The Traditional Leather Lead Co

The Traditional Leather Lead Co High quality English bridle leather dog collars, leads and harnesses traditionally styled and hand crafted, using centuries old English saddlery techniques.

The Traditional Leather Lead Company was established as a company in 2014. Every single aspect of my English bridle leather dog ware draws on a lifetime of experience in handling, training and working dogs, coupled with instructing prospective and current dog handlers in a huge variety of disciplines. On a personal level these include companion animal training (for myself and others), competition

obedience, competition agility, gun work, running dogs, shepherding and falconry. My career related dog experience ranges from me being the youngest Guide Dog Mobility Instructor to be trained in the UK at the time, to working as a Police dog handler, explosive search dog handler, drug dog handler, through to planning and running courses in security and protection dog handling, explosive, drug, cash, fi****ms, missing person, to***co and parasite detection. After 40 plus years of training and working all manner of breeds for all manner of jobs, I understand completely that the equipment you use must be up to the job. Every single item that leaves my workshop is made exclusively by hand for you, completely from scratch from start to finish, with the finest materials that I can source. Experience, function, longevity and quality are at the heart of everything that leaves my workshop. Paul.

Trigger knows how all you ladies feel when you're caught out in the rain! Pulling off his best 'Monica' look, he'd like ...
14/11/2025

Trigger knows how all you ladies feel when you're caught out in the rain!

Pulling off his best 'Monica' look, he'd like to wish you all a great weekend.

Stay safe out there folks, and wear a hat!

Paul.

The narrowest 'standard' size of lead and collar I make is a half inch version, which these matching pairs demonstrate b...
13/11/2025

The narrowest 'standard' size of lead and collar I make is a half inch version, which these matching pairs demonstrate beautifully.

Two half inch 'Military style' flat collars, and 2 hand stitched bridle leather leads, made from the Australian nut bridle hide.

Both available to order through my website.

Paul.

www.makemylead.co.uk

11/11/2025

Just some of the behind the scenes work that goes into making a simple 3/4 inch x 4ft lead.

I really wish I could stitch that quickly!!

Paul.

So last Saturday, this little crack-head had a photo shoot arranged by Mrs TTLLCo, with .fox_photography .Martin is an a...
06/11/2025

So last Saturday, this little crack-head had a photo shoot arranged by Mrs TTLLCo, with .fox_photography .

Martin is an awesome photographer who really captures the spirit of his subjects. He's not a 'point and keep pressing until you get a decent photo' type of guy, he takes his time and really knows how to frame and take a photograph.

Martin hosted a drop-in session at in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, and I couldn't be happier with the photos I received.

Sporting a claret bow-tie (which I am amazed didn't get eaten on the journey), Trigger was a hyperactive ar****le and struggled to focus on the task, but the results speak for the professionalism, experience and patience of a guy who knows what he's doing.

Christmas is coming, Martin offers gift vouchers if you're struggling for present ideas (so do I by the way, available through my website!).

Massive thanks for the photos Martin. You've managed to sum up Trigger's personality in every single photo.

These are my favourite ones.

Paul.

One of a set of four 3/4 inch wide x 6ft long 'slip leads', heading out to one of the Yorkshire Police dog sections.For ...
31/10/2025

One of a set of four 3/4 inch wide x 6ft long 'slip leads', heading out to one of the Yorkshire Police dog sections.

For a change, they chose 'Australian nut' as the colour this time, so they'll stand out a bit at a distance.

We all know what dog handlers are like around shiney new bits of kit!!

Have a great weekend all.

Paul.

Shhhhhhhhhh!It's finally entered recharge mode. No doubt re-energising for the chaos it will rain down when it reaches 1...
27/10/2025

Shhhhhhhhhh!

It's finally entered recharge mode. No doubt re-energising for the chaos it will rain down when it reaches 100%!!

25/10/2025
'The Toggle' is a fusion of leather and wood. To be precise, English bridle leather and solid English oak.Each oak piece...
22/10/2025

'The Toggle' is a fusion of leather and wood. To be precise, English bridle leather and solid English oak.

