The Traditional Leather Lead Co

20/12/2024

It's been pretty tough over the last 4 months or so.

On a personal level, we've had a horse with a broken leg requiring surgery, a very expensive screw, and lots of vet visits and associated rehab work (she's almost at the point where she can be sat on again).

I've lost my best mate of 12 years, and my workshop feels empty without him under my feet, or farting on his bed in the corner.

On a work level, I've been struggling with suppliers that I've worked with for years, who are feeling the effects of the current financial situation. This has caused delays of many of the raw materials that I need to make your things. This obviously puts my order list back, which isn't good.

But in the immortal words of D-Ream, "Things can only get better"!

With that in mind, I'd like to introduce you to 'Dennis'!

Dennis is a 5 year old 'Anglo-European', and will be taking on the role of 'Deputy head of equine research', closely mentored by his recovering boss Tilly.

He's a very cheeky chappie, who has a hell of a lot of potential, and can hopefully add some much missed fun back into life, even though my mornings are about to get even earlier!

Thank you, to each and every one of you for your support of my small business, and all the recommendations you've made when people have asked you "Where did you get that from". It means a hell of a lot.

I'd like to think that the advice I've given when you've phoned me, and the things I've made for you, have helped make a difference in your life, and more importantly in the life of your dog.

I will be in the workshop sporadically over the Christmas period, as there are very many things that need making. Don't call me on Christmas day or boxing day though, as I'll be up to my eyes in some kind of animal s**t one way or the other!

From Dennis, Tilly, Willow, Pickle and I, have a fantastic Christmas, and thank you again for trusting me to make your things.

Paul. X

04/12/2024

This lovely combo will be hitting the streets very soon.

It comprises one of my very popular (and awesome to use!) 'Public Order' leads. This lead with 2 handles allows for very subtle, close control of a dog where needed.

Matched with the lead is my 'Public Order' collar, designed by me for dog handlers deploying their landsharks in hostile situations, where neck comfort and support is paramount, as is safety and freedom of restriction.

Finishing the Leatherwork off is one of my 30ft tracking lines, made of a cushioned polypropylene webbing, which is comfortable for a handler to hold while engaging in tracking the bad guys.

They'll be in the post today.

Paul.

02/12/2024

Apologies if I've been slow to respond to messages today, but it's been a very tough one. I said sleep tight to Bryn for the final time this morning.

He's been there for me every single day for almost 12 years, and was the most switched on dog I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, training, and working.

He went to sleep peacefully at home, with a bite sleeve in his mouth.

Sweet dreams big man. X

19/11/2024

A nice adjustable half-check collar and matching training lead, made with stainless steel metalware, black English bridle leather and a matching black thread.

I usually keep a few stainless steel fittings in stock for those who prefer it, so you only have to ask!

Paul.

14/11/2024

My idea of professionalism differs from the norm. Not in the quality of what I do, but in the way that I do it.

I've never been a 'yes' man, in fact if I think you're wrong I will tell you. This is something that often landed me with 'words of advice' in a previous life as a 'Crown servant'!

I try my very best to keep my personal and working life separate, but I'm just one bloke doing everything, and ultimately those two worlds often collide. Sometimes that takes its toll.

I try to juggle life with making things, unfortunately this week life got in the way, as my Daughter's horse decided to fracture one of her legs.

Long story short, my week has been full of tears, both my Daughter's and mine, in varying quantities.

Monday was written off, as taking a horse to a specialist is literally a whole day event involving loading, travelling, X-rays, and all-sorts of other gubbins.

If you ever get stuck behind a horsebox doing 30mph on a 60 road, think of me. They'll be driving that slow for a reason, the driver really doesn't intend to p**s you off, but they can't brake suddenly with half a tonne of angry horse in the back, so please be patient. They are leaving all that distance between them and the vehicle in front for a very good reason.

Tuesday was spent trying to make leather things while worrying about her horse, who was 30 miles away from home. At the same time I was waiting for the results of her MRI scan, playing out all scenarios in my head and wondering what I was going to say to my Daughter in every single one of those scenarios.

My mind wasn't in the game at all, and I cried quite a lot.

Wednesday was spent making leather things while worrying about the prognosis of Tuesday's MRI results, waiting for the outcome of the surgery required to pin the bone in question.

Wednesday afternoon, I was happier, as the surgery went well apparently. Tilly was still off her t**s on sleepy juice and nerve blockers, so we still didn't know if she was going to be able to walk on it properly, but things were looking good.

This morning was spent making leather things and waiting for the vet to call.

That call arrived and I was told that Tilly seems to be walking OK, and even tried kicking the vet with her bad leg while she was having her re**al temperature taken, so the sassy mare seems to be on the mend!

