I’m getting an Aussie in a few days, when he'll be 8 weeks old. I’ve been scouring the internet for advice on how to give him a life that suits his size and temperament, and I’ve already kitted myself out with all the necessary gear, including bits for gentle training.
The only thing I haven’t been able to find an answer to online is what size collar I should buy him...
Since I’m not really sure and given how fast they grow in those first few weeks, I’m planning on getting an adjustable nylon collar (like the one below). My only issue is which size you think I should go for: 20-25cm, 25-30cm, 30-35cm or 35-40cm?
Once he’s fully grown, I’ll invest in some better quality gear, specifically a Julius harness and a Heim leather collar, but for now, this basic model will definitely do the trick.
Cheers for your help!
Translated from French
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Brilliant! You’ve been really quick to act, thanks for looking out for the dog—you’re well on your way to being a great owner! Regarding the collar for the first day, give the breeder a ring a week or two before you go to pick him up and ask for his neck measurement. That way, you'll already have one ready for his first walk, a trip to the pet shop, and so on.
And you'll see, you just can't help yourself when it comes to shopping! ;-)) My dogs have several collars: a leather one for walks in town, plus a fabric one and another plastic one with a buckle (not a clip) for rainy days or weekend walks in the woods, as they're much easier to clean and dry. My big one also has a no-pull harness... and plenty of different leads!
Your dog will be microchipped, but don't forget an ID tag for the collars too (it’s best never to put the dog's name on it).
Do send us some photos once you've got him!
It’s rare to find new owners who take this advice on board straight away. Usually, people are in too much of a rush to get their puppy home immediately. Well done to you—you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve done things properly, and you definitely won’t regret it! Don’t hesitate to pop back to the forum if you need more advice or have any concerns, both before and after the adoption. We can send you a little ‘pre-arrival’ checklist if you’d like, just so you’ve got everything to hand and don’t have to keep nipping out for bits and pieces. Have a lovely day and well done again—you’re going to be a great owner!
That’s brilliant if the breeder is happy to keep hold of them for you; 11 or 12 weeks is an absolutely perfect age for a pup to join their new family.
You might want to ask the breeder about the collar too, because at a guess, a size M sounds like it would be far too big.
For my Cane Corso, I just got a simple adjustable nylon collar and lead set in a size S, and when I picked her up at 12 weeks, I still had to have it on the smallest setting.
I think Gabyn’s method is the one to follow: just buy a basic fabric collar for when you go to collect him. Get a small size (I’m pretty sure I bought the second smallest size for my 2-month-old GSD), and then see about getting a harness once you’ve been able to measure him at home :)
Thanks to both of you! I’ve contacted the breeder and he’s agreed to hold onto him for me, though only until he’s 11 or 12 weeks old. Like Misanthrope told me, that’s just under 3 months, but it’s better than nothing! 😁
Regarding the collar, on the day he arrives I’ll go to a dog-friendly pet shop to find one his size. Just by looking at him, I reckon he'll be a medium! Then I’ll find him a harness in the days that follow.
Anyway, thanks to all of you and especially thanks on his behalf; even though I’m dying to get him home, I’d rather wait so that everything goes as well as possible for him!
I think Gabyn’s method is the one to follow – just buy a basic fabric collar to go and pick her up. Get a small size (I think I bought the second smallest size for my GSD when she was 2 months old), and then look into getting a harness once you’ve been able to measure her at home :)
Misanthrope is right about the age; the law does indeed state that a puppy can be sold at 8 weeks (and the breeder is essentially 'offloading' them—it's one less mouth to feed and care for, plus buyers are often very impatient). However, in reality, a puppy shouldn't be separated from its mum until it's 3 months old, i.e. once it's fully weaned (its mum and the other adult dogs around will teach it bite inhibition, how to understand canine social cues, etc., before she naturally pushes it away herself). This will make training and socialisation much easier for you, and you'll end up with a well-adjusted puppy. So yes, if you want to do things the right way, wait just a little bit longer.
