I have alway's been a bit fussy about collar's. I had one made about 1971 in a saddle shop in Kalispell for my old Skipper when he was a year old. He died at 12 yrs and I burried that collar with him; it would have outlasted another dog easy. Then it seemed like all I could find was nylon and cheapo junk leather collars. Nylon is not bad but never had one last the life of a dog. I got the stiffest I could find. They are tougher and they slide around a dogs neck like a steel ring when check cording. Problem is I can't find them any more.
So last week I saw a sign to a leather shop in Redmond, Ore and went in. Asked about collar's and he said he did make them. Told him I wanted a double leather collar, both side's with the smooth side out and edges sewened. Brass D ring and buckle. He went out to the car and measured the boy's for them and told me they would be ready befor X-Mas; right! Well he called about noon today that I could pick them up anytime so into Redmond I went. That's not a short drive either, 35mi to Madras then another 20 to Redmond. Madras is the closest town to me.
I walked in the door and they were right there waiting for me, absolutely beautiful collar's!! I asked him for some copper rivit's to put their name plate's on them and he wasn't hearing it. Had me bring in the plates and he put them on. None of those rivits either, he used brass studs that screw together and put lock tite in the threads to be sure they stayed there. The outside collar is heavy latigo leather, inside is thinner but with the smooth side out. Both piece's are glued together and edges sewened and burnished. These are first class collars. If your ever looking thru a dog catalog and see those Nat Ch collars listed, they are junk! Good collars will really spoil you! Good collars don't have rivits holding them toegether.
To this point, that old collar I had made for Skipper was the hands down best collar I'd ever owned, these two are every bit as good I believe. Here they are with the inside and outside showing.