Each oak piece is hand-turned by me on my micro-lathe, so that it measures roughly 30mm in width, by 4 inches in length.

A 6mm groove is channelled in the centre to hold a half inch leather strap, which is then securely fastened with two solid copper saddler's rivets, at a length of approximately 4 inches (plus the clip).

This style of lead is a favourite among Police fi****ms support dog handlers, as it allows the dog to be kept under control and very close to the handler.

It also allows for the dog to be sent after a suspect, with the toggle still attached, as it is highly unlikely to get caught on anything.

A nice little piece, made from entirely natural materials, in a traditional way.

Available to order through my website.

Paul.

First off the bench today is this copper riveted lead, in the 'dark havana' bridle hide. In the grand scheme of things, ...
21/10/2025

First off the bench today is this copper riveted lead, in the 'dark havana' bridle hide.

In the grand scheme of things, I don't make that many riveted leads, as many people like the detail of my hand-stitching. The rivets that I use though are very, very strong.

I use a two part solid copper saddler's rivet and washer, rather than the cheap and nasty 'cap rivets' so often seen in dogware.

The rivets are permanently set into the leather and secured with the washer, which is whacked down (technical term!) as far as it will go with a 4lb hammer.

The protruding post is then cut to about 1/8 of an inch, then the top of the post is hand-peened with a ball peen hammer.

They are so secure that they need to be tapped and drilled in order to remove them. In all the years I've been doing this, I've never heard of one of these rivets failing on any of my leads.

Available to order in different widths and lengths through my website.

Paul.

www.makemylead.co.uk

'The Extendable Lead' is a firm favourite with passive (people screening) drug dog handlers.Made at 3/4 inch wide and 6f...
14/10/2025

'The Extendable Lead' is a firm favourite with passive (people screening) drug dog handlers.

Made at 3/4 inch wide and 6ft from end to end with a permanent handle at the top.

The ring at the bottom allows for the lead to be halved in length to keep your dog close when needed.

The beauty of this lead is that you can hold the handle (2nd picture configuration) and the middle strap when working a crowd, but if the dog wants to follow a person, drop the middle strap and the lead will extend as the dog moves forward, allowing the handler to keep a firm hold of the handle, and therefore keeping the dog secure.

It's a simple way of extending and shortening a lead, without having the excess weight or faff, of an extra clip.

They are also good for those who want a quick and easy way of keeping their dog close to them, at times where it is necessary.

Available through my website.

Paul.

Address

Royal Leamington Spa

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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Our Story

Having spent 30 plus years training and working dogs in a huge variety of disciplines, from gun work and falconry, to shepherding, Police work, drug, explosive substance, bedbug and missing person detection, I realise how difficult it is to find quality, aesthetically pleasing, hard wearing, long lasting and functional working and pet dog equipment, so I began to make my own. Using the same finest English bridle leather hides, which are cured and supplied to the saddlers of the British Monarchy, all of my dog leads and collars are hand cut, hand styled, hand dyed and hand stitched by me, using traditional English saddlery techniques. By hand stitching with a saddler's clam, an awl and 2 needles, I pay attention to each individual stitch made, using a technique which ultimately results in a far superior and stronger stitch than those made by any machine. The emphasis on the leads and collars I make is a simple rustic elegance and functionality. As a working dog handler and instructor, I have come to realise that an individual's choice of lead is very personal. Over time a bridle leather lead will take on it's own personality and will develop it's own unique 'feel' about it. As the owner of a 20 year old English bridle leather dog lead, which is still in daily use with a variety of dogs, I understand the importance of using quality materials. I do not use cheaper alternatives in the manufacture of any dog ware. I prefer to use solid brass clips, studs and rings, but can add chromed fittings where requested. Traditionally, leather with brass fittings is stitched with a 'gold' thread (dark yellow) and those with silver coloured fittings are stitched with white thread, in order to compliment the colour of the metal ware. I carry a small amount of stock, but most of my equipment is passionately made to order, with an attention to detail, ensuring a perfect fit, usually within just a few days of ordering. Although I have a 'standard' range, should you want something a little more personal, drop me a line. Thanks for looking, Paul