Choosing the Right Collar Width

Not sure what width collar your dog needs? Here’s a simple guide to help you choose the best fit for your dog — whether you’re after a soft puppy collar or something sturdy for a strong puller. We’ve included recommendations for both our leather dog collars and BioThane® dog collars so you can pick a width that’s comfy, practical, and looks great too.


Leather Dog Collars

Leather Dog Collar - Width Recommendations - Kinfolk Leather Custom Dog Collars NZ

As a general guide, we recommend that if your dog’s neck circumference is:

  • Less than 22cm (8.5”) or a puppy under 3 months old, choose a soft leather puppy collar.
  • 22 - 28cm (8.5 - 11”), choose a 1/2” leather collar.
  • 28 - 34cm (11 - 13”), choose a 3/4” leather collar.
  • 34 - 41cm (13 - 16”), choose a 1” leather collar.
  • 41 - 48cm (15 - 19”), choose a 1 1/4” leather collar.
  • 48cm (19”) and larger, choose a 1 1/2” leather collar.

Looking for styles suited to smaller necks? Browse our Small Dog Collars.

BioThane® Dog Collars

The BioThane® range comes in widths of 1/2”, 3/4”, and 1”. Because BioThane® is stronger than leather, these widths are suitable for a wider range of neck sizes. When choosing a width, you can focus more on the look you prefer and the comfort of your dog, as the strength will be adequate regardless of the size.

BioThane Dog Collar Width Guide - Kinfolk Leather Custom Dog Collar NZ

  • 1/2” BioThane® Collar: Suitable for necks up to 35cm (14”).
  • 3/4” BioThane® Collar: Suitable for necks from 28cm (11") - 40cm (16").
  • 1” BioThane® Collar: Suitable for necks from 35cm (14") and beyond. This width is highly recommended for most medium and large dog breeds.

For wider styles and collars suited to bigger dogs, browse our Large Dog Collars.

General Tips:

  • Wider collars are stronger, so please consider this when selecting the width. For example, do not use a 1/2” collar for a medium-sized dog; choose at least a 3/4” collar or larger.
  • For medium-sized breeds and larger dogs, especially those that have a habit of pulling on the lead, we highly recommend choosing one of our D-End Dog Collars. These collars provide an additional layer of leather to pull against when attaching a lead to the dee ring, offering extra strength and durability to handle stronger pulling.