Should You Remove Your Dog’s Collar at Night?

in Jan 24, 2025

Have you ever found yourself pondering the question of whether or not your dog should be wearing their collar at night? If the answer is yes, then you definitely are not the only one! Collars are, of course, an essential during the day for things like control, identification and safety when out on walks, but do all of those factors come into play when just resting and relaxing at home?

According to the experts, removing a dog collar at night can help to address a number of issues that your pup might be experiencing like stress and anxiety, but on the other hand there is a general worry from some owners that removing it each night could start a brand new cycle of anxiety when having to put it back on in the morning. As always, it’s a situation that is very much determined by the behavior and temperament of your own individual pup.

Vero Classic Dog Collar in Brown

Keep on reading as we take a deep dive into all the pros and cons of removing a dog’s collar at night. We’re going to focus on everything from comfort to safety to skin health and more, with an all important guide on how to select the perfect daytime collar for your precious furry friend!

Reasons to Remove Your Dog’s Collar at Night

Even if you have never thought about taking your dog’s collar off at night before, it’s never too late to make a positive change that can improve their happiness in ways that you might not have considered before. Even the best dog parents can learn a few new things here and there! Let’s take a look at some of the biggest reasons why it can be a good idea to get into the habit of removing your dog’s collar before settling down for the night.

Safety Risks

Without doubt, one of the most persuasive reasons to remove your dog’s collar at night is to prevent and reduce any potential safety hazards. When operating around smaller spaces indoors (we’re thinking crate bars or parts of furniture), there is a real risk of entanglement that could lead to panic and more serious injury. Your pup might be especially vulnerable to this if they are super active or a restless sleeper. Even a momentary catching of a collar on something can cause enough shock to start a real problem, so it’s better to avoid altogether!

Dogs that are being crate trained are particularly at risk in this scenario, as any snagging on bars or fasteners within the crate could lead to a drama when you aren’t around to fix it. The simplest way to remove this potential problem from your home is to remove the collar, it really is as simple as that! After all, what purpose is the collar doing when the dog is confined and secure anyway?

Skin Health

Constant collar use can run the risk of causing your pup levels of redness and skin irritation, sometimes even infections. This is especially the case if you already know that your dog has a history of sensitive skin and allergies. When a collar, particularly a cheaper collar, is left in constant contact with the neck, the dirt and moisture that starts to accumulate underneath provides the perfect environment for nasty bacteria to spread. If left unaddressed, this can lead to things like sores and hair loss for your poor pup.

By simple removing their collar at night, you are giving your dig’s skin a change to recover and breathe. Reducing friction and pressure as they sleep helps them to be more comfortable overall, and definitely goes a long way to preventing any long term skin damage. It’s important to keep on top of this by regularly checking your pup’s neck for any signs of redness or irritation.

aeris classic leather dog collar in blue

Comfort

Imagine yourself going to bed every single night wearing a tight necklace or other accessory. Not the comfiest, right? Well, that’s exactly how your pup feels! Even the smallest amount of extra discomfort can have massive impacts on sleep, and we all know that if your dog can’t sleep, you probably won’t be getting much rest either!

Studies have shown that dogs get a better quality of sleep when their collars have been removed, simply because they are less likely to do things like scratch, paw, fidget and adjust position frequently. The bottom line is that a well rested pup makes for a well rested owner, and a much happier and healthier relationship between the two of you.

Appearance

Another factor in the pro column for removing a collar at night is that it can help to keep your pup’s appearance looking better. Continuous collar use can run the risk of causing tangling and matting of the fur around the neck, especially if your canine companion has lovely flowing locks! This can, obviously, make the effort of grooming more challenging over time.

Taking the collar off at night can give the fur around the neck area a chance to relax and restore its natural texture after a day of sweat and friction. Your pup will be happier, and you will have a much easier time when it comes to grooming sessions.

How to Choose the Right Collar for Daytime Use

Okay, so you’ve decided to remove your dog’s collar at night to give them and their skin a little more freedom, but that doesn’t take away the consideration for the daytime. You still need a great quality collar to serve you when out on your daily walks with your furry friend. Choosing a collar might not feel like the most difficult task in the world, but it is important to make sure you tick off a crucial list of requirements in order to end up with the right one. Here are the two biggest factors in our opinion.

Leather Dog Collars

Material Matters

Selecting the right material for your dog’s collar is one of the most important factors when it comes to safety and comfort. You can avoid a lot of the skin issues we have mentioned above by opting for a hypoallergenic material like vegetable tanned leather, which is absolutely ideal for pups with sensitive skin. Vegetable tanned leather is durable, soft and importantly free from harmful chemicals that are responsible for irritating skin. Not to mention, it ages incredibly well and gets even more comfortable with repeated use!

Our golden rule is to avoid synthetic material collars at all costs, as the dyes and chemicals used pose too much of a risk for skin irritation. Keep it natural!

Fit and Durability

There’s no getting away from the fact that a well fitted collar is the number one consideration when thinking about your dog’s daily comfort and safety. A quick and effective trick we recommend is the ‘two finger rule’. This is the practice of always making sure that you can fit two fingers snuggly between your dog’s collar and neck when securing it. If it's too tight, it can restrict breathing and cause irritation, but if it's too loose, it might slip off altogether at the worst possible moment.

When you take your pup’s collar off at night, it can be an ideal moment to perform a regular inspection of it. Look out for signs of wear and tear like broken buckles and fraying. When it starts to show too many signs of age or damage, it’s time to replace it with a newer, safer model.

To avoid having to replace your collars so frequently, we don’t just recommend investing in the high quality vegetable tanned leather we love so much, but also in adjustable collars that can be resized to fit a growing pup comfortably over time. If your dog is of a breed that shoots up faster than you blink, then this is pretty much an essential!

Aeris Wide Dog Collar in Green

Explore Everything You Need At The Lille Bjorn

Hopefully we have helped you to see that removing your dog’s collar at night is something that has many more benefits than disadvantages. From enhanced safety to better sleep quality to improved skin health, making this simple change in your dog’s life can make a world difference for their overall well being and comfort. Not to mention keeping their coat wonderful and shiny!

For exactly the kinds of collars we have been recommending, all you need to do is head over to The Lille Björn to explore our wonderful range of premium vegetable tanned leather collars. The perfect blend of style and substance, these hypoallergenic leather items are ideal for daytime use no matter what your plans with your pup are. Everybody loves to save a little money here and there, and thanks to our special offers like up to 20% off kits and 25% off bundles, you can still secure the very best quality whilst leaving a little in your pocket!

Feel free to get in touch with our dedicated customer service team if you have any specific questions on our items or on dog care in general. We are ready and waiting to help!

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