For a while now we have also offered a 'Small Wide' option, which gives the combination of the one inch width of our Large size collar, but with the length of a Small - making it well suited to stocky, smaller dogs such as some terriers, especially larger Jack Russell's and some smaller spaniels.
In recent months, we have however noticed a growing demand for the wider option in a slightly longer option to sit between the Small Wide and Large sizes.
Therefore, we have introduced the Medium Wide size covering a range from 12 to 19 inches of neck circumference with a one inch width. The Medium Wide collars will come with a Plastic clip as standard, if you would like a Metal clip please drop us a line and we will let you know if we can make one for you.
That makes the Medium Wide ideally suited to breeds such as larger spaniels, Border Collies, Vizslas, or smaller Labradors - or for anyone with a preference for the wider width collar for their medium-sized dog.
We are starting to add the Medium Wide option to our website, style by style as we make them and add them to our stocks. It will take a little while to work through them all, so if you don't see Medium Wide available as an option on a particular style which you are interested in, then please drop us a line and we will let you know if we can make one for you.
This is where the Medium Wide fits in to our standard range of sizes:
Whilst we find the range provided by these sizes covers most dogs, we are always happy to make collars to bespoke sizes where we can, there are some limitations including clip size and size of patterns of certain fabric styles, but please get in touch if you would like to discuss your dog's requirements.
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Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the three winners - and to top it all, yesterday was also International Womens Day so it feels extra special! You can find out more about the competition here: www.jacquelinegold.com/wow/wow-twitter-competition/
All of that has put us in the mood to celebrate, so we have decide to have a 15% off Flash sale becoming a #WOW winner on International Women's Day. Yes, that's right - 15% off all orders made online by midnight on Sunday 12th March. Simply use code WOWWINNER in the discount box.
]]>Would you want to take this dog home in your car?
As we were on a day out with one of our friends and not on one of our regular walks, we also had no idea if there were any ponds or streams nearby to wash him off (the usual course of action when mud is involved) so we faced the prospect of him not even having to go in our car in that state, but our friends' car!
Thankfully a small stream was found at the end of the walk and a combination of that, some old towels and his Ruff & Tumble drying coat kept the worst of it out of our friends' boot!
]]>We were lucky enough to be able to visit with friends for a few days over New Year and we couldn't have chosen a better place for a post-Christmas break.
We stayed in a self-catering cottage on the shore of Lake Windermere - four adults and two Labradors and had no issues at all with taking the dogs. Aside from the perennial roadworks on the M6, the only tricky part of the drive up from Surrey was locating the correct driveway off the relatively busy main road from Bowness to Newby Bridge in the dark. Everything we needed was at hand in the cottage, the kitchen well stocked with equipment, there were plenty of radiators for drying wet dog towels and the bookshelves were stacked with local works (including a full set of Lakeland bibles - Wainwright's Pictorial Guides) as well as some rather intriguing 1970's cookbooks! The cottage sat well below the road so we were well shielded from traffic noise, even without leaves on the trees. We were also lucky enough to have our own direct access to the lake shore which the dogs loved and was ideal for an early morning dip for them - and for late evening stargazing for the humans!
Even in winter there are still plenty of other visitors in the Lakes, which meant that restaurants and shops were open and there was a good atmosphere in the towns, but it wasn't as busy as it can be in peak season. We also got the impression that most of the winter visitors were walkers, keen to get out of the towns and enjoy the countryside, many alongside their dogs.
One of the best features of the Lake District is that whilst the high mountains are there for those who want to explore them, you don't have venture on to "the tops" to enjoy a great walk - there are plenty of fantastic lower level walks and almost every one offers the potential for amazing views, often in return for not a great deal of effort.
