Dog Products Archives - BestLeather.org

September 3, 2018September 3, 2018

Choice Cuts Industries Dog Collar and Leash – $75

I’m so proud of my son. He’s 3 years old, healthy and strong and is finally ready for a big boy collar. Of course, you’ll realize my ‘son’ is handsome pup. My love of dogs and affinity for fine leather goods has always kept me on the hunt for that perfect leather collar and leash for him to be able to say bye bye to the ratty nylon one he’s had since he was a young pup. Choice Cuts Industries leather dog collars and leashes are simple yet elegant, well made and just a charm to look at and hold (and cuddle). Ok,ok..I promise to make this review about the leather goods and my pup!

About Choice Cuts Industries

Joel and Kerri Mills started Choice Cuts Industries in 2012. They create one of a kind, carefully crafted leather goods using traditional methods and the the finest American-tanned leather. From watch bands, Apple Watch bands, dog collars, and leashes to bags and everyday carry accessories, they design, make, and ship everything from their North Carolina workshop. They believe in creating beautiful functional items, made to last and improve with time.

Construction

The leather collar and leash is handmade using a single strip of bridal leather, copper rivets and sturdy antique brass hardware. The clasp on the leash is what most refer to as a ‘trigger hook swivel clasp’. Both pieces are 3/4 inches wide and the leash is 4 feet long. The color of this particular set is what they refer to as ‘chestnut’ and other colors are available as well.

Function

The collar and leash function extremely well and are a joy to use. Since we remove our guy’s collar every night before bed and when he goes in the water, I must say it is very easy to buckle on and off, an issue I sometimes have with leather collars and other buckles. The leash clasp is both functional and stylish with the antique finish and I feel very good knowing that it is extra secure should my boy see a squirrel or a mail carrier.

Aesthetic

I really like the minimalistic design of this set. There are some leather collars and leashes I’ve seen out there with more detail, stitches, rivets and other embellishes. But, honestly, I really like that the leather stands out and the design is simple yet beautiful. The leather is rich and gorgeous! I can’t wait to see how it ages on the boy and get’s that rough yet handsome patina and wear.

Conclusion

Both Jasper (the pup) and I are very pleased with this leather leash and collar set. They are available for purchase separately. For $35 for the collar and $45 for the leash, I really feel this is a great value for something that is very stylish, functional and built to last. Perhaps the money saved can go towards some new chew toys or bones.. Check out both the collar and leash -Here-.

March 25, 2015December 19, 2017

Wolfgang Horween Leather Collar & Leash Review – $99.95 & $69.95

Appollo, Hachiko, Laika, Rin Tin Tin. Dogs have definitely earned the title, “Man’s Best Friend.” Throughout the centuries their courage, loyalty and faithfulness have inspired many. Even though our canine companions don’t judge us on the material things we get for them, it’s satisfying providing them with quality goods for all the joy they bring us. In the search for a collar worthy of the family dog, I came across the Wolfgang Horween Leather Collar and Leash.

ABOUT WOLFGANG USA

Wolfgang was brought about by an adventurous team of canines (and their owners) with backgrounds in production. Whether experiencing life through exploring, skating, fishing, relaxing or any other manner of living, they all shared a common trait. They did these things together, man and beast. With an aim to celebrate that relationship they offer American made collars and leashes as well as a collection of wallets, belts, t-shirts and hoodies. I think Wolfgang puts it best when they say, “We build our products locally, transport them minimally, and they’ll be replaced rarely.”

CONSTRUCTION

The products reviewed were the Wolfgang Horween Leather Collar and Leash. Wolfgang offers various sizes of collars and leashes to accommodate a wide range of breeds. Both are made with tan colored Horween full aniline Chromexcel leather. Hardware used is powder coated steel for excellent durability. Both the leash handle and interior collar are lined with supple glove leather for added comfort. All leather is joined with black stitching and the collar has steel rivets reinforcing the buckle and D ring. The Wolfgang logo hangs on a removable ring and the company’s branding adorns the collar and leash. The collar is about ¼” thick.

