Our Collars
What is a martingale collar?
Martingale collars are also known as Humane Choke Collars, Greyhound Collars and Sighthound Collars. The Martingale Dog Collar was designed for Sighthounds (such as: Greyhounds, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds, Borzoi, etc) because their necks are larger than their heads and they can 'step out' or slip out of traditional side release dog collar. These types of dog collars have gained popularity as training dog collars with other breeds in the recent past because trainers prefer the humane choke aspects as opposed to a regular choke collar that can be harmful to your dog.
So How does a martingale collar work you ask?
A martingale collar does not have a traditional side release buckle like most dog collars. A martingale collar is one piece and it slips over your dogs head and fits snug around your dogs neck.
Martingale Collars have 2 loops. The smaller of the loops is called the "Control Loop". This loop of the collar holds the D-ring where you attach the leash. This loop is what tightens when it is pulled, creating the 'humane choke' part of the collar. The second loop is the 'Adjustment loop'. This is the larger loop that goes all the way around your dogs neck and you adjust it to the right size to fit your dog. On each side of the 'Control Loop' are 2 (usually metal) sliders that hold the smaller control loop. When adjusting the collar to fit your dog, these 2 sliders should never touch.
AKC Dog Show Owners prefer the Martingale Collar because it does not damage the fur and will not crush the throat. Many trainers have started to recommend Martingale Collars because they prefer its gentle choke over the choke chain. Many people have learned of the Martingale collar and have made the switch from traditional side release and choke collars because of their beauty and proficiency.
With a martingale collar, you will know your hound will always be safe at your side, where you stay in control and will not harm your hound.
All of our dog collars are made on an industrial sewing machine, using a walking foot, with high quality fabrics, webbing, hardware and other products. Each collar is individually constructed according to order. There are different types and colors and patterns for our dog collars. The details below will explain each part of the dog collar. Each dog collar will have a picture and product description explaining which components are involved with it's construction. Our dog collars fit neck sizes from about 15"-20". If you need a collar in a different size, please email to request this or include in your order notes what size your dog will need. If you are not sure how to measure your dog for a martingale collar, please email us for instructions.
The Collar Base:
The start of each collar, or the base, is very important as this is the foundation that, with the stitching, will ultimately determine how strong the collar is. Each collars base will be a webbing whether it be nylon, polyester or polypropylene.
Polyester Webbing Specs -
- Thickness of 0.04 to 0.065 of an inch
- Breaking strength range of 1500 to 6500 pounds
- Melting point of 500 degree Fahrenheit
Polyester webbing is great for indoors and outdoors and can withstand elements such as rain and snow. This webbing is comfortable and is a very popular to make dog collars.
Nylon Webbing Specs -
- Thickness of 0.070 to 0.075 of an inch
- Breaking strength from 1400 to 5500 pounds
- Melting point of 480 degrees fahrenheit
Nylon webbing is another wonderful base for collars. Nylon webbing does not do well around water as it stretches when it gets wet. These collars should only be washed by using a damp rag to spot remove stains.
Polypropylene Webbing Specs -
- Thickness of .040 of an inch
- Breaking strength ranges from 375 - 750 pounds
- Melting point of 330 degrees Fahrenheit
Polypropylene is another great base for collars. This webbing does great with water and does not absorb it well so has a higher resistance to mold and rot.
The Hardware:
All of the hardware used in our collar construction is nickle-plated welded steel, brass & stainless steel. We do not use anything that is "pressed" which is weak and has a small opening that can lead to snapping and breaking. All of our D-Rings and sliders are sewn tight into the fabric to prevent them from swiveling and creating a 'saw' effect that would eventually wear through the collar. We use D-Rings, Sliders, Hooks, Snaps, and O-Rings to mention some.
The Stitching:
Each collar is stitched with industrial strength thread. Each point of the collar is triple stitched to reinforce it's strength. All stitching is done straight line, as zig zag and other fancy stitches can shred webbing and weaken it more than strengthen it.
The Covering:
Coverings include fabric made of cotton, polyester, nylon, lace, satin and many more. Each collar description will state which fabric is used. Fabric coverings are used so that we may offer a larger variety of dog collar patterns. We choose high quality fabric that is gentle on your hounds neck.
Washing your Collars:
We have numerous types of fabric and webbing used in our collars so it would be hard to give one universal description for washing collars. Your best bet for all collars is to use a damp cloth or tide stain remover stick to gently wipe the collar. All collars should be air dried by hanging them up and never put in a dryer.