You’ve likely already paid a deposit, so the puppy will be held for you. Three or four extra weeks will fly by, so make the most of it and get some rest because once he arrives, your whole life is going to be turned upside down! At worst, the breeder might ask you to pay for a month’s worth of dry food...
Regarding a collar or harness, get a collar to start with as it's the easiest to measure (alternatively, on the day you pick him up, take him straight to a pet shop to try some on and buy one there). If you're unsure about a harness, wait until you actually have the dog and take his measurements then before buying anything.
You could also search the forum archives; there have been plenty of posts on the subject, like 'which harness for my dog' and so on.
A collar isn't the best idea for a puppy over 5 or 6 months old; if they tend to pull, it can cause real damage to their neck and spine. Julius-K9 harnesses aren't great either—because of their shape, they restrict the dog's shoulder movement which can lead to joint issues in the long run, and the back-attachment point actually encourages the dog to pull.
I’d recommend getting a Y-shaped or H-shaped harness that goes across the chest and doesn't block the front of the shoulders, such as those made by Truelove, Ruffwear, or Perfect Fit. Most of them have a front-clip attachment for the lead which has an anti-pull effect and helps stop the dog from pulling too much.
To find the right size, just ask the breeder to measure either the neck circumference if you do go for a collar, or the chest girth for a harness. Or you could always measure them yourself if you're going to visit the pup.
Thanks so much for the reply. So, steer clear of collars—got it! I honestly thought Julius harnesses were the best of the best given how popular and expensive they are, but I’ll make sure to find a properly fitting harness like the ones you mentioned. Any idea what size he might need? I reckon he’s about the same size as a small adult dog (like a Poodle or a Yorkie), but I’m not 100% sure! I’ll check with the breeder for his measurements lol... Thanks again for the help!
This might not be the answer you're looking for, but here's my advice! The legal age to sell a puppy is 8 weeks, but that’s far too early! Your dog absolutely needs to stay with its mum until twelve weeks to learn all the doggy social cues. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a puppy that isn’t properly adjusted, and you’ll have a really hard time house-training them, teaching bite inhibition, and so on. An extra four weeks will make a world of difference for your dog. A good breeder won't let a puppy go at 8 weeks! Try and have a word with them. It’s the only way to have a well-balanced dog for the ten years or more they'll be spending with you!
Thanks a lot for your reply and for the advice. Lots of breeders sell them from 8 weeks, but if you're saying it's not ideal for the puppy, I'll try and speak to him about keeping it with its mum for longer, hopefully he'll agree 🙂. Anyway, thanks so much for the heads-up as it’s something that hadn't even crossed my mind!
Collars aren't ideal for puppies once they're past 5 or 6 months old; if the pup tends to pull, it can cause damage to their neck and spine. Julius-style harnesses aren't a great choice either—because of the way they're shaped, they restrict the dog's shoulders and can lead to joint issues in the long term. Also, having the lead attachment on the back actually encourages the dog to pull more.
I’d recommend getting a Y-shaped harness (or H-harness) that sits under the chest and doesn’t block the front of the shoulders. Brands like Truelove, Ruffwear, and Perfect Fit are all excellent options. Most of them have a front-clip ring for the lead, which acts as a no-pull feature and helps stop the dog from pulling too hard.
To find the right size, just ask the breeder to measure either their neck if you go for a collar, or their chest/girth for a harness. Alternatively, you can just measure them yourself if you're going to visit the puppy.
This might not be the answer you’re after, but here’s my advice! While the legal age to sell a puppy is 8 weeks, that’s far too early! Your dog absolutely needs to stay with its mum until it’s twelve weeks old to pick up all the right canine social cues. If not, you’ll end up with a puppy that’s poorly adjusted, and you’ll find it much harder to deal with house-training, bite inhibition, and things like that. An extra 4 weeks will make a world of difference for your dog. A decent breeder won’t let a puppy go at 8 weeks anyway! Try speaking to them about it. It’s the only way to make sure you have a well-balanced dog for the next ten years or more you’ll be spending together!
