The Swaledale | Handmade British Wool Dog Lead
A lead made from British wool, by British hands. Nothing imported, nothing rushed.
Made to order in Oxford · dispatched in 2–6 working days
Frequently bought together
10% comes off the lead automatically · £6.80 on this pair
Each price above is that item on its own. The discount is applied in your basket.
Choose your options above, then add each item from its own page: The Swaledale | Handmade British Wool Dog Lead and The Dingley | Handmade British Wool Dog Collar (Classic).
It arrives as finished British rope and braid from Sustainable Rope, founded by Kate Drury, a fourth-generation sheep farmer and a British Wool board member. It is graded at British Wool in Bradford, spun in Huddersfield, and woven by hand in Oxford. British farmers are paid properly for their wool, and it is made into a proper British material rather than bought in as the cheapest import. That is not an accident. It is what makes this worth making.
About this piece+
The Swaledale Lead is made by hand in Green Dog's Oxford studio from 14mm spliced British wool rope, Swaledale wool, sourced for its warmth, texture, and natural resilience. A brown veg-tanned cowhide tab at the handle, solid brass hardware throughout, and an 11mm Green Dog brass disc, hand-stamped by me, on the O-ring at the handle. The splice is whipped by hand and left with a tassel at the handle, the same finish as the Cotton Mill rope leads.
This is a handmade wool dog lead for people who care about what their dog's kit is made from. Swaledale is a native Yorkshire breed, coarser than merino but durable and warm in the hand even in cold weather. It retains some natural lanolin, which is part of why it sheds light rain rather than soaking it up. The rope softens with use without losing its structure.
Solid brass clip, brass O-ring embedded in the handle loop, and the 11mm hand-stamped Green Dog brass disc that hangs from it. Nothing plated. Hardware covered by Green Dog's twelve-month guarantee.
What it's made from
- 14mm British Swaledale wool rope, hand-spliced at the handle
- Splice whipped over by hand with 1mm hemp cord, finished with a tassel at the handle
- Brown veg-tanned cowhide tab at the handle, embossed with the Green Dog logo on one side and the name on the other
- Solid brass trigger snap clip and O-ring
- 11mm hand-stamped Green Dog brass disc on the O-ring at the handle
- Length: 130cm from handle to clip
Pairs with the Dingley Wool Collar, a different British wool in the same ecru white, same brass, same hands.
Materials & construction+
Rope: 14mm British Swaledale wool rope, hand-spliced at the handle. Swaledale is a native Yorkshire breed, coarser than merino, and chosen for exactly that reason. My wool rope comes from Sustainable Rope, founded by Kate Drury, a fourth-generation sheep farmer and a British Wool board member. It is graded and baled at British Wool in Bradford and spun at a mill in Huddersfield.
Whipping: The splice is whipped over by hand with 1mm hemp cord. Wool for the body, hemp to bind and protect the join.
Leather tab: Brown veg-tanned cowhide at the handle, embossed with the Green Dog logo on one side and the name on the other.
Hardware: Solid brass trigger snap clip and O-ring embedded in the handle loop, plus the Green Dog brass-stamped logo tag. Twelve-month hardware guarantee.
Length: 130cm from handle to clip.
Sizing & fit+
Length: 130cm from the handle loop to the clip. A standard everyday walking length.
Handling: The handle loop sits comfortably in the hand. Take a wrap around your wrist or drop it over a shoulder when you want the dog closer.
Which dogs: 14mm is a substantial rope with a 374kg breaking strain, per Sustainable Rope, who make it. It fills the hand rather than cutting into it, which is what you want on a dog that pulls, and it stays warm to hold in cold weather.
Other lengths: If you need something different, get in touch before ordering.
Changing your mind: This lead is made at my standard 130cm in a set colourway, so ordering it is an ordinary purchase and you keep a full 30 days from delivery to change your mind, against the 14 the law requires. If it arrives faulty, damaged or not as described, I will sort it out: repair, replacement or refund, with the postage at my expense. The terms are on my returns page.
Care & durability+
Wool rope: The wool is untreated, which is what gives it the handle. It also means it will felt if it gets wet and worked, so do not wash it. Let mud dry completely and brush it out with a soft brush. The wool retains some natural lanolin, which is part of why it sheds light rain rather than soaking it up, so most of the time rain is not something you need to act on.
Hemp whipping: Wipe it if it picks up mud and let it dry naturally. Otherwise leave it alone.
Leather tab: Wipe it with a damp cloth and let it dry naturally, not on a radiator. Condition it once or twice a year with a leather balm.
Hardware: Wipe the brass clean. It darkens into a patina with use, which is normal. Polish it lightly if you prefer it bright. Covered by Green Dog's twelve-month hardware guarantee.
Not machine washable: Nothing in this range goes in a washing machine. The wool is untreated and will felt, and the leather and the brass would not survive it either. A finished piece is only as washable as its least tolerant part.
Wool is the one material here that genuinely gets better. Customers who have had these pieces for years tell me they have improved with use, not worn out.
Questions & answers+
What is Swaledale wool and why use it for a lead? Swaledale is a native Yorkshire breed. The fleece is coarser than merino, which makes it a poor choice for a jumper and a very good one for a lead, durable and warm in the hand in cold weather. It retains some natural lanolin, which is part of why it sheds light rain rather than soaking it up.
How is the handle made? The rope is hand-spliced at the handle, then the splice is whipped over by hand with 1mm hemp cord. The brass O-ring sits embedded in the handle loop.
Can I put it in the washing machine? No. The wool is untreated and will felt, and there is a veg-tanned leather tab and solid brass fittings on the lead. Do not wash the wool rope: let it dry and brush it out instead. Wipe the tab and let it dry naturally.
Does it soften or go floppy over time? It softens without losing its structure. That is the splice and the whipping doing their job. Wool is the material here that improves with use. The same rope is made for seaweed farming and has been tested submerged in seawater over 90, 180 and 270 days.
How long will it take to arrive? 2–6 working days. Everything is made to order in Oxford, not picked off a shelf. Free UK tracked shipping over £55.
Delivery & returns+
Made to order in Oxford. Dispatched in 2–6 working days. Free UK tracked shipping on orders over £55. It's worth two minutes with the measuring guide before you order. If the size still isn't right, message me — size exchanges and amendments are available. You also have 30 days from receipt to change your mind, where the law asks for 14. If anything arrives faulty or not as described, I'll repair, replace or refund it and cover the postage. International shipping available at checkout.
