Dog Community

In search for the perfect collar....

Posted : 8/26/2006 6:29:58 PM

It's been a long time since Casey got a new collar and I figured I'd be smart and get a collar the will last a long time and not one that is cute and will lose it's strength quickly and stretch (like the thin ribbon collar that she currently has). I'm in search of a thick padded collar, not leather though in a large size to fit a GSD neck (Casey's fur gets stuck and caught easily). The collar also cannot have a quick release on it. Does anyone have any ideas where I can find one, and hopefully in a cute color?

Thanks for the help in advance.I've checked out a few online, however I've found that most of the padded collars have the quick-release buckle and I'm not that fond of those.

Erica

Posted : 8/26/2006 8:21:51 PM

I prefer the martingail collars. (also called greyhound collars) the dog cannot slip out when walking, and there are no buckels to worry about sores and such.
You can get them at most pet stores, and they aren't that expensive.

ladiebug

Posted : 8/26/2006 10:19:41 PM

We had a problem fitting our GSD/Rott with a collar, she'd break the plastic quick release on the nylon ones & hated the metal buckles on the leather ones -kept scratching. We found nylon collars w/an aluminum carabiner buckle for $15 at [linkhttp://www.ekusa.com]www.ekusa.com[/link], both dogs wear one & we love them all around.

stardancnminpin

Posted : 8/26/2006 11:17:27 PM

We use the rolled leather collars that have the regular steel buckles. Not quick release at all, hehe, and the rolled leather doesn't break the hair around the neck as bad as the flat nylon types do. Made a huge difference for my Mom's chow. I use them on Jezz and Keela after her first nylon one's chewed up her neck. I get mine from Petco as they have better quality ones than Petsmart. I think dog.com carries them, as does others like Fosters and Smith that I shop from.

orangedog

Posted : 8/26/2006 11:30:19 PM

As far as attractive/pretty collars go, that have strong buckles I don't know of any. Rolled leather is nice though as long as you don't have a dog who is in and out of the water all the time (though it can get wet, I prefer it not to), but I love embroidered nylon collars on my dogs and buy their collars from [linkhttp://www.k9collars.com]www.k9collars.com[/link]. They're really nice quality and come in a variety of collar styles (I have the adjustable buckle collar for mine).

I also love collars from [linkhttp://www.earthdog.com]www.earthdog.com[/link]. The regular collars just have the plastic snaps, but they also have martingales. This is where I got my Dobe's collar from as he can't wear nylon and I just didn't like the look of leather on him.

chewbecca

Posted : 8/27/2006 8:07:58 AM

ORIGINAL: orangedog

As far as attractive/pretty collars go, that have strong buckles I don't know of any. Rolled leather is nice though as long as you don't have a dog who is in and out of the water all the time (though it can get wet, I prefer it not to), but I love embroidered nylon collars on my dogs and buy their collars from [linkhttp://www.k9collars.com]www.k9collars.com[/link]. They're really nice quality and come in a variety of collar styles (I have the adjustable buckle collar for mine).

I also love collars from [linkhttp://www.earthdog.com]www.earthdog.com[/link]. The regular collars just have the plastic snaps, but they also have martingales. This is where I got my Dobe's collar from as he can't wear nylon and I just didn't like the look of leather on him.

I got Ella's collar at Earthdog.com too. It's very nice and she doesn't itch from it like she did with her nylon one. I got a martingale.
Another good place would be [linkhttp://www.collarmania.com]Collar Mania[/link]
There you can make your own.

Casey

Posted : 8/27/2006 12:45:10 PM

Thanks for all of the ideas! I think I'm going to go with a rolled leather collar. I know I wasn't looking into leather, but now that I've thought about it I don't think that a rolled one will pull on Casey's fur. I've had no problems with regular nylon collars except for the stretching. Now the only thing is to find a rolled leather collar that is made of soft leather (my family is against dogs wearing leather collars because they believe it is prob. uncomfortable for the dogs - I have to convince them otherwise now). I have no idea why they think that, who knows.... it's not like it's a huge bulky collar!

ColleenC

Posted : 8/27/2006 1:07:04 PM

I have a rolled leather coller on my dog and it does not seem to bother her at all. It was stiff when I first bought it, but has softened up a lot now. When you get it, if you just move it in your hands, it will help some, but it takes a bit of time for it to get really soft.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 8/27/2006 6:27:28 PM

Max isn't in the market for a new collar right now, but I have to tell you about a collar I saw on Friday night. We went to a party at someone's house and there was a really sweet dog there named *Elvis* and he had a collar that said *Love Me Tender* all around it. Kinda made me wish I'd named Maxc *Elvis*.[][]

Joyce

stardancnminpin

Posted : 8/27/2006 10:51:53 PM

When I first get mine, I use saddle soap or a leather conditioner on it to soften it up. Work it in your hands a bit, and it stays supple. I clean Jezebelle's periodically if she gets really nasty dirty or wet in it, then I use saddle soap on it again. I don't like them stiff either, and I haven't had that problem with the rolled leather collars on the girls.

Have fun shopping![

]

ColleenC

Posted : 8/27/2006 10:54:15 PM

ORIGINAL: stardancnminpin

When I first get mine, I use saddle soap or a leather conditioner on it to soften it up. Work it in your hands a bit, and it stays supple. I clean Jezebelle's periodically if she gets really nasty dirty or wet in it, then I use saddle soap on it again. I don't like them stiff either, and I haven't had that problem with the rolled leather collars on the girls.

Have fun shopping![]

Saddle Soap! Thats the stuff I was trying to think of! When we had horses, we used it on the harnesses to keep them from being stiff.

Casey

Posted : 8/28/2006 1:13:52 AM

I love my saddle soap! It softened my new Pessoa really well, it's worth a try on a collar. Thanks for the idea!

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/28/2006 10:28:07 AM

I like these fake leather collars-- the beta material is soft and very leather-like but totally indestructible: [linkhttp://www.tackatack.com/DogCollars.htm]http://www.tackatack.com/DogCollars.htm[/link]

miranadobe

Posted : 8/28/2006 11:00:02 AM

One of the NICEST collars I've seen are from Hogan Leather. She does padded leather collars that are lined in deer skin or another leather (she told me, but I forgot), and they're handcrafted. They are soft like butter and smooth. They come in colors - red, purple, pink, yellow, jade.
[linkhttp://www.hoganleather.com/store/products/2-collars/47-padded-collar-colors/]http://www.hoganleather.com/store/products/2-collars/47-padded-collar-colors/[/link]
They're gorgeous - pricey (around $50, I think), but they're a "long life" sort of item. Because they're leather, they stretch a bit, so don't feel weird if you buy smaller than you normally would. She does them in slip collars and buckles.
[linkhttp://www.hoganleather.com/]http://www.hoganleather.com/[/link]