How to get a puppy used to a collar and tag
Updated 22 October 2026 · 3 min read
Lots of puppies scratch at their first collar, and Battersea says that's common. Its advice is to go slowly, reward calm behaviour and keep sessions short. Here's how, and why the tag matters from the very first walk.
Step by step
- Show them the collar. Hold it out or put it on the floor, and reward any calm sniffing.
- Ask for something easy, like a sit, and bring the collar slowly towards their neck. Reward them for staying still.
- If they move away, go back a step and reward them for staying settled.
- Fasten it, rewarding as you go.
- Play or do a little training while they wear it, so it feels normal. Keep each session short.
- Build up the time they wear it a little each day, until it's part of normal life.
If they scratch or mouth at it
Battersea says it's common for puppies to scratch or mouth at a new collar, because it's a new feeling. Distract them with a treat, a toy or some gentle play, and only take the collar off when they're calm.
If your puppy freezes, panics or growls, stop and get advice from your vet or a trainer.
Getting the fit right
- Choose a small, lightweight collar that fits now and is easy to adjust. The Royal Kennel Club's advice is not to buy one they'll grow into, because it will be too big and heavy.
- Snug, with room for two fingers between the collar and your puppy's neck, as Battersea advises.
- Check it every week or so. Blue Cross reminds owners that puppies grow quickly and a collar can become too tight. Our guide to how tight a dog's collar should be has the signs to look for.
- Take it off in the crate. The Royal Kennel Club says to always remove a puppy's collar in the crate, in case it gets caught.
- A light tag suits a small neck. A PetTag weighs about 4 g, less than half the weight of a £1 coin, and the Small and Mini sizes are about 3 g and 2 g for toy breeds and young puppies. See how to attach a tag to a collar.
The tag, from the first walk
Every dog must be microchipped by 8 weeks old, and in a public place a dog must wear a collar with its owner's name and address on it or on a tag. That applies from your puppy's first walk. Our new puppy checklist covers the rest, and the what to put on a dog tag page lays out the engraving.
A QR code dog tag goes alongside it with a photo, notes and a way for a finder to message you, and you can change it as your puppy grows up.
Quick answers
When can a puppy start wearing a collar?+
Battersea gives no set age: start with short, calm sessions once your puppy is home. They need a collar with your name and address from their first walk in a public place.
Why does my puppy scratch at the collar?+
It's a new feeling, and Battersea says it's common. Distract them with a treat, a toy or gentle play, and take the collar off only when they're calm.
Should my puppy wear a collar all the time?+
Not always. The Royal Kennel Club says to always take a puppy's collar off in its crate, in case it gets caught, and some owners take it off at night. Put it back on before you go out. Our guide to whether a dog should wear a collar all the time goes through when.
How tight should a puppy's collar be?+
Snug, with room for two fingers underneath. Check it every week or so, because puppies grow quickly and a collar can soon become too tight.
Sources (6)
- Train your dog to wear a collar, lead or harness (Battersea)
- How do I look after my new puppy? (Blue Cross)
- How do I collar and lead train my dog? (Royal Kennel Club)
- Essential equipment for your puppy or dog (Royal Kennel Club)
- Get your dog or cat microchipped (GOV.UK)
- The Control of Dogs Order 1992 (legislation.gov.uk)
This guide is general information, not legal or veterinary advice. How we write our guides
