Hey Ella, Nala wants a new leash (and Chaz gets to help choose)!

[Herschel]

We bought a Planet Dog Hemp Harness one month ago for Nala. Part of the reason that I went with Planet Dog was for the quality construction and the durability of the hemp. Turns out that, with routine walking/playing, the stitching on an (unimportant) piece is already falling apart. I'm not happy and I''m sending it back to them, although it was probably incredibly comfortable for her. To replace it, I ordered a Ruff Wear Webmaster harness, which I had been considering since we brought her home in June. So with the new harness, we're in the market for a new leash!

We're going to go with Ella's Lead at http://www.ellaslead.com.

1) It is going to be an every day leash--so it has to be comfortable on my hands. Nala doesn't pull when we walk, but if she sees a rabbit and tries to chase, I also need something that will stand up to the force.

2) Her harness will be black, so I'm thinking either black, red, or hunter green for a color.

3) I think 5 feet might be too short, but no longer than 10 feet.

4) It has to be durable. I don't want to have to replace this before next November.

Ok Chaz, I need your help. Go to http://www.ellaslead.com/products and find us a lead! Please post the type of lead, color, length, hardware, and price. (Your reward? Photos. Lots of photos.)

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Here are some possibilities:

A half-inch spliced lead. 7' black, or 9' red. ($23) http://www.ellaslead.com/inc/sdetail/627

The explorer. ($16)
http://www.ellaslead.com/inc/sdetail/406

1/2" nylon in black, 8 feet, with all stainless hardware.
http://www.ellaslead.com/inc/sdetail/81
(~$25)

My current favorite is the 1/2" spliced...

 

[Lizmo]

I like the Half-inch Spliced the best too.

 

[RD]

The 1/2" spliced in black would be my choice to go with that harness!

Bummer about the hemp harness! I was considering one of those for Dash but I think I'll go with leather after hearing that.

I think you'll find that the Web Master harness holds up well. Eve has had hers for about 8 months now and it's stood up to a lot of use. And it's very, very comfortable for her. Eve develops sore spots behind her elbows with most harnesses, but not with this one.

 

[Chewbecca]

I'm on my honeymoon and about to go get some FRESH seafood (gonna try it), but what I wanted to know is...how big is Nala?

My personal opinion?
If Nala is a decent sized dog (bigger than 30 lbs.) then I'd consider either the explorer or the 1/2" NDB with all steel hardware.
That's my personal opinion. You pick what you like best.

And your leash *should* last you your dog's lifetime.

 

[noludoru]

Um, I wouldn't be even remotely worried about Rebecca's leads breaking on you, LOL!!! I bought one and it is the most heavy duty lead I've ever seen, much less owned. I am thrilled with it beyond belief.. and except for leather leads I don't intend to buy from anyone else. Even my parents, who aren't really dog people and probably wouldn't care if I stuck a piece of twine on him, LOVE the lead and have insisted we only buy leashes of this caliber. My dad spent ten minutes admiring it when it arrived. (I got the Marri's Lead, btw.)

 

[Herschel]

Jennifer and Grace, thanks for the suggestions. I think a 7' black spliced would be really nice with the harness. I don't think the Planet Dog Harness is bad, I just wish they would have used stronger stitching, even if the piece isn't essential.

Rebecca, I saw the note on your website. Congratulations! I wish you both all the best for your life together.

Nala is a 35lb Border Collie. Do you think the nylon double braided is going to be a lot stronger than the spliced? We aren't doing any sled pulling over here or anything, but I also don't want to be left with a handful of thread if she sees a rabbit.

 

[Chewbecca]

Well, the spliced leads are made out of NDB, they just do not have rope clamps.
You could try out a spliced lead, and if you decide you want something a little heavier, then you could always return it and replace it with a different lead.
We have not sold a ton of spliced leads, but those we have sold are well appreciated by those that have bought them.


Noludoru-
Thanks for the compliments!

 

[milos_mommy]

i think the explorer is really nice!

 

[Danegirl2208]

I like the explorer

and btw great choice on going to Ellas, you won't be disappointed

 

[Buddy'sParents]

What are you doing on Chaz on your honeymoon? Sheesh!

I like the explorer.

 

[Herschel]

Oh wow! I was about to order:

1 7' black spliced + 1 2' hunter green traffic lead (same color as explorer), but now there are so many votes for the Explorer!

Update:

The 5' length on the explorer is the deal breaker.

We're going with the 7' spliced and the 2' traffic lead. Pictures when they arrive. (Shipping should only take a day once Rebecca returns from her honeymoon, we're just down the road...err..interstate.)

 

[noludoru]

YAY! Pictures! Nala pictures!

 

[SizzleDog]

A note on Planet Dog... I'm not surprised the craftsmanship failed. Ever since they decided to change their product lines and sell their stuff at the big box stores, theyr quality has dropped considerably.

