Is There a Law About Dogs Wearing Collars?

Dog collars can help reflect your personality or that of your dog, offering skulls and crossbones for tough guys or pink rhinestones for little princesses. But collars serve more practical purposes as well, helping to keep your dog under control and making it more likely she'll be returned to you if she's lost. There's no national law about collaring your dog, but most state or local governments address it.

  1. Laws on Collars

    • Most states and local governments don't specifically say your dog must wear a collar. Many of the ones that do require dogs to wear collars name certain breeds instead of requiring collars for all dogs. The breeds singled out are usually large ones or those with aggressive reputations, such as German shepherds or pit bulls. Laws might require your dog to be on a leash when outside your home, which implies the use of a collar but doesn't specifically say that.

    Laws on Tags

    • While a collar isn't usually required by law, some sort of dog tag is. Some local governments require your dog to wear a current rabies tag at all times, while others require a tag that has the dog's name, your name and contact information, often obtained by paying a mandatory licensing fee. Microchipping your pup doesn't replace an external information tag in areas where it's required. Even though a collar isn't required, it makes a convenient place to hang the tags required by law.

    Why Collars are Good Ideas

    • If you're not required to keep a collar or ID tag on your dog by law in your area, it's still a good idea to do so. Collars offer a means to control your dog; if she zips out of the house when you open the door, you can catch her by the collar and direct her back inside. Or, if she gets lost, another person can catch her by the collar and check her tags for your contact information. Even if all she's wearing is a rabies tag, there should be details on the issuing veterinarian, who can look up your info by the tag number. Collars also offer a fast way to snap a leash on your dog when you're in a hurry or need to regain control over her behavior quickly.

    Choosing a Collar

    • Standard buckle collars, typically made of leather, cotton or nylon, have several holes to allow you to adjust the size as your dog grows. Puppies might need adjustments every couple of weeks, and adolescent dogs every couple of months as they build neck muscle. The collar should be tight enough so it won't slip over your pooch's head, but loose enough that you can slide two fingers in between the collar and your dog's neck. A harness might be a better option when walking some dogs, but you shouldn't leave a harness on your dog all the time like you do a collar. A bored dog might start chewing on his harness just because he can reach it, which isn't a problem with most collars.