At 8 weeks your puppy is not leash or collar trained, as their necks are not strong enough to be tugged on. We recommend a collar that can fit a neck that is 11 inches around. Always get adjustable collars because your pup will be growing at an incredible rate, so having a little bit of room is a good thing. At 14 weeks your pup will have grown into a collar that is around 13 inches around their upper neck. Harnesses should be adjustable and loose, as you do not want it to rub on the shoulder. You can find a good reference on how to fit a harness HERE.
Puppies chew, so make sure that they aren't left unattended with an expensive collar, or one that they can ingest. We recommend LupinePet collars and harnesses for your pup. We get ours through the vet, and they have a lifetime guarantee - even if chewed! As long as you can produce a part of the collar, you can get a replacement for free.
If your pup or dog is a frequent collar chewer, we like to use Herm Sprenger’s "Fur Savers", which are smooth chain collars that don't ruffle your shepherd's gorgeous mane. They are harder to chew, but make sure that their canines do not get caught in the links. Believe me, it has happened.
We do not recommend keeping the collar or harness on your dog while they are crated. Some of them can be crafty, and use any edge that they can to help them hook the collar onto it. It is then that they can either choke themselves, or chew it off. We have been through MANY collars with these sneaky shepherds.
* We only recommend martingale collars if they have a snap. In the event of an emergency, you want to be able to get the collar off of your pup! *