Everything you need for making leather dog collars and leads

If you’re looking to craft high-quality, timeless leather dog collars and leads, this guide is for you. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, we’ll take you through every stage of the process—from selecting the right leather and hardware to cutting, stitching, and finishing your designs.

Leather is a traditional, durable, and highly versatile material that, when worked with care and attention, creates long-lasting accessories suitable for dogs of all sizes. It offers both strength and natural beauty, developing character over time while remaining reliable for everyday use.

In this guide, we’ll share practical advice and professional techniques to help you produce well-made, functional pieces with a clean, finished look. You’ll learn how to choose the most suitable leathers, select appropriate hardware, and apply the correct methods for cutting, assembling, and finishing your collars and leads.

Whether you are making a one-off piece or developing products for a small business, this guide will give you the confidence and knowledge to create leather dog accessories that are both practical and built to last.

Safety Note

We always recommend that customers take appropriate training or courses where necessary to ensure the safety, comfort, and wellbeing of both the pet and handler. Correct construction, fitting, and hardware selection are essential for safe and reliable use.

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OUR CONTRIBUTOR

LEATHER

Bridle butt leather is the preferred choice for making high-quality leather dog collars and leads. It offers excellent strength, structure, and durability, making it ideal for everyday use and ensuring a long-lasting, professional finish.

For longer leads, bridle back leather may be a more suitable option, providing the additional length required while still maintaining good strength and consistency.

It is important to note that some bridle leathers can be prone to water spotting. While this does not affect performance, it may alter the appearance of the leather over time, particularly in lighter or more natural finishes.

Why Choose Leather for Dog Collars & Leads

Leather is an excellent choice for making dog collars and leads due to its durability, comfort, and timeless appeal. Its natural strength provides a reliable and secure option for dogs of all sizes, while its soft, flexible structure helps reduce the risk of chafing and irritation during everyday wear.

Unlike many synthetic materials, high-quality leather is biodegradable and becomes more characterful over time, developing a natural patina that enhances its appearance and individuality. This ageing process is often seen as a desirable feature, giving each finished piece a unique and personalised look.

Leather also offers a wide range of customisation possibilities, including dyeing, embossing, engraving, and hand stitching. This makes it an ideal material for creating bespoke designs that stand out while maintaining strength and functionality.

With the correct care and maintenance, leather collars and leads can last for many years, making them a long-term and worthwhile investment for both pet owners and professional makers. Combining tradition, craftsmanship, and practicality, leather continues to be a trusted choice for stylish, durable, and high-quality dog accessories.

TOP TIP

When punching through leather, always work on a sturdy, stable workbench to ensure accuracy and safety. Place a cutting board or a piece of thick scrap leather underneath your work to protect both your tools and your work surface.

A firm, well-supported surface helps you achieve clean, consistent holes while reducing wear on your punches and preventing unnecessary strain on your hands. Avoid soft or flexible surfaces, as they can absorb impact and lead to uneven results or tool damage.

PADDED DOG COLLARS

To make a padded dog collar, you will need a combination of supportive padding material and a soft, durable outer leather layer to ensure comfort, strength, and a professional finish.

For the inner structure, use soft Plastazote or 4mm PVC foam lining, both of which provide cushioning and help distribute pressure evenly around the dog’s neck. These materials are lightweight, resilient, and ideal for improving comfort during extended wear.

For the outer layer, we recommend nappa basil hide, or any similar soft leather in the 0.6mm–0.8mm thickness range. This provides a supple, smooth finish that wraps neatly over the padding while maintaining flexibility and durability.

This combination creates a collar that is both comfortable and hard-wearing, making it suitable for everyday use while still offering a high-quality, handcrafted appearance.

For visual guidance, refer to the how-to video further down the page.

TOP TIP

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For shaped collars, begin by cutting your foam into a strip that is slightly wider than the collar—approximately 1/16” to 1/8” wider than the finished width.

Once positioned, use a ballpoint pen held at a slight angle to carefully trace around the collar edge. This will give you an accurate guide for cutting your padding to the exact shape required.

Taking this extra step ensures a precise fit, helping the padding sit neatly within the collar and creating a smooth, professional finish once assembled.

THREAD

Choosing the correct thread is essential for achieving strong, durable, and professional-quality construction in padded leather dog collars.

