Green Dog News & Insights

Waterproof Dog Collars and BioThane: Why I Build With It
What actually makes a dog collar waterproof, how BioThane compares with leather, wool and nylon, and what each hardware finish really is. Made to order at my bench in Oxford. Read more...
Minimalist Dog Collars: Why Solid Brass and Clean Lines Beat Embellishment
Minimalist Dog Collars: Why Solid Brass and Clean Lines Beat Embellishment
Minimalism in a dog collar means every element earns its place. Solid brass hardware, single-source webbing, no embellishment. A look at how the workshop applies it. Read more...
Small Dog Collars: How to Choose and Fit a Collar for a Small Breed
Small Dog Collars: How to Choose and Fit a Collar for a Small Breed
Small dogs need a collar designed for them, not a scaled-down version of a standard one. A practical fitting guide and the Green Dog options for small breeds. Read more...
Dachshund Collars: Choosing for Long Backs and Short Necks
Dachshund Collars: Choosing for Long Backs and Short Necks
Dachshunds, or sausage dogs as most owners call them, need collars designed for the breed, not scaled-down versions of standard collars. A guide to fitting and the Mini wool collars... Read more...
Dog Collars for Sensitive Skin: Why Wool and BioThane Both Work
Dog Collars for Sensitive Skin: Why Wool and BioThane Both Work
Dogs with sensitive skin react to dyed leather, cheap synthetic webbing, and embedded plastic threads. A practical look at why undyed wool and medical-grade BioThane both work. Read more...
Mass-Produced vs Handcrafted Dog Collars: What Actually Changes
Mass-Produced vs Handcrafted Dog Collars: What Actually Changes
Is a handmade dog collar actually worth it? The hardware that fails first on cheap collars, the fit argument, the cost-per-walk maths, and what changes after a year. From an... Read more...
How I Designed the Sheep Shed: A Range of British Wool Dog Collars Made by Hand
How I Designed the Sheep Shed: A Range of British Wool Dog Collars Made by Hand
The Sheep Shed came out of a year of prototypes and a trip to Crufts that left me bored. The dead end I started with, the three weaves I worked... Read more...
From Fleece to Collar: The British Wool Supply Chain Behind the Sheep Shed
From Fleece to Collar: The British Wool Supply Chain Behind the Sheep Shed
The wool in a Sheep Shed collar passes through five sets of hands before it reaches mine. The farm price, the hand grading, the Bradford auction, the Huddersfield mill and... Read more...
Veg-Tanned Leather for Dog Collars: What It Is and Why It Matters
Veg-Tanned Leather for Dog Collars: What It Is and Why It Matters
Quick answerVegetable-tanned leather is produced using plant-based tannins rather than chromium salts. It takes longer to produce and costs more, but it develops a genuine patina with use, moulds to... Read more...
Why I Won't Be Doing Black Friday | and Why British Craft Matters More Than Ever
Every year Black Friday rolls around like a storm front. Here is why Green Dog will not be part of it, and what that says about how we make things, price them, and value the people who buy them. Read more...
British Wool Dog Collars: How Mountain Wool Behaves Against Nylon and Cotton
British Wool Dog Collars: How Mountain Wool Behaves Against Nylon and Cotton
Is wool a serious material for a dog collar, or a nice idea that falls apart in February? What British mountain wool actually is, how the fibre behaves under load,... Read more...
Rope Lead for Dogs: How to Choose the Right One
Rope Lead for Dogs: How to Choose the Right One
Which rope lead is right for your dog? A practical guide to polypropylene, cotton and British wool rope, 6mm versus 10mm, how the ends are finished, and the hardware truth... Read more...
Sighthound Collars: Wool, Leather, and BioThane Compared
Sighthound Collars: Wool, Leather, and BioThane Compared
Sighthounds need a wider collar, but the right material depends on the dog and how it lives. Wool, leather, and BioThane sighthound collars compared. Read more...
Personalised Dog Collars UK: How to Design a Custom Collar That Lasts
Personalised Dog Collars UK: How to Design a Custom Collar That Lasts
Personalised dog collars are everywhere, the problem is that most "personalised" means pretty but not built to last. A practical guide to getting fit, material and hardware right before you... Read more...
Whippet Collars and Sighthound Collars: Fit, Comfort and Security
Whippet Collars and Sighthound Collars: Fit, Comfort and Security
Sighthounds are built like elegance on stilts, long neck, narrow head, and a talent for slipping out of anything that does not fit correctly. A practical guide to collar width,... Read more...
