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The Traditional Leather Lead Co

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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.

14/02/2025

I seem to be collecting very soft 'nappa' hides for my padded collars, so I have a few more colours to offer.

These leathers are used to line the padding on those collars, and to add a splash of colour to the whole thing, especially when coupled with a matching thread colour.

Available through my website

https://www.makemylead.co.uk/collections/collars/products/the-padded-collar

Have a great weekend.

Paul.

13/02/2025

As quite a few of you have asked, here's Dennis modelling his new shiney bridle (he wasn't keen on having his picture taken!).

Not much adjustment was required, thankfully, and the colours go really nicely with his own natural floof!

It'll be tested out properly this evening with a couple of 'clear round' showjumping sessions.

Guaranteed it won't stay this shiney for long!

Paul.

12/02/2025

So, my homework over the weekend and last few nights was to make my Daughter's new horse 'Dennis' a new bridle.

This is the result after roughly 15 hours work. It may need tweaking a bit, as we haven't fitted it yet, but I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.

Black bridle leather, 'claret' lining leather, padded headpiece, padded noseband and padded browband, with a matching claret thread, all entirely hand cut, hand stitched etc from scratch.

I can't wait to see the big dufus wearing it.

Paul.

11/02/2025

This is a 2 inch wide 'Military style' flat collar. It's the widest 'standard sized' collar that I sell through my website, and it is a bit of a beast!

Despite some people thinking otherwise, regardless of the breed you have, there are very few dog owners who need a collar wider than this (I once had a customer ask me for a 4 inch wide dog collar. I politely declined!).

There are pros and cons for a collar this wide, and many reasons that people buy them. This one is off to a police dog handler in the southeast.

Pros;

* Awesome neck support when your landshark is chopsing off at a deserving punter, with no danger whatsoever of being 'choked off'
* Wider leather means extra strength
* Proper heavy duty, solid cast brass dee ring (fitted to shire horse harnesses, for pulling ploughs!)
* Very, very strong bit of kit

Cons;

* Heavy collar, mainly due to the metalware
* If fitted to the wrong breed, for extended periods, it can restrict full neck movement
* Does absolutely nothing for heelwork, other than make it more comfortable for your dog to drag you, very easily, down the road!

The second photo features a standard 1 inch dee ring that I fit to my one inch wide collars for comparison.

There's a hell of a difference!

If you aren't sure what size, width, or style of collar would suit your needs, just phone me. Have a chat and use a lifetime's worth of experience in handling and training dogs in God knows how many disciplines to help you make a decision.

I won't sell you something you don't need.

Paul.

10/02/2025

It was a busy weekend ferrying kids and horses about, but I was also able to get these custom public order leads stitched together and finished.

These are a custom adaptation of my standard public order lead, made for a Police dog section on the South coast.

6 feet in length, with a buckled handle, giving dog handlers tactical options when deploying their dogs in public order situations.

There are 10 of them all together (couldn't fit them all in the picture!), and they'll be heading down the M5 at some point in the next day or so.

Paul.

07/02/2025

Hand-stitching through 19mm (4 layers) of English bridle leather is tough on your fingers, and I've got 10 of these b@stards to finish, all to be stitched in four separate places!

That's why my fingers need a rest!

Have a great weekend all.

Paul.

05/02/2025

A one inch wide 'adjustable half-check' collar, paired with a half inch wide, 4-8ft long 'Training' lead.

My customer requested stainless steel metalware instead of my usual brass, so stainless steel it is (not cheap nickel-plated iron).

All completely hand-stitched with a burgundy thread (although it does look a bit more pink in the pictures!).

Paul.

31/01/2025

It's been a tracking-line kind of morning so far, and as such, my trusty 108 year old, hand-cranked 'Singer' sewing machine has been putting in the leg work.

10 x 30ft tracking lines, made for a customer who trains anti-poaching dogs and provides ranger training for the purposes of endangered wildlife protection overseas.

My little Singer sewing machine plays its part in that and is always up for the challenge, despite her age. She was at the height of sewing technology in 1917, and still amazes me every time I get the chance to make something with her.

The tracking lines are made from a 3/4 inch cushioned polypropylene webbing, which are comfortable in the hand to track with from new, and only get more comfortable as they age.

They'll be out in the post today and hopefully will be protecting endangered species very soon.

Have a great weekend folks.

Paul.

30/01/2025

Another matching set.

This time a 1 1/4 inch 'Military style' flat collar (top) which offers strength and security, partnered with one of my 1 1/2 inch 'agitation collars' (bottom).

It's called an 'agitation collar', as they are commonly used during agitation work (basically bite work training with police and sport dogs!).

