Which specialty?
Cincy. Yay, it's been a few years, but I'm finally going to a specialty again! lol
There are also lots of collars (and other pet stuff) at Etsy.com (look at the list on the left-hand side of the page).
For cloth ones - I've bought a couple from Around the Hounds (they are in Canada):
http://www.aroundthehounds.com/
My leather ones I've purchased from Bolduc Custom Leatherworks in Springfield MA. Unfortunately they don't have a website.
My favourite collars are made by a lady in Minnesota, introduced to me by my breeders in the US but who will promptly ship to Canada.
http://www.northwindcatalog.com/martingale_collars.htm
I use the 1" collars on both of my guys. She also has a variety of other items - Martingale leads and slip leads, among others.
the best feeling non-leather collars/leashs:
http://www.whitepineoutfitters.com/index.cfm
will not discolor the white on your dog and doesn't seem to break hair (but mine don't wear colors inside) very affordable
Good thread. Thank you, Fran. I am taking notes.
None of my basenjis wear collars except when we leave the premises of home.
For martigales, I have been very pleased with All Hounds Apparel, http://www.allhoundsapparel.com/, and they do mean it when they say lifetime guaruntee and have replaced chewed collars when I send in the hardware.
I also like martingales that I got from Debbey Bartos, http://web.mac.com/debbey/iWeb/Site/FANCY%20MARTINGALE%20COLLARS.html, I don't do the fringe and what not just the nice wide collar which is good at racing events where they tend to pull like maniacs toward the boxes.
For simple, plain martingales, I would second agilebasenjis recommendation of White Pine Outfitters. They are nice a soft and good quality.
I second the White Pine collars and leads, they are the softest nylon products you will find.
I also second Wild Hare, I have a few of their collars and slip leads. They are very strong stylish very nice.
Wow you guys! You're the best. Thank you so much for the fast responses. I'll have my work cut out for me this weekend going through all the sites you've suggested. I'll let you know what I come up with for my sweet Kipawa.
Lastly, is a wider collar better for Kipawa, who is a big ground sniffer and tugs a little? I would love to keep his head up more.
I have many and range in size - 3/4" - 2". I think the wider ones are a little kinder to the neck. I use the thin 3/4" size in tandem with my Flexi-Leads and the wider ones when I'm walking the kids with regular leashes.
Also, I found another thread that I wrote about some of the Bolduc leather collars/leads that I bought at a dog show last year and where I'll be buying a lure coursing quick release in the next month. To say their work is beautiful is an understatement:
http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=7927&highlight=bolduc
I agree with JoT, awesome thread Fran..
I too hade several martingales for Otis..loved the one Debbie Bartos made for him..it was fleece lined and so soft, no beads or fringe though.
I also like Lupine's martingales..because they have a 100% return policy..Otis chewed his twice and they replaced it, Moses just to his torn up a month or so ago and they replaced it no questions asked..got to love that…theirs don't come that wide though, but enough to be a good collra to swtch off with. Otis had a wide collar (the one Debbie made for him) almost 2" at the widest and it tapered down to 3/4" where the d-ring was..very comfy on the trachea..
For Pippin...well we have got to try different ones..so we have an assortment ;):D, but I am waiting for him to get a little larger still..I know where to shop now though..thanks guys.
PS. He does have a collar and leash made by a lady on ETSY..love it, it was made from an old pair of jeans..so it is soo soft and I wash it when I wash our jeans..but he will outgrow that before long.
Fran, for the sniffing and tugging, I wouldn't look at a collar to fix that but instead some training. Two things you can try is first practice rewarding head up walking by click/treat for loose leash, head up while walking you can also use "go sniff" as a reward for loose leash, head up walking so he still gets to sniff but it starts to be on cue.
Fran, for the sniffing and tugging, I wouldn't look at a collar to fix that but instead some training.
+1 on this…
They are fairly easy to make. My wife has made a number of them for Dolce.
Fran, for the sniffing and tugging, I wouldn't look at a collar to fix that but instead some training. Two things you can try is first practice rewarding head up walking by click/treat for loose leash, head up while walking you can also use "go sniff" as a reward for loose leash, head up walking so he still gets to sniff but it starts to be on cue.
Thank you Ivoss for that suggestion. I will use that at our puppy class this morning and throughout our walks. I will let you know how it works out.
Are the wider collars okay to use with a puller?
I'm still working with trying to get mine to stop pulling when we're out walking - the gentle leader helps - but I can't use that when we go to training class.