Over the course of the trip our group took on walks ranging from short one hour leg stretches up to a full New Years Day yomp into the high fells, but for us, the latter in winter conditions, was not the place to take our dogs (although we did see some dogs on the high fells, it was apparent they were very used to it and their owners were very well prepared). Instead we kept to lower level walks with our dogs, still of reasonable distance and with some fantastic views, but nothing where we felt we would be asking too much of our dogs, or putting them (or us) in danger. Here are some of our favourites of those walks:
Walla Crag and Ashness Bridge from Castlerigg Stone Circle
The longest walk with dogs of the trip, but with multiple options for starting/finishing points this is more of a collection of nearby places to visit that can be linked together in a variety of ways to make your own walk as long or as short as you want it to be. We walked from the stone circle at Castlerigg on the outskirts of Keswick via Walla Crag - a lower level 'Wainwright' summit with great views over Derwentwater, Keswick and the surrounding mountains - to Ashness Bridge, an old packhorse bridge and famous local viewpoint; before returning via a lower level route including Ashness Jetty for a spot of 'dock jumping' into Derwentwater for the dogs and Great Wood.
The view from Walla Crag
Ashness Bridge and the Bark House Bothy behind
We also discovered the fabulous National Trust bothy at Ashness Bridge, the 'Bark House' - a former stone drying hut for bark from the surrounding forests, now managed by the Trust and too small & lacking in facilities to have any food serving licences, but large enough for a few seats around an open fire and to dispense free tea, coffee, biscuits and walking advice in return for a few coins in the donation jar towards the upkeep of the building - it relies on volunteers and isn't open every day, but is a real gem and if you get lucky with the opening is well worth a stop to warm up after a chilly walk on the fells.
Warming up in front of the fire at the Bark House, Ashness Bridge
Orrest Head
Perhaps one of the shortest 'proper' walks it is possible to do in the Lakes, yet this 20 minute stroll each way from Windermere station packs no less of a punch than some much higher peaks when it comes to views. Essentially a craggy bump above Windermere, this excellent viewpoint was the first place the young Alfred Wainwright visited on his first trip to the Lakes and where the sudden and rather unexpected view from the head ignited a lifelong passion, not only for him, but for so many who have followed in his footsteps.
The Black Dog (r) and pals on Orrest Head overlooking Windermere
Look for the large 'Footpath to Orrest Head' sign on the opposite side of the main Kendal to Ambleside road from Windermere station. The route is easy to follow, just keep right at the fork staying on the main lane rather than the footpath. There are a few houses beside the initial section of the lane, so it may be best to keep dogs on lead to start with. The path gradually winds up the hill between trees until a gate leads on to open fellside and final few stony steps deliver you on to the rocky plateau of Orrest Head.
Brant Fell and the 'Back of Bowness'
A great low-level walk for days when the weather doesn't look too promising, or when you just don't want to take on too much, this route is another where you can make multiple variations of your own using the local footpaths, but it essentially covers a loop behind the lakeside town of Bowness on Windermere (which itself is distinct from Windermere, the connected centre a couple of miles up the hill away from the lake & surrounding the station). We used a route from the Pathfinder guide to the Lake District (the ubiquitous green walking guides you will find in most U.K. bookshops) as the basis for our walk, but adapted it to finish using the route of the Dales Way, a long distance footpath which follows a course from Ilkley over the Yorkshire Dales to end on the shore of Windermere. From the lakeside tourist car park in Bowness we climbed through the town to the viewpoint of Briskey Howe and then followed public footpaths through lovely rolling countryside via High Lickbarrow (titter ye not), Cleabarrow and Matson Ground to reach the small, but perfectly formed peak of Brant Fell. Whilst far from high in the context of many of the surrounding fells, Brant Fell offers a glorious panorama over Windermere to the Coniston & Langdale fells beyond.
The Black Dog on Brant Fell above Windermere
At this point, the clouds were filling in on the horizon so we decided on a swift toddle back down the final stages of the Dales Way back into Bowness, where this being New Years Eve we felt it only right and proper to partake of a celebratory pint in the pub - a dog friendly one of course, the Flying Pig.
