Padded PU Dog Collar. Material: Microfibre PU, diving cloth and zinc alloy. Select the required colour and size, then enter the exact engraving text during purchase. Measure your pet and check the size chart before ordering.
From£13.99
Common questions
- How wide should a Great Dane's collar be?
- Generally at least an inch or wider, since a broader collar spreads pressure over more of the neck and is more comfortable for a dog of this size and strength than a narrower collar designed for a smaller breed.
- Is a martingale collar better than a flat collar for a Great Dane?
- Both can work well. A martingale offers a bit more security by tightening slightly under pull without behaving like a choke chain, which many owners of large, strong dogs prefer, but a well-fitted flat collar suits plenty of Great Danes with good leash manners too.
- How do I measure my Great Dane's neck for a collar?
- Measure around the neck where the collar will sit, and add space for two fingers to fit comfortably underneath once fastened. Re-measure periodically while a young dog is still growing, since neck size can change noticeably over the first year or two.
- Are choke chains safe for Great Danes?
- They are not generally recommended for any breed, including Great Danes, due to the risk of injury to the neck and throat if used incorrectly. A well-fitted flat or martingale collar is the safer standard choice.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.