• Ritza 44 – recommended for machine sewing, offering excellent strength and consistency for secure, high-speed stitching.
• Ritza 25 (Tiger Thread) – ideal for hand sewing, providing strong, reliable stitches with a clean, professional finish.
• Ritza 20 – a finer alternative for hand sewing when a lighter stitch appearance is preferred, while still maintaining durability and strength.

• Use the Right Needle – Always use a proper leather needle, as it is designed to pierce leather cleanly without tearing or damaging the material.
• Choose Strong Thread – Bonded nylon or polyester thread is recommended for leatherwork, as it provides excellent strength, durability, and resistance to fraying over time.
• Work Slowly and Steadily – Leather is far less forgiving than fabric, so take your time and guide the material carefully through the machine to ensure even stitching and a professional finish.

HARDWEAR

TOOLS

To make a professional-quality leather dog collar or lead, we recommend using the following essential tools to ensure accuracy, strength, and a clean finish throughout the making process.

TOP TIP

Keep your leather punches sharp to ensure clean, precise holes and a professional finish. Sharp punches cut cleanly through the leather, while dull tools can tear or distort the material, leaving rough or frayed edges.

Regularly maintaining, sharpening, or replacing your punches will not only improve the quality of your work but also make the punching process easier, more accurate, and less physically demanding.

HOW TO FINISH THE EDGES ON A COLLAR AND LEAD

Finishing the edges of a leather dog collar and lead not only enhances the overall appearance but also improves comfort and durability. A well-finished edge prevents fraying, reduces wear, and gives your work a professional, high-quality look.

1. Trim and Sand the Edges

• Use a sharp knife or edge beveler to carefully round off any sharp or uneven edges.
• Lightly sand the edges using fine-grit sandpaper to create a smooth, even surface ready for finishing.

2. Burnish the Edges (For Veg-Tan and Bridle Leather)

• Lightly dampen the edges with clean water or apply a suitable burnishing solution.
• Rub the edge firmly using a burnishing tool such as a wooden slicker, bone folder, or canvas cloth.
• Continue working the edge until it becomes smooth, sealed, and slightly glossy.

3. Apply Edge Dye or Paint (Optional for a More Defined Look)

• If a more polished or coloured edge is required, apply edge dye or acrylic edge paint in thin, even layers.
• Allow each layer to dry fully before applying the next.
• Lightly sand between coats if needed to build a smooth, consistent finish.

4. Apply Beeswax or Gum Tragacanth

• Rub beeswax or gum tragacanth along the edges to help seal and smooth the fibres.
• Use a burnishing tool or cloth to work the product into the edge until it becomes smooth, sealed, and refined.

5. Final Buffing

• Once fully dry, buff the edges with a soft cloth to enhance shine and achieve a clean, professional finish.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS YOU MAY NEED

PAUL'S ESSENTIALS FOR DOG COLLARS AND LEADS

LEATHER

Leather Choice: Bridle Butts vs Bridle Backs

Sedgwick bridle butts or bridle backs (also referred to as rein backs for thicker sections) are both excellent options for making high-quality leather dog collars and leads.

For this type of work, bridle backs are often preferred, as they offer greater length and flexibility for producing longer leads. They also tend to generate more usable offcuts, making them a practical and efficient choice for a wide range of smaller projects and components.

Both options provide the strength, structure, and durability required for everyday use, so the choice ultimately depends on the intended length of the finished product and how you prefer to maximise material usage.

1 METER STEEL RULER

A precise and durable measuring tool, essential for ensuring accuracy when working with leather. A 1m ruler provides a reliable straight edge for marking and cutting, helping you achieve clean, professional lines and consistent dimensions across your projects.

It is particularly useful when measuring and cutting new hides or long straps, where accuracy is critical to maintaining symmetry, reducing waste, and ensuring a high-quality finished result in collars, leads, and other leatherwork.

STANLEY KNIFE

A versatile and highly reliable cutting tool designed for precision and control, making it ideal for cutting leather cleanly and accurately. Its sharp, replaceable blade allows you to easily cut through a range of leather thicknesses with minimal effort.

When used with a steady hand and a straight edge, a Stanley knife helps produce smooth, consistent cuts and clean edges, reducing the risk of jagged lines or uneven finishes. Regular blade changes are recommended to maintain performance and ensure safe, precise cutting in all leatherworking projects.

STRAP CUTTER

A specialised tool designed to produce consistent, uniform widths when cutting leather straps. It ensures each piece is accurately measured and evenly cut, helping you achieve clean, professional results across all your leatherwork projects.