Enjoying a post-walk fireside pint in the Flying Pig
A word on dogs in the Lake District - our dogs came on all of the walks mentioned here, but before heading out do take care to research your route and make sure it is suitable for not your dogs' and your own abilities. Conditions can change rapidly on the fells and you should always have adequate protection, food and water for both you and your dog with you - if you are unsure of what you can both cope with at first, there are plenty of excellent lower level walks (like the three mentioned here) which will still get you out & about in the Lakes, but without putting yourselves in undue danger. The Lake District is also a working landscape, and unfortunately there are many incidents each year of sheep being attacked by stray dogs - legally farmers can shoot dogs doing this - so it is always best to keep your dog on a lead when there may be livestock around or if you cannot rely on your recall. Generally, well behaved dogs should be fine off lead on the open fell above the highest farm wall, but you should always exercise caution and common-sense.
All of that said, the Lake District is a wonderful place for a holiday with your dog and we're sure it won't be long before we take on the M6 once again!
]]>At The Black Dog Company HQ, we love this time of year, with the days getting longer, the sun is (hopefully) getting warmer & making more appearing more often and our dog walks are being accompanied by spring flowers rather than stodgy winter mud (although the Black Dog may be less happy about that last point!)
This Sunday sees not only the arrival of the Easter Bunny, but also British Summer Time (does that mean we can eat our eggs an hour earlier?!), so what better time to step out into Spring with a bring and colourful new collar?! We have been busy seeking out new seasonal fabrics and are delighted to introduce a range of new designs as part of our Spring collection, all perfectly suited to helping your dog look their best when they hit the parks and pavements this Spring!
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On this visit I bought a new fabric - introducing our new Apple Blossom Dog Collars featuring a white blossom with light blue leaves on a fresh green background. They are available in all sizes and with either a Metal or Plastic Clip.
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I love that Facebook now shows your memories of previous posts. Here is one that has come up recently, a puppy photo of the Black Dog. I loved it when his ears were too big for his head.
We would love to see some of your dogs' puppy photos, post them on our Facebook Page by Saturday evening (6th Feb) and we'll send out favourite a £5 voucher to use on our website.
]]>These collars featuring quick release clasps that will pull undone if your cat gets caught on a bush or branch and a removable bell, these collars are ideal for any style conscious cat, whether out for a night on the prowl or curled up on the sofa.
As with our dog collars, all of our cat collars are handmade by us, here at The Black Dog Company.
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Initially launching with eight different designs, the bow ties are made from the some of our most popular fabrics for dog collars, leads and bandanas, to enable the creation of co-ordinated matching sets.
They are however, for sale individually and can be worn with any collar - they attach to the collar via an elastic loop.
With Burns Night nearly upon us, we're also delighted to introduced two new tartan styles to our range! Bow Ties are now available in the popular Royal Stewart and Black Watch tartans - ideal for all Scottish dogs and Scottish dog breeds!
If you have brought a collar and would like to have a Bow Tie to match, but can't see it please email us and we will let you know what we can do.
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Now January is upon us it is time for our January sale - we have discounts of up to 40% off selected dog collar designs, so why not take a look and grab yourself a bargain?
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Today sees the return of Small Business Saturday, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of Small Businesses. First established in the US in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday first came to the UK two years ago with huge success.
The campaign is backed by business organisations, trade bodies, local authorities & entrepreneurs and aims to raise awareness of small businesses through activities and promotions, not just on 5th December itself, but also beyond. This year it will see 5 million UK small businesses come together to showcase their work & achievements.
To celebrate the day, we are offering free postage within the UK on all Collar, Lead and Bandana orders placed on our website on Saturday 5th December 2015 use code SBS2015 - the discount box is at the final stage of the payment process before you confirm your order.
In addition every order placed on Saturday 5th December 2015, regardless of spend, will go into a draw to win back the cost of your order! One lucky winner will receive a refund of their payment and their order free of charge!
