Dog Collars & Leads

Mendota 1" Leather Hunt Collar
$44.49

Handcrafted full-grain leather collar with a center safety ring that relieves pressure if the collar catches on brush or cover — a real advantage on working dogs in heavy timber. Fully stitched with a roller buckle and D-ring. Sized 14"–24"...
Mendota 1" Leather Collar
$40.49

Full-grain leather collar, fully stitched with a roller buckle and D-ring. The clean everyday option for dogs that don't work heavy cover — or a durable house collar for a hunting dog that wears an e-collar in the field. Sized 14"–24"...
Mendota 3/4" Leather Hunt Collar
$40.49

The ¾" hunt collar for smaller sporting breeds — spaniels, Brittanys, smaller setters. Same fully stitched construction as the 1" version, with a center safety ring to relieve pressure if the collar snags. Sized 10"–18"...
Mendota 3/4" Small Leather Collar
$33.49

Full-grain leather collar in 3⁄4” width for smaller breeds. Fully stitched with a roller buckle and D-ring. The everyday option for smaller sporting dogs working open country, or as a house collar alongside an e-collar. Sized 10”–18”...
Mendota 6' Leather Flat Snap Leash
$55.99

English bridle leather snap leash, fully stitched with a riveted swivel bolt snap and floating handle ring. Six feet of flat leather lead that breaks in with use and holds up for years. The right choice if you prefer leather over braided poly..
Mendota 4' Leather Flat Snap Leash
$44.49

The 4’ version of Mendota’s flat leather snap leash — English bridle leather, fully stitched, with a riveted swivel bolt snap and floating handle ring. The shorter length for heeling work and close handling. Made in the USA with a lifetime guarantee...

Derrick Moore, Senior Field Staff

Dog collars and leads for working dogs — what’s here and how to choose

This section covers the everyday hardware that working dog owners reach for outside of e-collar and GPS work — leather field collars, slip leads, snap leashes, check cords, and replacement biothane straps. Most of it is Mendota, which has been the default choice for serious gun dog handlers for decades. We also carry King Buck leads for hunters who want premium leather with field-appropriate detailing, and a handful of SportDOG utility items that earn their place through sheer practicality.

If you’re looking for e-collars and remote training collars, those are in a separate section. What’s here is the collars and leads a dog wears the rest of the time.

Leather hunt collars — the hunt collar vs. the standard collar

Mendota makes two leather collar designs, and the difference between them matters for working dogs. The hunt collar has a center safety ring between the buckle and the D-ring. If the collar catches on a branch, fence wire, or heavy cover, that center ring releases tension rather than holding the dog fast. In thick timber or dense brush, it’s a meaningful safety feature. The standard leather collar has a buckle and D-ring only — cleaner look, slightly simpler construction, and the right call for dogs that work open country or wear the leather collar as a house and yard collar while their e-collar stays in the truck.

Both collars are fully stitched — not glued — from full-grain leather, handcrafted in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and backed by a lifetime guarantee. Mendota sizes collars by the dog’s actual neck measurement with no adjustment needed: if your dog measures 18”, order the 18”. Each size adjusts 2” smaller and 1” larger from center.

Which collar width? The 1” collars fit most retrievers, larger setters, and pointing breeds. The ¾” collars are sized for smaller sporting breeds — spaniels, Brittanys, smaller setters — with sizes running from 10” to 18”. If your dog works cover, choose the hunt collar with the safety ring. If they’re in open country or wearing it around the house, the standard leather collar is the cleaner option.

Slip leads, snap leashes, and flat leather leads — which one to reach for

The three lead types on this page serve different situations, and most working dog owners end up with more than one.

The Mendota slip lead is the one most trainers and handlers reach for first. It’s a collar and lead in one — a braided polypropylene loop that goes over the dog’s head, with an oil-tanned leather slide that holds position behind the ears. No clip to fumble. You can move fast, load a dog one-handed, or slip it on a dog that doesn’t have a collar on without breaking stride. It’s been Mendota’s flagship product since 1994 for a reason. The 6’ length suits most exercise and field handling; the 4’ is the closer training and heeling length.

The Mendota snap leash is the braided polypropylene version with a solid brass swivel snap — it clips to whatever collar the dog is wearing and gives you a dedicated lead separate from the collar. The 4’ length for controlled handling, the 6’ for walks and exercise. Both are waterproof, colorfast, and built to handle the daily abuse a training lead takes.

