Tips on Dog Collar and Leash Care

You would think that dog collar and leash care is pretty straight forward, and that there isn’t much to caring for them. After all, they are designed to keep your dog safe, looking sharp and feeling comfortable day in and day out. But there are a couple of things you should do to make certain that it does.

Watch Out for Chewers!

If you have a new puppy, he/she may have been “naked” until the day you picked them up, and as such, will not be used to a collar or harness. Until they learn that collars and harnesses mean fun things like walks or car rides, they will need some time to get used to this new “thing” you have put on them.There is nothing more disheartening that putting a brand new collar, harness or leash on your new pup only to find it ripped to shreds 10 minutes later! So a word of caution: if you have a new puppy or dog, do not leave them unattended in your new collar/harness until you know that they will not chew through it.

Our advise: Put the collar on and stay with them for a while. Watch to see if they try to get their teeth on it it. If they do, a firm “no” and distraction to a chew toy may help. If you must leave them, take the collar/harness off until you can be with them. Every puppy is different, as is their teething period. Adult dogs will chew too, especially if they are anxious, or the item is different (going from a collar to a harness – harnesses feel vey constraining to a dog at first). Some folks recommend “apple bitter”, a chew deterrent that has worked for many. While we can’t guarantee that it will work for all, it may be worth trying in helping you with your dog collar and leash care.

A Clean Collar Always Looks Good

A quality dog collar looks best when it’s clean. Collar & leash products like The Artful Canine’s are machine washable (delicate cycle, warm water) and our fabrics are colorfast, so don’t be afraid to put it in the wash every once in a while. The hardware can get noisy in a machine, so we suggest a laundry bag to keep the clanging to a minimum. Please air dry your dog collar or leash – dryer heat will prematurely wear and fray the nylon. And if your collar has a red base (and your dog is white) wait for it to dry before putting back on your dog – some red dyes have been known to bleed a little when wet. You should always have two collars, so that when you are washing one your dog has an alternative to wear.

Clean Up Frayed and Pilled Surfaces

Any dog collar or leash will show wear with time, usually in the form of fraying edges or pilling of the fabric’s surface. We’ve created a little video that shows you how you can easily clean this up with a sharp pair of small scissors. While it doesn’t really take care of severe issues (tearing for fabric from friction or biting), it works for everyday wear and tear.

Doing all of the above will go a long way in dog collar and leash care while helping you get the most out of your initial investment. For info on the kinds of collars that work best for your pup, check out our blog article “What’s the best dog collar for your dog?”

If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!