FUNCTION

The foul weather presented a great opportunity to test the collar and leash. Our Lab is a bit of a tugger but thanks to the wide collar she looked perfectly comfortable when I had to rein her in. It was below freezing and even without gloves the leash handle felt soft. The glove leather lining felt comfy, even when our Lab was pulling there was no harsh edges digging into my palm. The leash used was Wolfgang’s traffic lead, although they have leashes in 4 and 5 foot lengths. At 24” the traffic lead is good for keeping the dog close, especially useful in the city or high traffic areas. Thanks to the sturdy D Ring and metal hardware, at no time did I feel the leash would come detached from the collar and I found myself enjoying the walk that much more.

AESTHETIC

The Wolfgang Horween Leather Collar and Leash are both visually appealing. The deep rich tones of the Chromexcel leather really offer a great contrast on our Lab’s coat. The two tone combination of leathers emphasize the quality and build effort. I can see this setup just looking better and better with age. Looks are only half the experience though, it’s a pretty hefty collar and just picking up the leash feels like picking up a trusted tool. Don’t be surprised if your dog gets some extra attention from other canines, our Chesapeake Bay Retriever was jealously inspecting the new gear.

CONCLUSION

The assortment of dog collars and leashes available today can be overwhelming. With the vast amount of styles it can be daunting to pick one. The Wolfgang Horween Leather Collar and Leash stand out in their classic simplicity. With top notch materials and expert craftsmanship not often applied to pet goods, it’s almost a no brainer if you want the best for your four legged friend.

November 13, 2014December 19, 2017

Noah Marion Quality Goods Dog Collar Review – $67

“Why are you the only one who gets to ride in style?” That is the question asked on the product page for the Noah Marion Quality Goods Dog Collar. And, that’s a darn good question. My answer left me feeling kind of guilty. Which is why I got in touch with Noah to get a collar for my German Shepherd, Sasha.

About Noah Marion Quality Goods

Noah Marion launched his company back in 2006 in Austin, TX. He focuses heavily on untreated, undyed, and naturally vegetable tanned leather. But, in his flagship store you’ll find he brews up some tasty looking espresso and features lots of other really cool stuff. Take a minute (and twenty-two additional seconds) to watch this video of NMQG’s flagship store. In that short span of time you’ll be full of envy for some more NMQG leather, some vintage awesomeness, and perhaps a double shot of good espresso.

Construction

The Noah Marion Quality Goods Dog Collar starts with 10 ounce natural, vegetable tanned leather sourced from within the United States. It features hand hammered copper rivets and solid brass buckle, ring, and grommet. The edges of the collar are beveled and burnished.

The collar also sports the NMQG logo and has Sasha stamped into it using nice, bold lettering. This collar can be had in other leather colors as well: black, chestnut, and dark brown. I think the natural color looks great and will develop an awesome patina.

Function

This is a sturdy collar. Sasha requires a large size on Noah’s sizing chart. It fits perfectly and comfortably. It’s thick enough and heavy enough to provide the security needed when walking her on a leash. And, when not on a leash, its color looks fantastic against Sasha’s coat.

The grommet is a nice feature and something that’s missing from most collars. The grommet allows you to easily secure your dog’s tags (license, AKC tag, etc.).

Aesthetic

As you know, vegetable tanned leather is a little stiff at first. But, with time and use, it softens up nicely along with developing a patina that makes it unique and all yours. Noah has created a very tasteful looking collar with the leather and components he’s chosen.

Even in the weeks since I’ve had the collar, photographed it, and allowed it to be worn consistently by Sasha, it has softened up nicely. It is slightly darker than when it arrived too. But, the follow up reports on this collar a few months from now is where you will see the biggest change in appearance. I’m looking forward to seeing how the patina develops and the collar darkens. I’m sure it will look even more awesome than it does now.

Conclusion

In a world of ever-increasingly mass produced items, it’s refreshing to find another source of quality, handcrafted goods. It’s easy to just grab a run of the mill nylon, uninspiring collar for your dog at just about any big box store out there. But, if you’re looking for a great collar – made from high quality leather and other components that will compliment your dog’s appearance and serve you well for many, many years to come, then consider ordering your favorite canine companion a Noah Marion Quality Goods Dog Collar. It includes monogramming your dog’s name too (with a choice of monogram colors).

