Hello i was just wondering where i would get puppy collars small enough for 4 week old puppies of a large breed. i have a litter and its getting very difficult to tell the pups apart and new owners are coming to choose there puppies and i would like to be able to identify them. can anyone help?
Kind regards
Mark

Mod Edit: Name of breed removed

The breeders I know use satin ribbon...
Every puppy has their own colour they get at birth  so you will have the red baby, the green baby, the pink baby etc...
You can just cut a nice new piece when the one they are wearing gets dirty and grubby from the other pups chewing at it.

Something like this,sorry for a long link...
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&from=R10&satitle=satin+ribbon&sacat=14339%26catref%3DC6&a25563=-24&a65911=-24&a53=-24&a10244=-24&alist=a25563%2Ca77480%2Ca41704%2Ca65911%2Ca53%2Ca10244&pfmode=1&reqtype=1&gcs=2653&pfid=3851&pf_query=satin+ribbon&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=Postcode&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&salic=3&fhlc=1&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fgtp=

Thanks for that Never thought of doing that, will give it a go.
Thanks for your help.
Mark

Would the satin break if a puppy got it's paw through another dogs ribbon though? I would worry about them strangling each other? I used kitten collars for my pups, they have a safety break away part just in case. I got a set of 8 different colours form the cash and carry for under £2 :)

It would not break off...
Never heard anybody having problems though, lot of people who I know use this method and have used it for years.
But in theory I suppose it could happen.
It needs to be tied around losely but not too losely (to give room for little paws to go in between) if that makes sense.
My breed is a large breed (with big paws) so maybe it could be a problem with a smaller breed...Or breed with shorter coat as thse ribbons just disappear to their coat after we weeks, it is actually the tie ends that you can see...

With kitten collars, would other puppies be strong enough to actually use the safety break if they got stuck (not familiar with kitten collars, is it a stretchy bit like in normal cat collars?)?
Do these collars have clips puppies could get their teeth stuck into or are they smooth rings you just slip on?

The breeder I got my flatcoat from used nail varnish on the ear to mark them. I've seen a post on here about paper puppy collars for identifying pups, you could try a search for it, I think it was in Breeding.

The breeder I got my Schnauzer from painted their toe nails in a colour of your choice!!

we used hospital id tags for ours, and yup we did the colour coding as well, Mr Red, mr Yellow etc. you soon learn each ones markings and can tell them appart

Yes nail varnish is one I have heard of and seen before although by the time my pups were four weeks old I could tell which one was which :) It was before that in the first few weeks I struggled :)

No problem with Aussies - could id each one from day 1 :D - but with lab puppies, have used a lamb marking spray - one blob per leg brings you to 4 & if you have more than 10, you start on  2 blobs per leg!   Even if they go with marks, new owners know that they have "their" puppy!

Used the same thing on white & blue persian kittens as well......nail varnish gets washed off by mum!

Margot

I had never thought of lamb marking spray, good idea! Where did you get it from?

I was very reluctant to use collars, as with a boisterous litter of 9, I would be too worried about strangulation. I used nail varnish, blobs on different parts of each puppy to identify. (all the pups were pretty much the same colour, and although they are easy to pick out when all together, they aren't if one is up and the rest asleep etc) It worked well, but I did have to re-apply most days.

one blob per leg brings you to 4 & if you have more than 10, you start on  2 blobs per leg!
Sorry Margot, how does it bring you to 10????
Just curious.
Lea.

Oh Lea - it's all too easy .....you just DONT mark one boy & one girl :D :D :D :D

Duh!!!!!!! Just call me THICK!!!
Ooooppppppppps forgot about the extra apendage the boys have to the girls!!!!!!
Lea.

I have used TabBands for a long time now, and wouldn't be without them.  Toy breed, and I haven't strangled one yet!!  The great thing is the fact that you can actually write on them.  I only have small litters, and have 5 different colours, but anyone with large breeds/litters would find them great.  I had people choose a pup, and give me the name at the same time, which I wrote on the band with ordinary biro.  When they came to collect pup, they were thrilled to bits that they could still read the name.  You can cut to fit, the ones I have would have gone round the largest of breeds, and were too wide.  I cut them in half lengthwise, and have twice as many, because I don't need a wide collar.  I have recommended them to many breeders.

Forgive my stupidity as I have never bred before! :)

Isnt nailvarnish dangerous for animals? Like toxic? What happens if it gets licked off and digested by one of the puppies or the mum!!

Just sounds very strange! lol

I used Tipex on my pups, they were all black.

I have to admit, I did worry about that. My breeder has been doing ti for years iwht no problems though, and all my pups are thriving. It dries very quickly, so they don't lick it off each other.

Where do you get the TabBands from and are the expensive?

Not expensive at all.  Made in America, and I found it difficult to find them here, as the supplier had gone bankrupt.  A few phone calls tracked down the person who bought them out.  PM me if you want their details.

Have you a link as I am not sure what they are?  I know lots of people that use some cotton or embroidery thread, but I have always been afraid to use it.

Barbara - I haven't a clue how to put a photograph or a link on here, so I've emailed you direct with the information, and attached a photo of one of my litters wearing TabBands. 
I have honestly never had one come loose, get torn, or even had a pup notice they're wearing them.  I have never had the nerve to use cotton or thread, but TabBands do come pretty highly recommended from the veterinary profession in the states.