Best collar for Shih Tzu with ear infections

Collar hardware clinking against a dog's ear at night sounds minor, but for a Shih Tzu already dealing with chronic ear infections, that repeated contact and vibration near an already inflamed ear canal is genuinely worth sorting out. Collar fit and hardware placement matter more than most people realise — too loose and it rides up toward the ears, too tight causes its own problems, and the style of fastening makes a real difference. Can you tell me a bit more: roughly what's your Shih Tzu's neck size, does she wear the collar 24 hours a day including overnight, and is this just for ID tags or do you also clip the lead to it?

That's really helpful — and honestly Mochi's situation is a good example of where collar design makes a practical difference rather than just an aesthetic one. The standard setup of a metal D-ring sitting loose on a flat collar means the whole thing rotates freely, so the ring and tag migrate toward whichever side the dog rests on. For a dog with a bad ear on one side, that's consistently landing exactly where you don't want it. Before I suggest the specific collar I'd point you toward — do you have a preference between a flat collar and a rolled one? Rolled leather or rope collars sit differently on the neck and can reduce how much hardware floats around, but I want to make sure that works for Mochi's coat type too.

For Mochi, I'd go with the Regal Dog Products Rolled Leather Dog Collar. Here's the reasoning: rolled leather collars don't have a flat band that rotates, so the hardware sits more centrally and consistently rather than migrating to one side. They're also much gentler on long Shih Tzu coats — flat nylon collars are notorious for matting and breaking the hair around the neck, which rolled ones avoid almost entirely. The hardware on this one is minimal — a simple single D-ring and a sturdy buckle, nothing extra jangling. For overnight wear on a dog with sensitive ears, that reduction in loose metal is exactly what you need. You'd still attach her ID tag, but with a quieter collar the tag rests rather than swings. Size small should fit a 25cm neck with room to check the two-finger rule. It's available on Amazon UK and comes in several colours if that matters.

Not overkill at all — it's a smart addition. A silicone tag silencer (sometimes called a tag pouch or tag cover) wraps around the ID tag so it doesn't clink against the D-ring. Combined with a rolled collar that holds hardware more centrally, you'd essentially eliminate the noise and contact that's bothering Mochi's ear. They cost almost nothing, fit most standard tag shapes, and are widely available on Amazon UK — just search 'dog tag silencer' and pick one that fits your tag size. For a dog with chronic ear issues, reducing any unnecessary irritation near that area is genuinely worth doing.

Yes — the two-finger rule applies just as it does with flat collars: you should be able to slide two fingers snugly underneath but not three. With rolled leather specifically, check the fit again after a week or two because new leather can stretch slightly as it softens. Also worth checking that the collar isn't sitting so high on the neck that it's close to Mochi's ears — aim for it to sit in the middle of the neck. Given her ear infections, it's also worth mentioning to your vet at her next appointment that you've switched collar styles, just so they have the full picture. But honestly, getting rid of the loose hardware near that ear is the right call.