Best XL collar for Bullmastiff 28-inch neck

A 28-inch neck puts your Bullmastiff firmly in the category where most standard collars simply won't cut it — and forcing a collar to its last hole is a safety problem, not just a comfort one. Collar fit and material matter more than most people realise: too loose and a determined dog can back out of it, too tight causes pressure injuries especially on thick-necked breeds, and giant breeds like Bullmastiffs need collars with the width and hardware strength to match. Is this collar mainly for ID and everyday wear, or will you be using it for walks on lead as well? And does he pull at all?

That's a really common problem with Bullmastiffs — the neck circumference on a well-built male often exceeds what the mainstream 'XL' label actually means. A leaner who leans rather than lunges is actually easier to fit safely, because you're not dealing with sudden shock loads, but you still need something with solid hardware and enough width that the pressure distributes across the neck rather than concentrating on a thin strip. Can I ask — is his neck relatively cylindrical, or does it taper quite sharply from head to shoulder? And does he have a tag or microchip already sorted for ID?

Perfect — a cylindrical neck is the easiest to fit well and means a flat collar will sit properly without riding up. For a 28-inch neck on a dog that leans into the lead, I'd go with the Nobby Classic Nylon Collar in the XXL size. It adjusts from around 65cm to 75cm (roughly 25.5 to 29.5 inches), which gives you proper room either side of 28 inches rather than sitting at the very end of the adjustment range. It's 40mm wide, which distributes pressure well on a thick neck, the nylon is tough enough for daily wear, and the D-ring is a solid welded ring that will hold a tag and a lead without any wobble. It's simple, reliable, and priced under £15 on Amazon UK. One thing to check when it arrives: you should be able to slip two fingers flat under the collar — not squeezed, flat. On a neck that size it's easy to overtighten slightly without noticing.

Nylon handles mud and water well — it dries quickly, doesn't rot, and doesn't absorb odours the way some materials do. The one thing to watch is that you rinse it occasionally rather than just leaving mud to dry repeatedly, because dried grit can work into the weave and cause friction against the skin over time. For a dog that's genuinely in water frequently, biothane would be the premium choice — it's completely waterproof and wipes clean in seconds — but for regular outdoor use including muddy walks, nylon at this width is perfectly practical and the Nobby collar in particular has a smooth inner edge that won't irritate. Check the collar fit again after the first few washes too, as nylon can very slightly shrink.

Good choice. Just to recap: Nobby Classic Nylon in XXL, two flat fingers under the collar to check fit, and give it a rinse every couple of weeks. Your Bullmastiff should be comfortable and properly tagged — which is especially important with a dog that size, since if he ever did get out you want people to be able to identify him quickly. Enjoy the walks.