How do I make sure I’m getting the right size collar?
Measure an existing buckle collar that fits your dog well, according to this photo.
Make sure the tape measure is lined up with the edge of the strap where it wraps around the buckle bar, as shown in the pic. The measurement to the hole your dog usually uses is the measurement to use for buying or ordering a collar. If you’re shopping Ready-to-Ship collars, make sure that measurement is one of the “middle-ish” holes on any premade you’re thinking of buying (not the first or last hole).
If you don’t own a well-fitting buckle collar at the moment, email or message me and we will figure it out from whatever collar you *do* have or from neck measurements.
How do I make sure I’m getting the right type of collar (choosing width, and single layer vs lined vs padded)?
How big is your dog, does your dog ever pull on the leash or hit the end of the leash, how often will the collar be worn, and in what conditions?
Some of the choice depends on how much strength and durability you need. Lined (double layer) collars are the strongest and most durable. Single layer collars are the least beefy and should be treated more gently (not all-day every day farm wear, for instance, and not recommended for dogs who pull, unless they are small). Padding adds a bit of strength to a collar, especially if you order a custom collar with the tail lined. However padding is also more easily damaged by scratches or soaking, so it is recommended that padded collars only be used for “fancy wear” or in mild conditions.
The different types of leather I use also vary in strength and thickness. I’ve tried to note this in descriptions, but for custom orders or if you have questions about a premade, please do reach out to discuss your needs with me and I can suggest what’s likely to work best for your situation.
The rest of it is personal taste, honestly. Wider collars are more “obvious”, especially on dogs with lots of coat, and if the dog pulls on the leash, a wider collar distributes the load over a larger area of neck whereas a narrow collar concentrates the force on a small area. Do make sure that you’re not buying a collar so wide that it interferes with your dog’s comfort and range of motion. Dogs with shorter or fleshier necks can find wide collars restrictive an uncomfortable. If you’re not sure what would work on your dog, cut a strip of corrugated cardboard to the width you’re contemplating, flex it in your hands for a while til it is bendy and sort of like leather flexibility, and then tape it around your dog’s neck for them to wear around the house for a couple hours. This should give you a reasonable idea of how that width collar will “work” (or not) on your particular dog.
How durable are the collars?
It varies, although I aim for maximum durability for a given collar style, and of course it depends enormously on how you TREAT the collar! My plain-strap collars of thick leather should give you many years of service if kept out of the worst conditions (swimming or other soaking is not recommended… that’s what biothane is for!) and cleaned/conditioned as needed, and not allowed to be chewed or otherwise mangled. Most dyed collars will darken somewhat as time passes, and bright hand-dyed colors will mellow, due to the natural patina-ing processes inherent in the leather.
Carved, stamped, and/or partially painted collars require a gentler lifestyle. Getting damp (especially if it is thorough or repeated) will cause them to lose some of their 3D detail and paint may begin to flake off, despite everything I’ve done to ensure paint adhesion. (Paint on leather collars is NOT FOREVER!) It isn’t really possible to restore most of that type damage.
Collars with crystals can, in theory, get wet without too much problem (as long as there are not other delicate elements of the collar)… however it is not recommended, because some crystals can, rather unpredictably, change color and appearance if their foil backing becomes soaked.
How are the leashes measured?
Leash length is measured by stretching the leash out straight and measuring from the tip of the snap to the tip of the handle loop, ie the maximum length it’s possible to measure.
What care is recommended for leather collars and leashes?
The biggest thing you can do to care for your leather collar or leash is simply not to abuse it! Do not use your collar or leash in conditions that I’ve described as being undesirably harsh for it 😉 If you want a collar for swimming or wet hikes or for sports where your dog periodically goes to cool off in a pool or with a hose, use a biothane collar not a leather one! Never leave collars/leashes where they can be chewed; do not leave leashed dogs unattended or dragging their leash; never use a leash for tieing a dog to something. It is not recommended that dogs be left loose with other dogs while wearing collars, as terrible accidents can happen involving one dog’s jaw or leg getting caught in another dog’s collar, which can be fatal.
If your collar gets dirty, I recommend a damp rag and some saddle soap to clean it (do not let leather get more than barely damp when cleaning). If it should get very wet despite your best efforts, towel dry and then let air dry naturally the rest of the way, no sunlight or hairdryer or warm shelf or anything, just let it SLOWLY dry on its own somewhere with decent ventilation. Then you will probably find it feels kind of stiff, so you will want to apply some leather conditioner. Extreme cases may require very light oiling (olive oil is fine). Be aware that both conditioning and oiling will somewhat darken light-colored leather.
If the collar or leash starts feeling a bit rough or you wish to shine it up again, I recommend either the wax/oil leather balm that I make and sell, or Fiebings brand “Leather Balm with Atom Wax” (buy at a leather supply store such as Tandy or another) used according to directions. If you have a dyed collar and it has been used so heavily that the clear topcoat appears to be wearing off, I recommend a thin coat of Resolene (obtain from a leather supply store such as Tandy etc) applied to a very clean collar and make sure not to get it on crystals.