Puppy Prep: Collar Size for a Toy Aussie
7 months old wearing a Petsmart 2XS collar.
The collar aisle at the pet store is so colorful and pretty, but it can sure be overwhelming when you need to buy something! I had a tough time picking out a collar for my puppy. I wanted to purchase it in advance so I was prepared for her arrival, but that of course meant I didn’t have her with me to try out sizes.
I initially chose a basic nylon dog collar, adjustable from 10 to 14 inches (Top Paw size “small” at Petsmart). But, when I picked up my 8-week old puppy, she was a mere 2 pounds! The collar was way too big.
After picking up a few more options, the collar that fit her best measured 6 to 8 inches (Top Paw XX-Small from Petsmart), with a 3/8-inch width. This size can be difficult to find (what do people with Chihuahua puppies do??) but I’ve had the best luck at Petco, Petsmart, and Walmart. You can also find very small collars in the cat section. An 8 to 12 inch cat collar might work, as I’ve found they can often be adjusted smaller than the sizing lists (make sure to avoid break-away styles).
11 months old in XS Petsmart collar (and Ruffwear XXS harness)
My puppy wore the 6-8in size until she was 8 months old (just under 5 lbs), then switched to an 8 to 12 inch collar (Top Paw X-Small at Petsmart). She still wears the XS today, at a year and a half old (6 lbs), with the collar adjusted to 9 inches around.
So, what size collar should you buy for a Toy Australian Shepherd puppy?
If your Aussie is expected to be on the smaller end of toy - say, under 12 lbs full grown - try an adjustable 6 to 8 inch nylon collar to start. Check the fit frequently as the puppy grows (there should be two fingers of gap), and be prepared to go up one size around 7 to 8 months old. For larger toy puppies or adults, try the 8 to 12 inch size. Don’t worry too much about the pattern and color of your adult size collar - it will be covered up by fur eventually!
Share your dog’s weight and collar measurements in the comments!