The handle allows the dog handler to keep extremely close control of their dog, so that they can be slipped at the exact moment required, in order to develop a dog's confidence in apprehending a criminal, or when engaged in handler protection scenarios.

The two fitted dee rings allow for alternative lead placements, depending on the exercise being undertaken.

Other styles of this type of collar include a separate leather 'buckle guard', to prevent the metalware from coming into contact with the dog's neck. My version doesn't need one, as it's all built into the design.

These are off to a dog section near you.

Paul.

29/01/2025

'The Coupler', popular with those who wish to walk two dogs on one lead.

Clip your lead to the ring, stick a collar on the remaining 2 clips, and off you go!!

The standard size, available through my website, is 3/4 inch width x 12 inches of leather on each side.

Don't do as one moron who lives near me regularly does though, and couple two mental Cockers, on a 25ft flexi-lead, allowing them to veer into oncoming traffic, at full length!

Paul.

28/01/2025

Keeping things simple, here is a matching pair of 3/4 inch x 4ft, hand stitched English bridle leather leads.

A handle at the top end and a clip at the bottom, makes for easy use and handling.

The 3/4 inch width is quite versatile, allowing for use with many different breeds, depending on your preference.

Also available to order through my website in half and one inch widths.

All made to order.

Paul.

27/01/2025

It's that time of year when all the horsey lot decide to sort out their tack for the upcoming season, in whatever discipline they undertake, and that means there's always something that needs fixing!

Here are some before and after pics of a bridle 'cheek piece'.

One of the leather keepers on this one had snapped, so needed replacing in order to stop the reins separating from the bit.

You definitely do not want to lose your steering when jumping a 4ft hedge!

Paul.

23/01/2025

Meet 'Mouse'!

Mouse is a very lucky lad, as his Mum has just bought him this new wardrobe.

Modelling a custom fitted harness, and 'Military style' flat collar, he certainly looks the absolute business!

This is what you get when you measure your dog correctly, items that fit perfectly, and securely.

Big thanks to Mouse's Mum for letting me use her photo, and of course for her custom.

Paul.

22/01/2025

Made for each other!

One of my extremely popular 'Public Order' leads, paired with a 'Public order' collar.

Both designed for Police use when deploying 42 pearly whites among hostile crowds.

The lead allows for very quick, simple close control of a general purpose police dog, and the 2 inch wide collar offers fantastic neck support, control and safety when fitted properly.

You won't find that collar anywhere else!

Paul.

21/01/2025

Another custom lead, made to my customer's specifications.

A shorter 'training' style lead than usual, 3/4 inch wide, fitted with solid stainless steel clips and rings, rather than the cheap and awful plated iron version, so there's no danger of them rusting over time.

Black English bridle leather, hand stitched with a matching black thread.

This is one of a pair which will be heading to their new home this afternoon.

Paul.

20/01/2025

If I don't make it, it doesn't necessarily mean that I won't make it!

A customer approached me, wanting this very specific clip incorporated into their new 'training lead', and also an extra fixed ring to create a couple of handle options.

"No problem" I said, and no problem it was to make.

All you have to do is ask.

I have requests for different clips all the time, and so long as they will fit onto the leather, I'm happy to use them.

I do ask one thing though, and that is that you as the customer source your own clip(s), and send them to me once you're happy that they are what you want.

I have in the past spent hours and hours trying to find specific metalware, coupled with the infernal e-mail ping-pong that follows. These days, I'll happily fit metalware not supplied by me, so long as it will fit onto a lead or collar. You just have to find it and let me have it.

Paul.

15/01/2025

It's always all about the prep work!

That's what makes the difference with leatherwork. If the prep work isn't done correctly, the whole piece will look awful.

This 'Public order collar' has so far taken 50 minutes to prepare all of the pieces from scratch, and that's before I've even started stitching!

Prior preparation and planning prevents p**s poor performance!

Paul.

13/01/2025

This is my makers' mark. It appears on pretty much everything I make from leather, stamped unobtrusively in a subtle place.

It identifies me as the maker of the item, and is unique to my small leather workshop. It is usually the very last thing I do to an item before packaging it up to be posted.

It is a sign that I am happy with the quality of that item, as I wouldn't want my mark to appear on anything that is substandard.

By purchasing something from me, you join a group of people who have also trusted me to craft them something with all the skill and knowledge of my materials that I have, and something to which I am proud to put my name as a quality item.

My online store is open, so why not treat your dog to something truly unique.

Paul.

Address

Royal Leamington Spa

Opening Hours

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

Website

http://www.makemylead.co.uk/

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Videos

With leatherwork, as with most crafts, it's all about the prep work, as without preparation of the materials you work with, you end up with a mess! This is one of approximately 78 individual steps that I take, when hand crafting a lead. Paul.

Got to love a 'training' lead Available through my website. Paul.

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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