Why We Use English Bridle Leather for Dog Collars
I've worked with leather dog collars for a long time, and one of the things I've learned is that not all leather is the same. The type of hide, how it's tanned and finished, and how the collar itself is constructed all make a difference in how it feels, wears and ages.
For our leather dog collars at dogIDs, we've chosen English Bridle leather. It was originally developed for demanding equestrian use, where strength and durability matter, but it also has characteristics that make it especially well suited for a dog collar.
One thing that's important to understand about good bridle leather is that it doesn't necessarily feel soft when it's brand new. It starts out fairly firm. With use and proper care, it gradually softens, conforms to the dog's neck and develops the character that makes a well-worn leather collar so distinctive.
What Makes English Bridle Leather Different?
English Bridle leather is a vegetable-tanned leather made from heavy U.S. native steer hides. During the finishing process, the leather is drum dyed for deep, consistent color and hot stuffed with waxes and tallows. Those oils and waxes become part of the leather and help give good bridle leather its distinctive feel and durability.
You'll sometimes see a light waxy coating appear on the surface of bridle leather. That's called "spew," and it's simply some of those waxes and tallows migrating to the surface. It can be buffed back into the leather and isn't a defect. It's actually one of the characteristics you may see in traditionally finished bridle leather.
Another reason I like this leather for dog collars is that it has enough substance to hold its shape without feeling rigid forever. It may be fairly stiff when it's new, but as the leather is worked and worn, it becomes softer and more supple. Eventually it begins to conform to the dog's neck much like a good leather belt, pair of boots or baseball mitt conforms through use.
How We Build Our Leather Collars
The leather itself is only part of what determines how a collar holds up. Construction matters too. We fully stitch our English Bridle leather collars with heavy-duty nylon thread and hand-rub the edges rather than leaving them raw. Depending on the collar style, we use solid brass or stainless steel hardware.
Those details take more time, but I've never believed there was much point in starting with good leather and then cutting corners when turning it into a collar.
English Bridle Leather Safety Collar with Name Plate
$59.00
English Bridle Leather Safety Collar with Personalized Brass Name Plate Premium Leather Center Ring Dog Collars If you appreciate high-quality leather and a traditional classy… read more
Hornaday Padded Leather Collar with Name Plate & Shot Shell Conchos
$119.00
Artisan Handmade Padded Leather Dog Collar with Name Plate & Shot Shell Conchos Your dog will feel like royalty in our artisan handmade Hornaday Padded… read more
Leather Gets Better With Use
One of my favorite things about leather is that a well-used collar doesn't necessarily look worn out—it looks broken in. The leather softens, develops character and carries some evidence of the life your dog has lived in it.
That doesn't mean leather is the right material for every dog. If your dog spends half the summer swimming or regularly comes home covered in mud, I would probably steer you toward a waterproof BioThane collar instead. But for a dog that wears leather well, a properly cared-for English Bridle leather collar can become one of those pieces of gear that just gets better with age.
You can see our current English Bridle leather dog collars here.
If you choose leather, a little care goes a long way. Here's how I recommend caring for a leather dog collar.
