Every Canine Carats chain is made to order, so the size you choose is the size you get. This page takes about a minute and gets it right.
How to measure your dog's neck
- Take a soft tape measure — the fabric kind used for sewing. If you don't have one, use a piece of string and then lay it flat against a ruler.
- Run it around your dog's neck at the point where a collar naturally sits, roughly halfway between the ears and the shoulders.
- Pull it snug against the coat, but not tight. Read the number.
- Check you can slide two fingers flat between the tape and your dog's neck. If you can't, loosen slightly and read again.
That snug measurement is what you use in the chart below. Don't add anything to it yourself — the chart already accounts for comfortable fit.
Which size to order
| Your dog's neck measures |
Order this size |
| 12–13.5 inches |
14 inch (Cuban chain only)
|
| 14–15.5 inches |
16 inch |
| 16–17.5 inches |
18 inch |
| 18–19.5 inches |
20 inch |
| 20–21.5 inches |
22 inch |
If your dog measures under 12 inches or over 21.5 inches, our standard sizes won't fit. Contact us before ordering — we can often make a custom length.
If you're between two sizes, size up. A chain that sits slightly loose looks right; one that pulls does not.
Breed reference
Use this as a sanity check on your measurement, never as a substitute for it. Two dogs of the same breed can differ by several inches, and coat thickness changes the number considerably.
| Breed |
Typical neck |
Usual size |
| Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle |
9–12 in |
Contact us — usually below our range |
| Dachshund, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian |
12–14 in |
14–16 inch |
| French Bulldog, Boston Terrier |
14–16 in |
16–18 inch |
| Pug, Beagle, Cocker Spaniel |
14–17 in |
16–18 inch |
| Border Collie, Australian Shepherd |
16–19 in |
18–20 inch |
| Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Boxer |
16–20 in |
18–22 inch |
| Labrador, Golden Retriever |
18–22 in |
20–22 inch |
| Doberman, German Shepherd |
18–22 in |
20–22 inch |
| Rottweiler, Cane Corso, Great Dane |
20–26 in |
22 inch or custom |
Sizing the owner's chain
Our matching necklaces use the same lengths, measured the standard way for jewelry — the full length of the chain, not your neck.
| Length |
Where it sits |
| 16 inch |
At the base of the neck, close to the collarbone |
| 18 inch |
Just below the collarbone — the most common choice |
| 20 inch |
A few inches down the chest |
| 22–24 inch |
Mid-chest, sits over a shirt or sweater |
If you already own a necklace you like the drop of, measure that flat and order the same length.
Not sure? Ask us first.
Because pieces are made to order, all sales are final. So we would much rather check with you first than have you stuck with the wrong length.
Send us your dog's neck measurement and breed — call or text 718-366-5722, or use the contact form — and we'll tell you which size to order. There's no charge and it takes us a minute.
A note on how these are worn
Our chains are decorative jewelry. They are not walking collars, training collars, or tie-out collars. Don't attach a leash to one, and don't leave one on a dog who isn't being supervised. Keep your dog's regular collar and ID tags for everyday wear and walks.
