Hi,

As my BC grows up, he is developing a lovely long coat :) At the moment he has a normal nylon collar which is fine (except he keeps growing out of them!) but it tends to disrupt his hair around his neck and can make it quite hard to grab his collar if needed. As I am off to Crufts on Friday for a shopping spree, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good collar for a long-haired dog - or is it something that I have to live with?

Thanks
Nicola & Jay

All my dogs have had heavy coats and I tend to use a rolled leather collar rather than a flat one. The rolled collar seems to sink its way through the ruff and doen't flatten the coat. On mine, you would hardly know there was a collar on, just a lead coming out of the neck!;)
Jean

For extra control I use rolled leather half check colars on my Elkhounds, as flat collars ruin their ruff!

I get mine from here http://www.accoladeleathercraft.com/they do them in 6mm and 8mm round leather. for a dog or stornger bitch get the 8mm, which I have on my youngest, though the three older ones have 6mm as that was all they did at the time!

Hi,
I always like to use a rolled leather collar on my dogs, as it doesn't seem to mark the coat (although the longest coat I've ever had is a Labrador, nowhere near a BC!) but it's getting very hard to find good quality rolled collars and plain flat leather leads (I hate the "Timberwolf" brand which seems to be taking over :()

Our training classes like us to use a 1/2 check and have used them on both our older mongrel and our Aussie pup. The collar doesn't really cause any problem with the short-haired mongrel, but the hair round our Aussie's neck is awful - it is about 1/2 the length of the rest and the chain has caused the white hair to go a dirty grey :( We take the collar off when she is indoors and don't really want to stop using the 1/2 check yet - will we just have to put up with the mess under her collar until we stop using it ? (Fortunately we don't show her)

Daisy

It's the chain bit that does this to the hair - it'll sort itself with the first moult after you start using something else. :)

Thanks - she hasn't had her first season yet (10 months) so probably won't moult until then :(

Daisy

Thanks Jeangenie & Jean (!),

This is probably a stupid question, but do you think I will be able to get a nice collar at Crufts?

:)

Have a look in your catalogue to see if Accolade Leather have a stall. Their stuff looks good on the internet, and I know several people on here have recommended their collars before. You might see me buying one for Abby there!:D
Lynn x

Daisy - you can get a half check collar with a nylon bit instead of a chain-I think it's either cannac or miki that does it
Liz

Thanks - is it the chain that is ruining the hair or does it just make the hair dirty ? Will have a look around for those collars - thanks

Daisy

With my dalmatians the chain broke the hairshaft, and the damaged ends absorbed the dirt - it wouldn't wash off, and I had to wait till that hair was shed (about the only time I've been glad how much these shed!!)

Thanks - fortunately it doesn't really show as the rest of her hair is long and covers it - but when I am grooming her it looks awful :( Will try to get a different collar - just hope that I don't get excommunicated at training classes :)

Daisy

I use the rolled half checks, and chrome chain. A puppy owner of mine bought the brass and it made the coat green. I oil the chain on the collar every now and then with a little oil or Liquid parafin and it doesn't dirty their necks.

Out of interest Brainless, what breed do you have? I was thinking maybe it showed up so much on my dals because the hair is white....if the hair was coloured perhaps it wouldn't notice so much..? Just a thought :)

Edit: Derrr :o :o (Slap my head!) Just noticed you have Elkhounds!!!

see you there!! :D

Accolade have just made me some lovely half checks in white rolled leather for showing - they'll make exactly what you need, their prices were good and service was brilliant.

M.

There are umpteen collar/lead etc stands - I'm sure you'll find something. I'll be looking for a new lead - Harry has eaten the handle of his!

I've been saving up for a big spree!

HI Jeangenie

Take a look at some of the posh stuff on www.karenswood.co.uk

I don't think they will be at Crufts this year, but they do do some quality stuff, bridle leather and what not :)

Lindsay