When visiting my daughter tonight for dinner she showed me her dogs Dogmatic leather collar that the stitching had given way and the strap come adrift. It is only a few months old and had been treated with tack  leather softener and conditioner to soften. I could not believe my eyes, I had one for years with my GSD who pulled like a steam train and still pulled on the dogmatic but a bit less than without. I advised her to contact Dogmatic and explain the problem. She had to punch extra holes in it and chopped off the excess strap, so she thinks this would invalidate any complaint. She also does not have the receipt. Do you think it is worth contacting them? I feel awful as I recommended the collar to her in the first place and it was not cheap. I reckon its worth a try.

I have sent 2 dogmatic training leads back, as the stitching came loose while exercising a Great Dane, which was a rescue dog!
The company sent me replacement ones that week, I still have them, but use lead ropes alot of the time, if dogs are on leads.

If she chopped of the excess strap then she must have cut through the stitching. If it was a different part of the collar that came unstitched I would send it back but not if it was due to the excess being taken off.

If she chopped of the excess strap then I would assume she must have cut through the stitching. If it was a different part of the collar that came unstitched I would send it back but not if it was due to the excess being taken off.

I'd contact them if it were me, as far as I can see it, you have nothing to lose. If they replace it you're better off, if they don't you are the same as you was before.

Definitely contact them. I also had 2 leads in which the stitching came apart, they replaced them. I wouldn't get another lead or collar by the sounds of it. However, I have the headcollar and its tough.

The quality of the headcollar fades after being in the rain and then goes hard so it rubs the dogs nose badly and then they refuse a refund!!!

Is this the leather one - I am afraid if you had bought a leather collar or headcollar from me, got it wet and then not dried and conditioned it appropriately, I would not give you a refund either!

If its a fabric one, they do need washing, or much like other things allowed to get wet and dirty and then left to dry, they will go hard and uncomfortable.

Stuff does fade,  you dont say how long it took for that to happen - leather will always lose its 'brand new shiny' look pretty much the instant you use it because it comes out of the curriers with a layer of wax on it that wears off in use, thats supposed to happen really but using a quality leather conditioner and cleaning it should make it look nice.

> Is this the leather one - I am afraid if you had bought a leather collar or headcollar from me, got it wet and then not dried and conditioned it appropriately, I would not give you a refund either!>

Agree with this, leather needs to be looked after. My collars and leads have been going for years and are soft and supple because I take good care of them.

Well thats a new one on me!Ive never done anything to my leather leads and collars!I did wonder if i should,after all,horse tack is cleaned.What should i be doing,please?they werent cheap!

I used the leather one on my Rottweiler for his lifetime and it is still soft and supple, I used saddle soap on it.

Leads usually get used so much in our generally clean (cleaner than a horse!) hands, and dogs don't sweat like horses do, so doggy stuff does tend to stay cleaner and more supple than horse tack will.

However if you get things wet and dry them, especially if they dry fast in a centrally heated house, leather will go hard and nasty, so slow drying and then massaging in a very TINY amount of oil (too much is baaaaaaad) iwth y our nice warm hands will do the trick.

If leather gets properly dirty, especially greasy dirty (inside of collars for example), warm water wtih a tiny dash of washing up liquid to clean it with and then wax/fat based conditioner afterwards again massaged in with your warm hands - its the warmth of your hands and the rubbing it in that makes the leather soft and supple, NOT the amount of product you use!

Saddle soap - the glycerin based traditional stuff is frequently mis-used - it is a humectant (draws moisture in) which is why it keeps leather supple, but if its not removed properly and the item is left alone it will in the end go mouldy!

Thankyou very much!So a drop or two of oil rubbed in(Will olive do?)And after cleaning,tiny amount of conditioner-sorry to be a pain but could you suggest one please?It struck me I ought to do something after our holiday in newquay-the dogs were forever in the sea and id forgotten to take the collars off!thanks again!

I use Sedgwicks leather balm, its basically a mixture of fats and waxes. Olive oil is good if thats all you have around.

Basically, fat sinks in, oil will sink in more but make the leather fibres soggy and also stop it absorbing moisture and it needs some (like your skin needs some), waxes sit on the top and provide a good protective layer that doesnt penetrate too much.

So oil v v sparingly, fats you can be a bit more generous with and waxes provide the protective finish that can be removed/replaced.

If going in salt water, a GOOD wash afterwards, you dont need to be too wimpy about getting leather wet, but remove all the soap and dry slowly, dry in towels and add a fat/wax based conditioner when its almost dry rather than bone dry.

http://www.je-sedgwick.co.uk/jes/mib/d/original+leathercare/pid/7764010  Sedgwicks website - they make leather so I trust them on whats good for it (as I use their leather too!) - should be able to find a supplier of the balm/balsam there or email and they will tell you.

Thankyou very much!Will get some-il feel better looking after the stuff,there was always this niggling feeling i SHOULD be doing something!Cheers!