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.
Real-Time GPS Pet Tracker
A compact GPS tracker that clips to most collars for real-time location, geofence alerts and find-me sound.
£29.99
Elasticated Anti-Tangle Dog Lead with Glow-in-the-Dark Finish
A nylon lead with a high-stretch shock-absorbing section and a glow finish, adjustable in length and built so that it does not twist itself into knots, in four colours.
From£17.99
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
USB Rechargeable Banana LED Collar Light in Silicone for Dogs
A soft silicone banana that charges over USB and glows on the collar, so there are no coin cells to hunt down and nothing hard swinging against your dog's throat.
£15.99
Remote Dog Training Collar with Handset
A remote training set pairing an adjustable receiver collar with a handheld controller. The LCD handset lets you select tone, vibration and static modes to reinforce recall and good behaviour from a distance.
£34.99
Diamante Rhinestone Dog Collar
A glamorous collar set with several rows of sparkling rhinestones on a smooth faux-leather band. An adjustable buckle gives a comfortable fit and adds a little dazzle to your dog's everyday look.
£7.99
Daisy Floral Dog Collar
An adjustable daisy-print fabric collar in navy with a quick-release buckle and sturdy D-ring.
From£7.99
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
Silicone LED Dog Collar, Nine Colours, Four Light Modes, USB
Four light modes on every colour, which matters more than it sounds: steady is the setting for pavements and traffic, fast flash is the one for an open field.
From£11.99
Rechargeable Silicone LED Dog Collar, USB Charged, Six Colours
A soft silicone light-up collar that charges in ninety minutes and glows for eight to ten hours, so an evening walk in winter never runs out of light halfway.
£13.99
Personalised Patterned Nylon Dog Collar with Engraved Buckle
A durable patterned nylon dog collar with a brushed metal side-release buckle that engraves with your dog's name and contact number. Several bold prints to choose from, with an adjustable fit and sturdy D-ring for the lead.
From£17.99
Luminous LED Light-Up Dog Collar in Milky White, Colour Changing
A colour-changing LED collar in milky white, made to turn a dark-coated dog into something drivers and other walkers pick out well before they are anywhere near you.
From£16.99
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.
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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.