How to fit a Martingale Collar

Kim L Rance, Cert3 Dog Behaviour Dip Aqua

Martingale collars come in a variety of materials from leather and fabric to chain to a combination of materials. They are designed so that the collar is loose most of the time but tightens, to a limited amount, when pressure is put on the lead – excellent for training your dog

Measure your dogs’ neck (just behind the ears) and add 5cm to give you the length for the martingale you need (see Picture1). If you are going for a fabric Martingale, one that can be adjusted, ensure that the size you need fits within the size range of the collar (eg: your dog’s neck + 5cm is 24cm, you would want a collar ranging from 20-30cm). If you are going for a leather or chain Martingale, one that can not be adjusted, you need to ensure that the size is accurate, however you also need to ensure it can fit over your dogs head if you dog has a boofy head.

The Martingale should fit snugly just behind your dogs ears (see Picture2), it should not be loose enough to slide down your dogs neck (see Picture3), nor should the two O rings on the limited-slip part of the collar meet (see Picture4) when pressure is applied to the lead.

Picture 1. Measuring the Martingale

Picture2. Martingale fitted correctly, just behind the ears & snug

Picture3. Chain Martingale too loose, see how the martingale has slid down the dog’s neck		Picture4. Chain Martingale too loose, see how the two “O” rings meet in the middle of the limited-slip part of the Martingale