Accessories

In acquiring Jackie, and beginning to learn the sport of Rally with Gunner, I’ve needed to shop for collars and leads.  

Rally rules state that the lead must be made of fabric or leather, and for Novice, the initial level in which Gunner and I will be starting, the lead must be six feet long. Collars must be properly fitted, with nothing dangling from the collar nor any decorations, titles, or other adornments.  From a long list of possibilities, the following suppliers made the short list: 

Dog IDs was recommended by our friend and dog nanny Jenevi of Jenevi’s Pet Services.

Hogan Custom Leather I found in an online Rally discussion group. 

Our coach Robin at Cowtown Dog Sports makes her own bespoke collars and leads, though she mentioned they tend to be a bit bulkier than the typical Rally obedience leads and collars.  We did purchase a tug toy from Robin, and custom is always appreciated. 

For Gunner’s Rally lead and collar, I am going for a minimalist look, to give the impression that he could complete the course without the lead and collar and he is only wearing them because of the rules. Which indeed is the case with Gunner! Ultimately I ordered a bespoke padded leather buckle collar in black and orange padding with a matching black bridle leather with twist braid accent 1/4 inch by six foot lead from Hogan Custom Leather.

For Jackie’s Rally buckle collar, I ordered the custom artisan padded collar in purple with pink leather padding and an engraved stainless nameplate from designer Kaydi at Dog IDs.

For Jackie’s everyday house id collar, I ordered a safety breakaway canvas satin lined collar from Dogs By The Bay.

That will go with this silicone heart shaped name tag from SiliDog.

For Jackie's agility schooling collar, I ordered a custom slip collar and matching lead in purple, rainbow, and pink made by our agility coach Robin Barber of Cowtown Dog Sports.

I am very excited to use Jackie’s bespoke agility slip lead, custom made by Brie Frances at Snuffles and Tugs.  Jackie’s purple and pink agility slip lead has her name embroidered in pink on the purple collar with the Latin phrase Non nobis solum embroidered on my end of the leash.  If  a dog, and especially a Border collie, isn’t the perfect embodiment of the philosopher Cicero’s ideas about our duty to live for the greater good of others, and not for ourselves alone, then I don’t know who is. Jackie’s agility slip lead:

Pearls:

• The more I learn from dogs, the more they teach me we truly were not born for ourselves alone: Non nobis solum