Tomorrow will see a few things made first thing, then the rest of the day will be written off again, as I'm hoping to collect her at lunchtime, so she can start the slow process of recovery.

Thanks for your patience this week, it's been very tough at times, oh and please buy something, there's a very large vet bill coming!!

Paul.

25/10/2024

I receive very many phone calls on a daily basis, and through years of experience, I have a pretty good success rate at sniffing out the wasters.

This call wins the 'Waster of the week' trophy!
______
Ring ring, ring ring

"Hello"

"Hi mate, I'm looking at your website and want to order a few things, I just rang to see if you have any discounts?"

"No I don't "

"Oh! I was hoping to negotiate a price on the collar and lead I'm looking at"

"OK, which collar and lead are you looking at?"

"A military style flat collar, and a 4ft hand stitched lead"

"That's a great choice, I like to keep things simple with dogware. Why do you think I should give you a discount?"

"Cause I really like them, but the price is a bit steep. I want to buy British you know, but if I can't get a discount, I probably won't be buying"

"Oh OK, bye then" ........ I hang up!

10 seconds later....

Ring ring, ring ring

"Hello"

"Hi, it's me again, we got cut off"

"No, I hung up on you"

"Really? Why'd you do that?"

"Because you told me that unless you get a discount, you probably wouldn't be buying anything from me. I told you there is no discount, so that's why"

"That's not a good way to do business!"

"Neither is giving a discount to some random bloke who I've never spoken to before."

"What! I know loads of people in the dog training world, I can put lots of business your way, or lots of bad feedback for your business if I wanted to"

"So do I flower, so fill your boots. If you can't afford my prices, then you can't be that good at what you do, so I'd be amazed if anyone in the dog training world has ever heard of you. Unfortunately, my mortgage provider doesn't accept discounts either. Bye now"
.... I hang up.
________

Have a great weekend all!

Paul.

11/10/2024

Do you remember that gorgeous 'Jade' coloured hide that arrived a while ago? Well, this is what it was for (not just to use as a pretty backdrop for my things!).

This is a bridle that I've made for a gorgeous Irish Draft horse. The Jade nappa leather has been used to line the padding on the head piece, browband and nose piece, to make things a bit more comfortable. Those parts have been stitched using a matching jade thread of course!

I've added a flash loop and matching flash to the noseband, just in case it's ever needed.

It has been completely hand stitched from start to finish, taking roughly 15 hours in total.

I just hope it fits!!

Have a great weekend.

Paul.

P.S, I now have a Jade coloured lining and thread to add to my 'padded collar' collection!

10/10/2024

I was approached by a retired UK mounted Bobby who, during his career, had worked quite closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

He was given this genuine RCMP campaign hat some years ago, but over the years, the leather hat band had been lost.

He asked me to step in and make a new one for him.

This is the result.

Paul.

02/10/2024

A very proud moment for one of my former colleagues (and subsequently a customer), who specialises in searching for concealed illegal to***co, vapes, drugs and cash.

Stuart has set the standard for search work, and trusts his dogs implicitly due to the way he trains, and remains current in his knowledge of operational deployments.

This is proven by the sheer number of Police forces and Trading standards departments, up and down the country, that he works alongside on a daily basis.

His dogs are awesome to watch, as is the contents of his tool bag when a concealment is indicated by his dogs!

He trusts his dogs so much, that he will actually destroy a wall or floor, to reveal the hide. Not many dog handlers have the confidence in their dog's abilities to do that!

If you want to see proper search dogs at work, give his page a follow.

B.W.Y Canine Ltd

Very well done Stu, we're very proud of you mate.

27/09/2024

Some days, it feels like I'm just a personal Butler to this Sassmeister!

Have a great weekend all.

Paul.

17/09/2024

Ooooooooo, now this is very sexy!

This absolutely stunning, very vivid 'Jade' coloured nappa hide arrived out of the blue yesterday.

I know exactly what I'm going to do with it, can you guess?

Answers on a postcard (or just in the comments will do!).

I might show you all once this custom piece is complete!

Paul.

16/09/2024

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.

12/09/2024

There is no production line, there is no machine, there is no mass production of anything I produce.

My hands are my 'machine', they cut, they dye, they burnish, they crease, they bevel, they stitch, they get sore, they bleed when the thread cuts into them, and they get tired.

My eyes are the 'lazers' that guide my hands, my knowledge of my products, combined with those hands are the 'program' that produces absolutely everything that leaves my small workshop.

I respect each and every hide that I use, as each single hide is truly unique and is a homage to the animal it came from. No two leads or collars that come from me will ever be exactly the same, because of all of these things.

My lead time may seem long, but that's because many people want many things from me, constantly.

When you buy something from me, you are paying for a lifetime of dog training experience, I know what works and what doesn't.

