My pup, now 4 months old, has just grown out of his first puppy collar :) .  He is a longhaired breed and I would like to get the most appropriate next collar for him.  He has a fleece-lined harness for his little walks (15-20 minutes a day max.), but needs a new collar.  Am I right in thinking that a rolled leather one will be most suitable?  I have been looking online but not yet found one small enough at a suitable price (bearing in mind that he will grow out of it!).

I would be grateful for any suggestions.

We have started ringcraft classes, and I would like to try showing him for a while, so I don't want to damage his hair or make a "collar-mark" round his neck.

Many thanks.

I use these Braid adjustable half check collars http://www.dajan.co.uk/Braidhalfchecks.html .  All my puppies leave with one and many continue to use it into adulthood.

l then get them a non adjustable round half check like this http://www.essenjayleathersupplies.co.uk/index.php/dog-collars/half-check-collars/ or http://www.franceskellybridles.co.uk/details.php?amp;bridle_type=269&nam=Dog+Collars+and+Harnesses&productID=218. 

In fact my current 17 month old has just given up her braid half check to her baby cousin to use.  It does not cut the fur up.

I use an adjustable half check too, got mine from PAH.

Those are nice ones in Barbaras first link and good price too.

> Those are nice ones in Barbaras first link and good price too.

I get them made for me for all my pups to go to their new homes with and last into adulthood. 

The braid dioesn't snag ro fray like those made by a competitor did, and go nice and soft and denser after washing. 

I ask for them to be made with a suitable weight chain for a 20kg dog, rather than the standard finer chain they usually come with, though that seemed strong enough for my lot and is the same as they would be shown on.

I think it depends on the type of coat you are meaning as I couldn't use a half check on my double coated dog.  I did at first but found that the chain part was breaking his guard hairs.  I would've thought you found the same thing, Barbara, as they can't have very different coats?

Nice leather ones may have alook for my long coat gsd not that he
needs a new one lol

> I did at first but found that the chain part was breaking his guard hairs.

I don't find this as they don't pull too much, and these days I use headcollars so even less pulling. 

Does help that the chains are not too heavy being the medium weight ones (5/8' gauge), not the heavy ones like you get with the inch wide flat half checks..

what breed is he?

Brainless, Rhodach:  Some very interesting options, Thank you.  I like the soft braid ones. 

PDAE:  he's a cocker (English), so not a mega-long coat but long enough to be damaged by the wrong choice of collar. 

He's walked in his harness, but needs a collar, which he can wear at all times, for his id tag. 

Barbara, Mine also wore a very thin half check.  It was a very thin chain too.  Although he was a very large, heavy dog, he was perfectly trained so I didn't need a heavy collar.

To the OP, I use just a plain flat collar for my cockers.  They don't need a check collar.  I bought mines from PAH as my dogs all have different coloured collars and leads for each dog(so I know who's leash is who's).  They do a lovely padded collar which I like.

I have a long haired breed and all my dogs  have these, we have had them for years http://www.earthdog.com/hemp-products/decorative-hemp-line/martingale-decorative-collar

although saying that .. just re read your post and your pup is only 4m at that point I use a collar similar to those brainless has posted i have the earthdog collars when the coat comes through as they come from the US so I purchase adult sizes.

I have always used plain flat leather collars on my dogs, and they have always had "collar marks" around their necks even though the collars fitted well and they were not pulling in them.  It happened even with my Labrador, not just spaniels.  It didn't matter so much with dogs which weren't shown, but I don't want to find I've ruined the pup's chances (there are enough ways for his natural maturation to do that lol).  Would a padded collar prevent marking?  or would it make a bigger mark?  There are some nice fleecy-lined collars in the same range I got his harness from, and was rather tempted ...

Thank you for the link - some very pretty options there, I could spend ages matching them to his colour, in fact I can see that dog-collars could be the new shoes lol. :)

the wider and stiffer the collar the more likely to mark, which is why mien never have anything over 10mm wide, and soft weave, or 8mm round leather, as mien wear collars 24/7.

Barbara, thank you, those measurements are very helpful.  I've ordered a soft braid collar for him, just waiting for it now.  (Sorry didn't reply sooner - holiday season stuff.)

Your welcome even though it should have said Mine, not Mien, LOL

I am still using some fabric half slips I bought years ago unfortunately the company that made them has long since stopped trading, in the ring I use a braided full slip much like the 3rd one in Barbara's link.

Our breed not only have long hair round the neck their wedge heads make normal flat collars useless as they can be backed out of and I have found for safety a half check is needed even if it does catch a few hairs I have never had a problem with it being noticeable.