The strap cutter is particularly useful when working with full hides, as it allows you to quickly and efficiently produce multiple straps that are perfectly symmetrical from end to end. This not only improves the overall quality of the finished product but also reduces waste and improves workflow efficiency.

EDGE CREASE

A vital leatherworking tool used to create a clean, professional finish along the edges of your leather projects. The edge crease forms a subtle, controlled indentation parallel to the edge, enhancing the overall appearance with a crisp, refined line.

In addition to its decorative effect, it also serves a practical purpose by helping guide stitching lines, ensuring greater accuracy and consistency when hand-sewing. This combination of function and finish makes it an essential tool for achieving high-quality results in collars, leads, and other leather goods.

EDGE BEVELLER

Edge bevelers are available in different sizes, and tool selection will depend on the thickness and style of the leather being used. For most collar and lead work, a No. 2 or No. 4 beveler is suitable depending on the specific piece and desired edge profile.

Using an edge beveler is an important first step in edge finishing, helping prepare the leather for burnishing, dyeing, or sealing, and ensuring a cleaner, more refined final result.

LEATHER DYE

A crucial element in the finishing process of leather crafting, used to add vibrant colour and depth to the edges of leather once they have been properly prepared. The edges of leather items, such as collars, straps, and wallets, often require special attention to ensure they blend seamlessly with the rest of the piece, giving it a polished, uniform look.

I use powder dye as I find it more cost effective.

WOOL DAUBERS

A simple yet highly effective tool used for the precise and even application of leather dye, particularly when working on smaller areas such as the edges of leather pieces.

They allow me to control the amount of dye being applied, helping to achieve a clean, consistent finish without over-saturating the leather or creating streaks.

BEES WAX

A natural, versatile substance that plays an essential role in the leatherworking process, particularly when it comes to burnishing and sealing the edges of leather projects. When applied to the edges of leather, beeswax helps to create a smooth, polished finish while also protecting the leather from moisture, wear, and environmental damage.

Many leatherworkers also combine it with gum tragacanth, a natural gum that has similar burnishing properties but provides an even smoother and more consistent finish. The combination of beeswax and gum tragacanth can be particularly beneficial for achieving a deeper, more durable seal and a shinier, more polished edge, especially on high-end or premium leather goods.

WOODEN EDGE BURNISHER

A highly effective and traditional tool used in the final stages of leather crafting, specifically designed for burnishing and sealing the prepared edges of leather projects. This tool is typically made from smooth, durable wood and features a rounded or tapered end that allows for controlled pressure to be applied along the edge of the leather.

When used correctly, it helps to smooth out any imperfections, compress the fibres, and create a clean, polished, and refined finish along the edge of the work.

I personally use a motorised version to speed things up, as I’m not a fan of hand burnishing.

SADDLERS CLAM

An essential, time-tested tool used to securely hold leather straps or pieces in place while stitching, providing the leatherworker with the stability and control needed to achieve precise, even stitches. The saddler’s clam consists of two adjustable wooden jaws, often crafted from hard, durable wood, which open and close to clamp the leather firmly without damaging or marking the surface.

I made my own many years ago to my own specifications, and it’s still one of my most used tools in the workshop.

JOHN JAMES HARNESS NEEDLES

A premium-quality, meticulously crafted tool designed specifically for leatherworking, particularly for hand stitching heavy leather goods and other durable leather items. These needles are well known within the leathercraft community for their strength, precision, and durability, making them an essential choice for leatherworkers who require reliable and consistent performance in their stitching work.

(Number 4 – perfect size for my purposes.)

ROUND/HEAD KNIFE

The round or head knife is an essential tool used in leatherworking for precise and accurate cutting of leather. Its curved, sharp blade allows me to make controlled, intricate cuts, ensuring clean and smooth edges throughout my work.

In addition to cutting, the round knife is also invaluable for skiving, where the thickness of the leather is reduced by shaving off thin layers from the edges or surface. This makes it easier to achieve neat joins, smooth folds, and professional finishes.

Its versatility makes it an indispensable tool for a wide range of leather projects, from shaping straps and collars to preparing leather for stitching and finishing.

WHETSTONE

A whetstone is an essential tool in any leatherworker’s toolkit, used to maintain and restore the sharpness of tools such as the head knife. Regular use ensures blades stay razor-sharp, allowing for clean, precise cuts and reducing the effort required during cutting or skiving.

