Dog Collars

[UKRay]

This past month or two I've been making a lot of dog collars. Mostly the sort that are used for 'running dogs' whipets, greyhounds, and lurchers. I just make two sizes and that seems to be plenty for this type of dog. In the main, and probably like most folk here, I usually make stuff like collars and leads to special order; I get the measurement and make a collar - no problem. I have always made quite a few collars each year but had no idea how many sizes of dog there were until I started some market research.

Last week I took a few minutes to check out my local pet store and discovered that they only hold a small range of sizes (I live in a very small place) and have to get most stuff special order. Most of the collars and leads they sell are pretty badly finished and very basic. I'm confident that there is a good market bt I need a bit more information before I can start orderiing quantities of buckles and dees.

I'd greatly appreciate some advice, if you can spare a minute, about the overall sizes of dog collars. It sounds simple but it appears there are three main variables and I'd like to get it right first time in order to save some money. I'd like to know your thoughts on the most common:

Width of collar

Length of collar

Thickness of collar

If you were putting together a sensible range of sizes what would YOU make and how would you make them?

Edit:

As a thank you I've included a link to short video that ought to make you laugh:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MklwlkTF6z8

Why do people do this stuff?

Edited January 11, 2009 by UKRay

[gary]

Ray,

When I started doing dog collars I had a look round at various suppliers to see what their standard size ranges were, both width and length. When I had decided the range of widths I wanted to make (based this on two things, ease of obtaining buckles and dees in certain sizes and dog vertebrae length) I can now make them in either a stated size range (e.g. 20 - 24 inches) or a guide size (Small, Medium Large, etc, and you decide what ranges Small, Med, etc will cover). You need to decide, from an artistic point of view, when the width and length do not compliment each other. And there's always the bespoke length, width, attachment, etc.

My sizings are:

S = 10 - 14"

M = 14 - 18"

L = 18 - 22"

XL = 22 - 26"

These sizes work for standard, hound and half-check collars.

As to width, balance the 'look' with the length and the dog type. Usually, the heavier the dog the wider the collar (but not always). Breed also counts for someting - draft dogs pull harder, hounds often jerk when they think they're going after something.

There will always be those outside that range; I made a collar for a mastiff about a month ago (before my workshop and tools were packed into boxes) that was 32" long and 1 1/4" wide.

I most frequently use bridle leather (so about 4mm thick) for collars and harnesses and sometimes I'll use a double thickness of something thinner (like a shoulder) or line it with whatever the customer wants (padded or unpadded as well).

I have a couple of leather commercial collars from pet shops around so prospective customers can do their own comparison when they think a handmade collar is too much.

I don't rivet and I don't stitch across the width of the collar. I use solid brass fittings in the main but also have nickel and steel (plain and stainless). Get cast dees and buckles - pressed and welded can give way at inappropriate moments. I make half-check collars with either chain circle or leather (rounded) circles.

For interest, my other standard measurements are, for leads:

Police style training leads 72 and 78" with 3/4" width.

Slip leads - 40, 48, 60 & 72" (rounded leather and hawser-laid rope).

Flat leads - 18, 24, 30, 36, 40, 48, 60 & 72".

Hound couples - lead - 18" with 12" leather braces.

GSD show lead 72" (widths vary from 3/8" to 3/4") with braided loop and clip.

There also needs to be a selection of collars with 'add-ons' like name plates, some decorations, dees in different places, etc.

Hope this is of some use.

Gary

[MADMAX22]

Thats some great info Gary.

By chance do you ever have any issues using vegtan with dog collars, heard here that sometimes they are allergic to it.

[gary]

Never had a reported problem with veg tan collars or harnesses. I assume that bridle leather, being waxier than some, reduces any potential risk of contact allergies. But I may be completely wrong - you know what they say about assume (it can make an 'ass' of 'u' and 'me').

Gary

[UKRay]

Many thanks for this Gary, most useful. I'm going to make up a few and see what happens.

Has anyone got any experience or knowledge about which colours sell best? - Black and tan always seem to be popular but I made a batch of veg tan collars a few months back and dyed them bright colours - I still have most of them! Does this match anyone else's experience?

On the veg tan question, I've been using it for years and never had a complaint. It absorbs the grease from a dog's fur quite readily and this alone is quite an effective sealer. I agree with Gary that bridle leather would make the best quality collars, but IMHO veg tan works fine for most jobs as long as it gets a good waxy waterproof sealer on top of whatever colour dye job you choose.

[celticleather]

Ray

Here's a list that I use, if it's any help. The sizes are fixing lengths - from the end of the buckle to the fixing holes. It's not necessarily definitive, and a lot of the sizes are 'same as', but I've found it ok for the most popular makes of dog.

I mostly get asked to make collars for labradors, collies, retrievers etc, and wherever possible I try to take the measurements from an existing collar, but I stick to the most common sizes if I'm making for stock.

I've used veg-tan a couple of times, but I had a disaster once when I made one for a hefty thug-dog. The wretched creature kept going for a swim, and the collar stretched to the point where it slipped over its head and was useless. Since then I have always used bridle leather. If I cut a fairly short belt from a bridle butt, the offcut is often long enough for a dog collar - minimum waste, maximum profit!

Colour-wise, burgundy is very popular, followed by Havana brown, London tan and black. I was once asked to make a collar in pink, but I don't do pink in anything!

Terry