Hands-Free Dog Leads: Waist vs Crossbody (UK Guide)
Hands-Free Dog Leads: Waist vs Crossbody (UK Guide)
Waist or crossbody for a hands-free dog lead? How the load travels, what length to run, which slider and hardware to choose, and the dogs I would not sell one... Read more...
Figure of 8 Leads for Dogs: What They Are and How to Fit Them
Figure of 8 Leads for Dogs: What They Are and How to Fit Them
A figure of 8 dog lead creates two loops, one sits like a collar, one guides the muzzle. Used correctly it is a genuine training tool for pulling. Used badly... Read more...
Slip Leads for Dogs: Are They Cruel? (And How to Use One Properly)
Slip Leads for Dogs: Are They Cruel? (And How to Use One Properly)
Slip leads split opinion more than any other bit of dog kit. Here is the honest answer: they are not cruel, but one detail decides whether they are kind or... Read more...
How to Choose a Dog Collar: Fit, Width and Material
How to Choose a Dog Collar: Fit, Width and Material
How do you choose a dog collar that actually fits? Start with the two-finger rule, then width, then material, then the collar type that suits how you walk. Colour comes... Read more...
Fishtail weave adjustable paracord dog collar with burnt orange, teal paracord and a neon orange adjustable Biothane strap
Why Adjustability Matters More Than You Think in a Dog Collar
Adjustability is one of the most overlooked features in a dog collar. A dog's neck size changes, seasonally, with weight, with age. A collar that cannot be re-fitted is a... Read more...
Gertie wearing a non-adjustable paracord dog collar made by Green Dog, designed by her owner in Sctoland
Are Paracord Dog Collars Actually Good for Everyday Use?
Quick answerYes, when made properly. A well-made paracord collar is strong, comfortable against the coat, dries quickly, and handles daily use without stiffening or absorbing smell. The key variables are... Read more...
Ponyo the Dalmatian wearing the figure of 8 slip lead
Figure of 8 Dog Lead vs Slip Collar or Slip Lead: What Actually Works (And When)
Figure of 8 leads. Slip leads. Slip collars. All useful training tools — but not interchangeable. The honest guide to what each one actually does, when to use which, and... Read more...
The Cotton Mill | British Cotton Rope Dog Leads and Collars
The Cotton Mill | British Cotton Rope Dog Leads and Collars
The Cotton Mill is Green Dog's British cotton collection, handwoven collars and matching rope leads using naturally dyed cotton from British mills. The story behind it, the materials, and what... Read more...
The Perfect Summer Dog Accessories: Fresh Colours, Handmade Style
The Perfect Summer Dog Accessories: Fresh Colours, Handmade Style
Summer is the right time to refresh your dog's look with something custom, comfortable and built to last. New colour combinations across the full range, handmade by me in Oxfordshire. Read more...
Bloomsbury Edition from the Greenwich Yarn range
The Ultimate Guide to Spring Walks with Your Dog (And Why Gear Matters)
Spring is the best time for long walks, and the right time to check your dog's gear after winter. A practical guide to what to look for, what to upgrade,... Read more...
European Road Trip with Boris | Artisan Craftsmanship & Dog Accessories. An illustration of a vintage-style Green Dog camper van on our travels, parked in a picturesque European town with Boris the Blade.
British Dog Collars and Rope Dog Collars: What the Revolution Is Actually About
British dog collars and rope dog collars have become genuinely popular, not as a trend, but as a rejection of the alternative. The practical case for handmade, honestly made in... Read more...
Designer Dog Collars and Leads in the UK: Style and Function Together
Designer Dog Collars and Leads in the UK: Style and Function Together
What designer dog collars and leads actually mean when the word is used honestly, not as a price markup, but as a commitment to materials, construction and style that holds... Read more...
Eco-Friendly Dog Accessories: What Sustainable Actually Means
Eco-Friendly Dog Accessories: What Sustainable Actually Means
What makes a dog collar genuinely eco-friendly, and what is just marketing? A guide to made to order production, materials that last, repair over replacement, and the specific claims that... Read more...
Earn, Reward and Save: How the Green Dog Loyalty Programme Works
Earn, Reward and Save: How the Green Dog Loyalty Programme Works
Quick answerThe Green Dog loyalty programme gives you 10 points for every £1 spent. 100 points = £1 off. Points never expire. You also earn points for referrals, when a... Read more...