You are paying for THE very best English bridle leather and metalware that I can source, coupled with over 30 years worth of skills to completely hand-make your items, so that they look good and function day after day.

When I'm no longer here, it's likely that there will be no 'Traditional Leather Lead Company', as I am the Chief cook and bottle washer, but I'd like to think that tiny little Shamrock stamped on all of your things, will hopefully keep looking after your dogs.

If you want it quickly, there are places you can go.

If you want it to last, consider my stuff.

Paul.

11/09/2024

I have ONE single ROLLED leather collar for sale, ready to go, at a discounted price!

I'm anticipating that it won't be there for long!

It will fit a dog with a 15 - 19 inch neck (centre hole is 17")

It is a brand new, unused, rolled leather collar, made from black English bridle leather, fitted with solid brass fittings, and hand-stitched with a contrasting red thread.

The rolled core is polypropylene which will not rot.

The collar will fit a 15 to 19 inch neck (best suited for a dog whose neck measures 17 inches, so please measure your dog's neck). The rolled section measures approximately 3/8" x 1/2", and the flat section measures 3/4" in width.

I could see a breed such as a Lab, Collie, Retriever or Malinois wearing this (subject to neck size).

It was made as a prototype, is fully functional and ready to be shipped (UK postage is £5.00 for 24hr tracked)

I have no plans to produce any of these to order, in the immediate future, as I need to get the production time down considerably, and have a good understanding of the raw material proportions first.

Get in quick if you'd like it.

Paul.

You would be buying the collar photographed. There is only one of these available. It is a brand new, unused, rolled leather collar, made from black English bridle leather, fitted with solid brass fittings, and hand-stitched with a contracting red thread. The rolled core is polypropylene which will....

10/09/2024

Got to love a 'training' lead

Available through my website.

Paul.

03/09/2024

Autumn is upon us, and as a result comes mud, rain and generally awful weather.

Your leather will need looking after to maintain its strength and integrity.

Here's a very boring video I made a few years ago, showing how I clean and treat my dogware.

Look after your stuff, you've paid enough for it!!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/qdTRh9BDkJs6591p/

09/08/2024

I'm taking the week off next week, because as usual, I haven't had any time off since Christmas, and my fingers are screwed!

I thought I'd leave you all with some of the things I've learned since becoming the Dad to an equestrian Daughter:

1. I will always be wrong, even when I'm not.

2. Her horse will come before absolutely everything on this earth. No exceptions.

3. She has 2 types of clothes. Her school uniform and her 'Joddies'. That's it!

4. There will always be hay, straw, mud, crushed treats, and horse s**t in my car, her bedroom and the washing machine.

5. When it's her birthday or Christmas, her horse will receive far more presents than she does.

6. Horse girls swear a lot. In fact, a hell of a lot!

7. She will always have an 'eau du equine' about her.

8. Her horse will have more shoes in one year, than I've ever owned.

9. "Just tie her up naked to that wall please", is a phrase that is completely normal.

10. "The willy-washer was at the yard today", occasionally comes up in conversation, with no eyebrows raised whatsoever.

11. Hedges make for very effective brakes when all else fails.

12. "She's in season and keeps squirting at Johnny next door". Again, completely normal in conversation.

13. Someone actually washes wi***es for a living!

14. A tub of Sudocrem with a picture of a horse on the label, will cost £50.00 more than a standard tub of Sudocrem from Asda.

15. 'Purple spray' is an amazing, fix-all liquid treatment that my children have reaped the benefits of, despite the subsequent 3 days of bright purple staining on their skin.

16. When you de-worm the horse, you de-worm the child!

17. When at a 'Pony Club' clinic, and the instructor says "Woah, woah, woahhh", shouting "Sweet child of my-ee-ah-hine" in reply, is really not the done thing!!

18. Pony Club Mums are often more entertaining to watch than than the actual event itself.

19. Cheesy chips at any event, usually makes everything better.

20. The apple in the lunchbox taken to the competition, will be shared between horse and rider. The horse gets the first bite, the rider gets the second. Repeated until the horse finishes it. Emphasising the importance of point 16!

21. Frontline parasite spray is a far more effective treatment for nits, than any 'over the counter' human shampoo!

22. Even in my 40's, when a horse farts, I always chuckle!

23. You can never have enough bailing twine in your pocket.

24. The word 'Beans', should strike fear into the heart of every bloke alive.

Have a great weekend all.

Paul.

02/08/2024

A matchy-matchy set comprising one of my ever popular 'Training' leads, coupled with a personalised 1.5 inch wide 'Military style' flat collar.

The solid brass plaque isn't made by me, so I have to order them in, but the laser etched lettering, complete with a black infill, sets the collar off beautifully.

Both the collar and lead are available through my website, in varying widths and lengths to suit your needs.

Have a great weekend all.

Paul.