The stone works by gradually grinding and honing the edge of the blade, restoring its sharpness over time and helping to maintain consistent performance across all leatherworking tasks.

CUTTING BOARD

A cutting board is an indispensable tool in leatherworking, serving as a protective surface for the workbench during the cutting process. Leather is a dense and durable material, and using a cutting board helps preserve the integrity of the workbench by preventing damage from sharp blades and cutting tools.

It also provides a stable, consistent surface for cutting, helping to improve accuracy, control, and overall safety when working with knives and other cutting tools.

PRICKING IRON

0.8MM TIGER THREAD

0.8mm Tiger Thread is a highly versatile and popular thread choice among leatherworkers, particularly for crafting durable and functional leather goods such as dogware. This thickness strikes an ideal balance between strength and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of projects, from collars and leads to harnesses and more.

It provides reliable stitch strength while still allowing for a clean, professional finish, making it a dependable option for both hand stitching and general leatherwork construction.

WOODEN AWL HAFT

DIAMOND AWL BLADE

NEEDLE NOSED PLIERS

Needle-nosed pliers are an indispensable tool for leatherworkers, specifically designed to assist in pulling a needle through tough or thick leather, where manual effort alone might fall short. The long, slender jaws of these pliers are perfect for gripping and manoeuvring needles in tight spaces, allowing me to maintain a strong, controlled hold while stitching through dense or rigid materials.

They are especially useful when working on heavy leather goods, helping to maintain consistent tension and reduce strain on the hands during hand stitching.

LIGHTER

A lighter is a simple yet essential tool for leatherworkers, particularly for sealing the cut thread strands after stitching is complete. After finishing a hand-stitched project, the loose ends of the thread must be carefully secured to prevent them from unraveling or loosening over time.

The lighter is used to gently melt the end of synthetic thread, causing it to fuse together and form a small, solid bead that locks the stitch securely in place. This not only helps prevent fraying or coming undone, but also gives the finished piece a clean, professional appearance by ensuring the thread ends are neatly contained and discreet.

COPPER RIVETS & WASHERS

Copper rivets and washers are essential components in leatherworking, often used as an alternative to stitching for securing parts of leather goods such as dog collars, leads, and straps. These rivets provide a strong, reliable, and visually appealing method of fastening leather pieces together, offering both function and aesthetic value to the finished product.

Copper is particularly favoured in leatherwork for its warm, traditional appearance and its resistance to corrosion, helping the rivets maintain both strength and appearance over time, even in outdoor or high-moisture conditions.

RIVET SETTER

5KG ANVIL

BALL PEIN HAMMER

The ball pein hammer is an essential tool in the toolkit of any leatherworker, metalworker, or artisan, designed to perform a variety of critical functions in the crafting process. This versatile hammer is typically characterized by its flat striking face on one side and a rounded, domed surface (the "pein") on the other, which makes it incredibly useful for a wide range of tasks, particularly when working with rivets, punches, and shaping metal or leather components.

One of the primary uses of the ball pein hammer in leatherworking is for striking the rivet setter. When installing copper rivets, it's necessary to apply significant force to compress the rivet and washer securely into place. 

ESSENTIAL DOG COLLAR KIT

To make a dog lead you will need the following materials:

• Cast brass trigger hook – size dependant on the width of the strap
• Brass standard harness ring – Fitted to the leash handle prior to stitching/riveting. Allows the lead to be secured around the body when free-running a dog. Also allows for the lead to be secured around a leg when taking your dog to the pub!
• Rivets or tiger thread and associated tools - depending on how you wish to secure the lead  (I prefer a stitched lead, as I love the finished look)

ESSENTIAL DOG LEAD KIT

To make a dog collar you will need the following materials:

• Rotary punch/crew punch/drive punch– For making collar sizing holes and holes for rivets where used. (Punch type depends on application)
• Wing dividers – for marking uniformed sizing holes. Can also use a ruler, but this can result in uneven hole spacing. Dividers can also be used for marking a uniformed stitching line where needed
• Cast brass dog collar dee – Deeper aperture for attaching a leash than standard dees
• Cast brass single roller buckle – To secure the collar onto the dog's neck
• Rivets or tiger thread and associated tools - depending on how you wish to secure the collar (I typically stitch collars, as I believe it gives a stronger and more aesthetically pleasing finish)