Collars & Leads

Considered collars and leads that stand up to hedgerows and muddy fields, and still look the part at the front door.

Collars, leads and harnesses are the kit that gets used every single day, in the wet, and they are also the kit most likely to fail quietly. The clasp, the stitching and the D-ring are where it matters — not the pattern.

Collar or harness?

• Collar for a dog who walks on a loose lead and needs somewhere to hang an ID tag. In the UK, a dog in a public place must legally wear a collar with the owner’s name and address on it or attached to it.
• Harness for pullers, for flat-faced breeds, for anything with a delicate windpipe, and for any dog being secured in a car. Pressure across the chest instead of the throat.
• Both is common: the harness takes the lead, the collar carries the tag.

Winter walking

Between October and March most UK dog walks happen at least partly in the dark. Reflective webbing and glow finishes are the cheapest safety upgrade available — see our winter dark-walking guide.

Getting the fit right

Two fingers under a collar; a harness that does not shift when the dog shakes. Our measuring guide covers neck and chest girth. If the lead is going in the car, it needs to attach to a harness rather than a collar.