The flat leather snap leashes are for handlers who prefer the look and feel of leather over braided poly. English bridle leather, fully stitched, with a riveted swivel bolt snap and a floating handle ring. They break in with use and last for years. Available in 4’ and 6’ lengths.

The King Buck leashes — the EZ Connect rope lead and the premium leather lead — are built for hunters who want field gear that reflects the quality of the dog they’re running. The EZ Connect clasp opens one-handed in the dark; the premium leather lead is the one you bring to a hunt test.

Replacement collar straps and check cords

The biothane High-Flex straps are replacement straps for e-collar receivers — the part that holds the receiver against the dog’s neck. Biothane is the right material for this: it doesn’t stiffen in the cold the way nylon does, doesn’t absorb water or odor, and wipes clean. Available in 3⁄4” and 1” widths to fit most receivers from SportDOG, Dogtra, Garmin, and others. The reflective version adds visibility for early mornings and late evenings. Six color options on both — useful when you’re running multiple dogs and need to tell collars apart at a distance.

The 30’ orange check cord is a training essential for anyone working a young bird dog on steadiness. Thirty feet of high-visibility orange cord, lightweight enough that the dog barely notices it dragging, soft on the hands, and tangle-free. It’s what you use before the dog has earned off-lead range — long enough to let the dog find birds and flash point, close enough to enforce a stop or recall when it counts.

Quick guide — what to get for your situation

Situation	What to get
Working dog in timber or heavy brush	Mendota 1” leather hunt collar with safety ring
Spaniel, Brittany, or smaller breed in cover	Mendota ¾” leather hunt collar with safety ring
Everyday house or yard collar	Mendota 1” leather collar or ¾” leather collar
Fast on/off handling, loading dogs, training	Mendota slip lead (6’ for most uses, 4’ for close work)
General walking and exercise	Mendota 6’ snap leash
Young bird dog, steadiness training	30’ orange check cord
Replacing a worn e-collar strap	High-Flex biothane strap in 3⁄4” or 1”
Hunt test, retriever trial, or field event	King Buck premium leather leash

Common questions about dog collars and leads

What’s the difference between a hunt collar and a regular leather collar?

The hunt collar has a center safety ring between the buckle and the D-ring. If the collar catches on brush, wire, or debris, the center ring relieves tension so the dog isn’t held fast. A standard leather collar has the buckle and D-ring only — no center ring. For dogs working heavy cover or timber, the hunt collar is the safer choice. For open-country dogs or as an everyday house collar, the standard collar is fine.

How do I size a Mendota leather collar?

Mendota collars are sized to the dog’s actual neck measurement — no need to add inches. Measure around the base of the neck where the collar will sit and order that size. Each collar adjusts 2” smaller and 1” larger from the center hole, so an 18” collar fits necks from 16” to 19”. If your dog is between sizes, go with the larger.

What’s a slip lead and how is it different from a snap leash?

A slip lead combines collar and leash in one piece — a loop goes over the dog’s head and a leather slide holds it in position behind the ears. There’s no separate collar and no clip to deal with. A snap leash is a leash only — it clips to whatever collar the dog is already wearing via a bolt snap. Slip leads are faster for handlers who are putting a lead on and taking it off frequently. Snap leashes give you more control over where the lead attaches and work better when the dog wears a specific collar full-time.

Can I use a leather collar under an e-collar receiver?

Yes, but you’ll want to run them on separate straps. Most working dog owners put the e-collar receiver on its own biothane strap and use the leather collar as a separate everyday collar — the dog wears both, stacked or on the same ring depending on your preference. Running a leather collar directly through an e-collar receiver slot isn’t recommended; the leather is thicker than biothane and can affect how the contact points sit against the skin.

What width e-collar strap do I need?

Most standard e-collar receivers — SportDOG, Dogtra, Garmin — use a 1” strap. Compact and small-dog receivers often use ¾”. The easiest way to confirm is to measure the slot on your existing receiver or check the manufacturer’s spec page for your collar model. When in doubt, measure the strap that came with the collar.

Do I need a check cord if I’m using an e-collar on my young dog?

Yes, at least in the early stages. A check cord gives you physical control during the period when the dog doesn’t yet understand what the e-collar is communicating. It lets you enforce a stop or recall mechanically while the dog is still learning the association between the stimulation and the command. Most trainers run a check cord and an e-collar together on young dogs until the e-collar cues are reliable, then drop the cord. The 30’ orange check cord is the standard length for most bird dog steadiness work.

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