DIY Paracord Dog Collar

Learn how to make a DIY Paracord Dog Collar with step-by-step instructions and a list of dog collar-making supplies.

 A dog collar has a wide array of excellent benefits for dog owners, but also for dogs (of course!).  However, these can cost you quite a pretty penny, which is why, in this tutorial, we’ll be talking about how you can make your own.  Using paracord, we can make our very own DIY dog collar in just a few easy steps.

Rest assured, this paracord dog collar how-to doesn’t require a lot of handiwork skills or a lot of time and is a budget-friendly alternative to the traditional store-bought option. 

While you can make more complex paracord patterns, those usually work best for larger dogs, where the buckle also allows you more space to work with.  In this tutorial, we’re doing a basic paracord collar for a small dog.  This is an excellent DIY dog collar tutorial for a beginner.

Paracord Dog Collar Making Supplies

The dog collar making supplies you will need are: 

●   550 Paracord - depending on how long you want the collar to be, you will need one foot of paracord for every one inch of the collar. 550 paracord is named for the minimum breaking strength of the cord, 550 pounds. For a 10” dog collar, you will need 10’ of paracord.  

●  Needle Nose Pliers - to flatten the ends of your paracord.

●   Buckles - depending on the size of your dog, these can come in different sizes. If you’re unsure, it’s best to get multiple sizes and see as you go. Small dogs use 1/2” buckle, medium/large dogs use 3/4” buckle, and extra-large dogs use a 1” buckle. 

●   D-ring - this will need to be proportionate to the buckle you’re using. The D-ring size should match the size of the buckle. If you’re using a 1/2-inch buckle for a small dog, you also want to be using a 1/2-inch D-ring.

●   Scissors.

● Measuring tape.

●   Lighter. 

Sometimes, when people make a DIY paracord dog collar, they use a smoother tool at the end, but I am sure you won’t need it for one project. Just watch the end of the video tutorial and see what he does.

Hey, I need a DIY paracord dog collar!

How To Make Your DIY Paracord Dog Collar

How you’ll do it:

Step 1.  Attach the buckle.

You’ll want to use heat to flatten the two ends of the paracord to make your life easier. Put them together once you’ve done that, and pull on the paracord until you find the middle. Take that middle and pass it through the top of your buckle. Pull it out through the other side, then pass the buckle through the loop. Once the buckle has gone through, pull down to create a knot and secure the paracord to the buckle.

Step 2.  Measure your collar.

You can use your dog’s neck or an old collar to figure out the length of your paracord collar. You’ll want to check that the set-up in the next step fits your dog’s throat.

Step 3.  Set up your collar.

Pull the two ends of the paracord through the bottom edge of the buckle, leaving two small loops on one side. Then, open up the buckle and layout the collar, with the top of the buckle is pointing down and the end through which the paracord is pointing upwards.

Step 4.  Braid the collar.

You’ll have one strand of paracord on the left and one on the right. Make a small loop with the right one, then bring your left one over the loop, underneath the two middle strands, and through the loop to create a knot. Tighten until you can’t anymore, and repeat, alternating the side you start with each time.

Step 5.  Attach the D-ring.

Once you’re about 2-3 inches down, stop. You’ll continue braiding, but when you make your loop, you’ll want to pass it through the D-ring to secure it. Do this for three braids to attach the loop to the collar. Braid to the opposite end, then snip your ends and use a fire tool (like a lighter to melt them together and make sure they don’t run).

Watch the video and then scroll down to get the rest of the instructions for your DIY paracord dog collar.

This DIY paracord dog collar is so simple and easy to make. It reminds me of macrame, and I know you can use that method to make a dog collar or a leash, too ... check it out.

This DIY paracord dog collar is so simple and easy to make.  It reminds me of macrame and I know you can use that method to a dog collar or a leash ... check it out.