How to get a puppy used to a collar and tag
Updated 24 September 2026 · 3 min read
Most puppies scratch at their first collar, and that's normal. Battersea's 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
- Snug, with room for two fingers between the collar and your puppy's neck.
- Check it every week or so: puppies outgrow collars quickly. Our guide to how tight a dog's collar should be has more.
- A light tag suits a small neck. A PetTag weighs about 4 g.
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 dog tag wording maker 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: some owners take it off in a crate or at night. 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 often, because puppies grow fast.
Sources
- Train your dog to wear a collar, lead or harness (Battersea)
- 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
