Puppy collars
A puppy collar is simply a collar cut and adjusted for a smaller neck than an adult dog's, usually on a narrower strap so the buckle and hardware do not overwhelm a young dog. It is a different product from a whelping collar, which identifies puppies within a litter rather than being worn out on a walk.
What makes a collar 'puppy-sized'
Our Halloween Puppy Collar is a good example of the difference a puppy-scaled collar makes: a lightweight 1cm-wide strap on a 28cm length, so the adjustment range actually sits within a young dog's neck size rather than starting at a width and length built for an adult. A collar scaled down properly, not just an adult collar pulled in as tight as it will go, is the thing to look for.
Red Dingo's Puppy Pack designs use the same solid hardware and webbing as their adult range, just built to a smaller starting size, which means the collar can keep being adjusted as your puppy grows rather than being outgrown within a few weeks.
Choosing a design as your puppy grows
An adjustable collar with plenty of room left on the strap is worth choosing over one that already sits near its smallest setting, since a puppy's neck will keep changing size for months. Several of the designs we stock, including Red Dingo's Puppy Pack range, are built with that growth in mind rather than fitted for one size and stage.
Beyond fit, a puppy collar is also where an ID tag or engraved nameplate usually goes on first, since a young dog is more likely to slip a lead or wander off during training than an older, more settled dog. Getting your contact details on early is worth doing before the first proper walk rather than after a scare.
Puppy collar vs whelping collar
A whelping collar is a completely different product aimed at breeders rather than owners walking a puppy — sets like the ones we stock come as twelve colour-coded, adjustable collars used to tell an entire litter of near-identical puppies apart in the first few weeks, not to be worn out and about.
If you have brought home a single puppy to walk and train, you want a puppy or adjustable collar rather than a whelping set — the two are sized and designed for entirely different jobs, and buying the wrong one for what you actually need is an easy mistake with names this similar.
Fit and safety
A properly fitted puppy collar should let you fit two fingers flat between the collar and your puppy's neck — snug enough that it will not slip over their head, loose enough that it is not restrictive. Check this weekly rather than once at purchase, since a growing puppy can outgrow a setting within a couple of weeks.
Take a collar off before your puppy is left alone in a crate or pen, since a tag or buckle can catch on something when nobody is there to notice. A harness is worth considering alongside a collar too — many owners use a harness for pulling on the lead and keep the collar for the ID tag.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Reusable Washable Puppy Training Pad
A quilted, machine-washable training pad that absorbs accidents and locks in moisture with a leak-resistant base. Reusable for puppy toilet training and senior dogs, in several bone and paw prints.
From£7.99
Halti Anatomy Puppy Harness Grey
A four-point adjustable step-in harness for puppies and smaller adult dogs
£19.99
Pedigree Tasty Minis Puppy Treats Chewy Cubes with Chicken
Soft chewy puppy training treats with 13% chicken and added calcium, 125g
£2.25
Forthglade Complete Puppy Chicken with Liver Grain Free — 18 x 395g Trays
Sold as a case: 18 x 395g trays. A complete grain-free wet food for puppies, built on 71% chicken and 4% chicken liver
£35.89
Washable Reusable Puppy Pee Pad
A quilted, absorbent training pad with a waterproof backing that protects floors, carpets and bedding, and washes ready to use again instead of being thrown away after every accident.
From£7.99
Bakers Puppy Superfoods Chicken with Vegetables
Bakers Puppy Chicken & Vegetables dry dog food, 12.5kg, complete food for puppies from 6 weeks to 24 months
£39.15
Good Boy Puppy Training Pads
Puppy training pads in packs of 8, 30 or 100, for the floor, the crate and the car
From£2.51
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Puppy/Junior Dry Dog Food Turkey & Veg
Grain-free turkey and potato kibble for puppies and junior dogs, evenly balanced recipe
£12.75
Wagg Puppy Treats
Puppy Treats in a 120G pack, with 23.2% protein and 7% fat and full label detail
£1.49
Beaphar Puppy Dental Kit
Beaphar puppy dental kit with 50g camomile toothpaste, a finger brush and a small toothbrush
£7.99
Common questions
- At what age should a puppy start wearing a collar?
- Most puppies can start wearing a lightweight, properly fitted collar once they are settled into their new home, often from around eight weeks, well before they are ready for a proper walk on a lead. Start with short periods indoors so they get used to the feel of it first.
- How do I know if a puppy collar fits properly?
- You should be able to fit two flat fingers between the collar and your puppy's neck comfortably. Check it every week rather than assuming it still fits, since puppies can grow out of a setting within a couple of weeks at some stages.
- What's the difference between a puppy collar and a whelping collar?
- A puppy collar is worn out and about by a young dog you are walking and training. A whelping collar is a breeder's tool — a set of colour-coded collars used to identify individual puppies within a litter, never intended for walks.
- Should I leave a collar on my puppy all the time?
- It is safer to remove it when your puppy is left alone in a crate, pen or unsupervised, since a buckle or tag can catch on something with nobody there to help. Put it back on for walks and supervised time around the house.
- Is a harness better than a collar for a puppy?
- They do different jobs rather than one replacing the other — a harness spreads pressure across the chest rather than the neck if your puppy pulls, while a collar is where an ID tag legally needs to be. Plenty of owners use both together.
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.