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It's been almost impossible to escape it this week, but today is Black Friday, or Black Dog Friday as we have rechristened the new pre-Christmas shopping phenomenon!
Use discount code BLACKDOGFRIDAY2015 by midnight tonight (Friday 27th November 2015) to get 20%* off our handmade dog collars, leads or bandanas - including our seasonal range of festive Christmas designs!
The discount code box is on the final order confirmation screen (after you are returned to our website from the PayPal payment page if you are paying through PayPal).
As you may have seen, Thursday this week was Black Dog Day, originally set up by dog rescue charities to help promote black dogs in need of a new home as they were seen as harder to rehome, the day has now become a celebration of dogs of all colours, breeds, shapes & sizes.
Many of you shared pictures of your dogs with us on our Facebook page and that got us thinking... so to mark the occasion we've decided to have a special offer!
Use code BLACKDOGDAY15 by midnight on Sunday (4th October 2015) to get a 20% discount off our handmade dog collars, leads or bandanas*! The discount code box is on the final order confirmation screen after you are returned to our website from the PayPal payment page.
Whilst the concept originated in America, National Dog Day is now being recognised around the world with millions joining in, especially on social media.
Why not share a picture using the hashtag #NationalDogDay of how your dog is marking the day - even if it's by having a extra snooze on the sofa to stay dry! You can share them to our Black Dog Company Twitter & Facebook pages and we will share as many as we can with our fans; and you can also share them on the National Dog Day Twitter & Facebook pages as well.
We can't think of a better way to celebrate our love for our dogs than by recognising them with their own dedicated day and so to mark the occasion we are delighted to have a very special offer - for today only - get 20% off all of our handmade dog collars, dog leads and dog bandanas!
Simply use discount code NATIONALDOGDAY2015 at the checkout before midnight tonight (26th August 2015) to redeem your discount!
Have a wonderful National Dog Day and don't forget to do something fun with your furry friend!
Here at The Black Dog Company we've been busy making some new collar designs and adding Dog Bandanas to our website, so what better way to celebrate than with a free postage weekend?!
Simply visit our website and spend £15 or more on dog collars, leads or bandanas before midnight on Monday and add code 15FREEPOSTAGE to the discount box and postage is free*!
]]>*Free postage offer applies to orders of dog collars, leads or bandanas with a total value before any p&p charges of £15 or more; placed on The Black Dog Company website between 09.00 BST Sat 15th August 2015 and 23:59 BST Mon 17th August 2015; and for delivery to UK postal addresses. All orders qualifying for Free Postage under this offer will be posted using the Royal Mail First Class service. We are sorry, but we cannot extend this offer to overseas postage.
As well as the UK, we are already aware of our collars in the USA, Canada, Belgium, Australia & South Africa - hopefully the word will spread further!
We have set up International Postage options for several popular dog-owning countries, but if yours isn't there it doesn't necessarily mean we can't send to you, we may just not have got around to yours yet - please get in touch and we'll get straight back to you with the options!
For some of the more popular countries we are able to offer two choices of postage service - Royal Mail International Standard - a regular airmail service - and Royal Mail International Tracked & Signed - a fully tracked service requiring a signature on delivery. Again, if you would like this service and it is not showing as an option for your country, please drop us a line and we will let you know if we can add it for you.
For full details and more information on packaging and shipping costs please visit our postage page.
]]>It all started with a friend admiring that initial bright red collar with white stars and going from shock when I told her I had made it myself, to asking if I could make ones for her dogs; and now I have a website with a large range of fashion collars for dogs & cats in various sizes and designs as well as lots of exciting ideas for further products to add in the near future!
Dougal modelling my first handmade dog collar - Red Stars Dog Collar
As well as selling them on this website, we now also sell our collars and leads at various dog shows, craft shows, fairs, fetes and similar events, mainly across South West London and Surrey, but sometimes we travel further afield too - check out our upcoming events page for details of where we will be. If you are arranging an event that you think may be suitable and would like us to attend, then please feel free to get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!
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