October 31, 2014December 19, 2017

Bold Lead Designs Eight Way Lead & Martingale Collar – $56 & $39

The dog. Man’s best friend. There’s a lot of truth to that statement and it’s been well documented, proven true time and time again. Dogs add a component to our lives that is incredibly special. A dog’s dedication and willingness to please is amazing. So, how often do we go out and spoil them with purchases that make them look or feel good? In my case, it’s not often enough. I have two great dogs. Maggie, our family’s Golden Retriever is pushing 10 years of age now. She’s been a fantastic dog. We added Sasha, our German Shepherd dog, to the family about 3 years ago. She’s certainly livened things up around here for Maggie and us. Recently, I went on a little quest to find a great collar and leash combination that would work well on either of our dogs. The results of my search put me on the website of Bold Lead Designs.

About Bold Lead Designs

Bold Lead Designs was created in 2008. Katrina Boldry, founder, owner and designer of BLD started the business after an unsuccessful search for a quality dog leash. One thing led to another and now her collars, leashes, and other items can be found in all 50 US states and 23 countries around the globe.

One thing that really stood out to us about BLD and Katrina is their dedication to the service dog industry. In the not so distant future we’ll be featuring an article about Katrina’s work within the service dog industry and how her company’s products are designed to improve the lives of those who live, work, and benefit from service dogs.

Construction

Katrina was kind enough to send us two of her most popular pieces: the Bold Lead Designs 8-way Lead™, which is a six foot versatile leash and the Bold Lead Designs Martingale Collar. Both pieces came in golden tan bridle leather.

All of Bold Lead Designs’ pieces are crafted in their Aurora, Colorado workshop. Bold Lead Designs is dedicated to true craftsmanship using 100% US made materials.

Both pieces I have are vegetable tanned leather from Hermann Oak Leather Company of St. Louis, MO. The bridle leather is weighty and has a great feel to it. When it’s in your hands, it is very reminiscent of horse tack – bridles, reins, harnesses, and other pieces.

The hardware is all sturdy and solid brass (some of their other designs feature chrome plated brass and solid stainless steel). You won’t find any stitching in their products. Instead, everything is assembled or secured with heavy duty Chicago screws, thick rings, lobster clasps, Conway buckles, or other heavy, solid fasteners. All of that to say, the 8-way lead and the martingale collar received are substantial pieces built from sturdy materials.

Function

The 8-way Lead is a dog walker’s dream. The ability to configure it in so many useful ways is great. My version of the lead is a size large (5/8” wide). It works great with either one of my dogs and is comfortable in my hands. With six feet of length, my dog is not constantly under my feet, but also not able to walk too far ahead. I can easily give Sasha or Maggie enough lead for them to “explore” while still maintaining control.

The Bold Lead Designs martingale collar is also a size large. Its size is ideal for walking either of my dogs. I do have it set on the longest possible setting (last hole of the collar). If either one of my dogs were males of their breed, I would most likely need to have chosen the XL version of the collar and then bumped up to the XL leash too.

I like martingale collars for the control they give you when walking your dog. Just a slight tug is usually all that’s needed to offer correction or get your dog’s attention. I’m not a fan of choke or spike collars at all – so the martingale collar is a great training aid or every day walking collar in my opinion.

Both of my dogs quickly adapted to using the martingale collar without issue and I saw a marked reduction in pulling from Sasha, my German Shepherd when using this collar. She has become very content to walk in stride with me when this collar is used.

Aesthetic

Both of these pieces look fantastic. The quality of the leather and hardware are very apparent. The attention to detail in the craftsmanship is also easily seen. The braid work on the 8-way Lead is fantastic. Both pieces look great on either of my dogs.

I don’t know if Sasha or Maggie can tell that they’re sporting two high quality, hand crafted leather pieces or not…but, it seems to me that they have a little pep in their step and their heads are held a little higher now when they’re donning this leash/collar combo.

Conclusion

I’ve been on the hunt for a quality leash and collar combo for a long time. I’ve had this mental picture of what I wanted, but could never seem to find it until now. The Bold Lead Designs 8-Way Lead and Bold Lead Designs Martingale Collar team up together to create an ideal walking set for my dogs. Now, I just need to get another lead and collar so that I can walk both of them at the same time. Considering the fact that these pieces are handcrafted in the US from high caliber components, the pricing is extremely fair. Take a few minutes, visit Bold Lead Designs website, and get a couple of things for your canine companion.