I have Planet of rolled hemp collars, they're old-school and awesome. I get constant comments about them, so I decided to email PD to see if they were ever going to bring them back. Their reply... NOPE, they decided they were too much of a niche market and decided to simplify their product line. My interpretation: We were spending too much money on making good products that not everyone appreciated. It's much easier to make cr@ppy products that the average ignorant pet owner will buy!

They wanted to put a photo of Ronin wearing his rolled hemp collar on their website, but I declined, saying that I'd hate to see my dog on their site, promoting a great collar that PD had no intention of bringing back, as well as promoting several other current products that I'd never dream of putting on my dog. Hmm... no reply.

 

[Herschel]

A note on Planet Dog... I'm not surprised the craftsmanship failed. Ever since they decided to change their product lines and sell their stuff at the big box stores, theyr quality has dropped considerably.

Sounds about right. Our leashes are holding up nicely, but I don't know if they are going to make it until June (1 year mark). I already returned one Planet Dog hemp collar because Nala figured out how to unbuckle it. (The buckle was secured, I couldn't pull it apart with all of my strength. She somehow found a way to unclasp it.) I thought the harness would be better, and it is, it just isn't well made. I told Planet Dog about the buckle and I was told that they are switching to only plastic buckles because they are supposedly safer. Sounds like they are switching because the plastic buckles are less expensive to them...

Their toys are still nice. In fact, Planet Dog stuffies are the only ones that aren't destroyed within minutes in this house.

 

[ihartgonzo]

I vote for... a 7' Mountain Rope lead, in reverse lilac. :]

Thanks for posting the link to Ella's Leads! I know (ONE of the things) I'm going to get for each of the boys for X-mas.

 

[ihartgonzo]

I told Planet Dog about the buckle and I was told that they are switching to only plastic buckles because they are supposedly safer. Sounds like they are switching because the plastic buckles are less expensive to them...

I've noticed the black plastic buckles! Gonzo & Fozzy have hemp collars, with the metal buckles. I think they look ALOT nicer than plastic, and they held up perfectly.

 

[Herschel]

Thanks for posting the link to Ella's Leads!

Sure thing! I was hoping that more people would go to her site because of that post.

I've noticed the black plastic buckles! Gonzo & Fozzy have hemp collars, with the metal buckles. I think they look ALOT nicer than plastic, and they held up perfectly.

Our local feed store has collars from some random company with the same exact metal buckles. If I feel the craving for another buckle collar for Nala I might try one of those. They aren't hemp, but they still look nice.

 

[noludoru]

A note on Planet Dog... I'm not surprised the craftsmanship failed. Ever since they decided to change their product lines and sell their stuff at the big box stores, theyr quality has dropped considerably.

I have Planet of rolled hemp collars, they're old-school and awesome. I get constant comments about them, so I decided to email PD to see if they were ever going to bring them back. Their reply... NOPE, they decided they were too much of a niche market and decided to simplify their product line. My interpretation: We were spending too much money on making good products that not everyone appreciated. It's much easier to make cr@ppy products that the average ignorant pet owner will buy!

They wanted to put a photo of Ronin wearing his rolled hemp collar on their website, but I declined, saying that I'd hate to see my dog on their site, promoting a great collar that PD had no intention of bringing back, as well as promoting several other current products that I'd never dream of putting on my dog. Hmm... no reply.

ROFL, Sizzle.. wish you'd gotten a response to that....

 

[ihartgonzo]

I've noticed the black plastic buckles! Gonzo & Fozzy have hemp collars, with the metal buckles. I think they look ALOT nicer than plastic, and they held up perfectly.

Our local feed store has collars from some random company with the same exact metal buckles. If I feel the craving for another buckle collar for Nala I might try one of those. They aren't hemp, but they still look nice.

I really don't like plastic buckles. Rogz uses cool plastic buckles, with a lock option on them... but otherwise, I just don't feel safe with them.

I just noticed that I spelt my own dog's name wrong! WTH. Fozzy. That'll teach me to stay up all night studying. D:

 

[ihartgonzo]

I have Planet of rolled hemp collars, they're old-school and awesome. I get constant comments about them, so I decided to email PD to see if they were ever going to bring them back. Their reply... NOPE, they decided they were too much of a niche market and decided to simplify their product line. My interpretation: We were spending too much money on making good products that not everyone appreciated. It's much easier to make cr@ppy products that the average ignorant pet owner will buy!

OMG. That's funny... because, I saw Ronin's rolled hemp collar in one of your picture threads, and I immediately went searching for rolled hemp collars on the PD site, for Gonzo! None.

That is so incredibly laaaaame! It sucks that such a (formerly?) great company is sacrificing quality for quantity. >:[