New collar

Hi PT! I finally have some time to check in. The kids are doing great. :)
Anyways i have a question. We're getting Kodie a new leather collar for his christmas present and we havent gotten him a new collar in a long time.We dont remember his size so whats the best way to measure his neck? Near the top of his neck by his ears or towards the middle/bottom of his neck? I'm not sure what size to get him because he has so much loose skin on his neck, i want him to be comfortable.
We think he's a 26 but not sure. I may just take him with me to Petsmart to see what fits him best.

If you do not have the old collar to measure, or maybe he has grown since then here is what most do. ( Now this is NOT for a sighthound..) Since this is buckle type collar, you can put it on without going over the head. I usually measure around the neck about a inch and a half down off the throat for a large breed. Then you add two inches. This allows the collar to be comfortable on the dog but fit nicely. Also- with leather youwant it pretty soft as sometimes they can rub the neck as new leather- just like a pair of new leather shoes would do with you. Lighter leather in collar is less likely to " bleed" the stain or color. However, I have found a black dye stays better than a dark brown. For the first few days, take the collar off for a hour or two to allow the skin to breathe. Some dogs are allergic to the dyes in the leather.. Take a look at the neck when you take it off looking for any signs of rubbing or leather dye reactions. A good leather collar will last for years- a poorly made one can be a problem. Also I roll mine in my hands for like 30 minutes to make it more " broken in" and plyable if it is a stiff collar. Also- you want double stitching at where the buckles meet etc for obvious reasons. Just like with any collar, check for wear once in a while.

One more note- with a leather collar when they get wet, sometimes the leather shrinks up a little. You might want to add another half inch.

Ok thanks :) He has a leather right now, but its starting to look really ratty so he needs a new one. He didnt have a reaction to the leather he has now so he should be fine if we get the same brand and most likely the same colour.