Matching collar and leash?

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Trying to decide whether to get a matching collar and leash for Yogi. I love the lupine one called turtle reef. Should I match or just use a simple black leash?

Just curious how many of you buy matched sets. This will be the first collar I have bought him since he came home. So excited! ( doesn't take much)

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

Of course you should match! Doodles are quite fashionable! :) 

[Sally S Miles]

I started out with coordinating parts, but as others have stated - Lupine leads are tough on hands and as much as I like their patterns and collars, leads are a no.  I admit that I have incredibly sensitive hands, arthritis, etc and I go do the touchy feely routine for leads.   Oddly enough the best lead we have is a leftover from our last GSD and I can't recall the brand since it's fifteen years old now.  I tried a hemp lead and collar with soft fleece lining, died quickly.  We have leather in several lengths and I am always ready to search for canine paraphernalia.

So I chose colors for my dogs - she gets hot pink, orange and red if needed - but I love color and on a black dog I want it to pop. He gets blue, green.....    J wears the Lupine Gecko collar and at the moment E is wearing the Peace Pup, I am thinking the lovely Honu (turtle reef) collar that I have in drawer waiting may not ever fit him....  

I love Lupine collars, pay attention to the fusion at the ends, sometimes they can be sharp - but a minute or two with an emery board will file them down easy.   Anyway - we have a pile of leads and my best advice there is to get your hands on them, I have wasted a lot of money along the way.  Don't mind spending it, just hate wasting it.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Have you used the padded handle leash by lupine? Not sure if that is something new. The handle part is black and looks to be of different material. Maybe they listened to complaints about it being uncomfortable, or do you think that it might be same as you've had in the past?

[Sally S Miles]

Yes, we have one and I still don't like it - the handle is padded, but the remainder is the same. I find the padding cumbersome and cannot grab the webbing without discomfort - loop is ok but I wrap and hold, finding the webbing too sharp - so I shop by feel because I have to. 

[Diane Sloan]

I have that one as well with the black handle and the handle is comfy on the hands but it is cumbersome.  I tend to use my leather leads that I had an amish man make or I also had them make me some that are synthetic harness material with clips all the way down like a police leash.  I love those the best.  I have also taken old reins and braided them into leashes. 

I find when we are out my dogs never really have the full leash ie. pet store, vet, dog class.  So grabbing that lupine leash and holding it in a loop is very harsh even if they just barely pull.  When I first bought them I thought this is perfect they are guaranteed-although my dogs do not chew leads or collars- they look nice and they look like they would last then I used it I bought Molly a plum blossom set and Si has the camo set that is retired and we also had the puppy luv martingale in a thinner size with leash and I got rid of it.  I do find that the collars are stiff and will break off the hair more on Molly than on Si but she has a very soft coat.

I would suggest going to a store in your area that sells them if you can and feel them.  Sally I am like you I go by feel.  I hate my web 1 inch wide leads as well and we have many of those in every color.  I really like the rope slip leads for quick trips out to the car and transports and I love my leather leads.  The other day at the harness shop I bought yet another lead I did not need- just because it was the softest leather had a clip for a second dog and it was a color I do not have in leather...... I have a very bad obsession.  I could outfit several shelters in the area and then some. 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Thanks for your thoughts on these leashes. I will go see in person before I buy. I agree I rarely hold the leash at the end of, more like a loose loop in my hand.

[Miss Ellie]

We too are "matchers"...love the adorable sets that are available these days:)

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I'm a "matcher".  My Bailey is a girlie girl so she has to always have a matching set LOL..  My fav is her sparklie pink rhinestone collar and matching leash!

[Doris]

I have a cream doodle and I always get red collars and leashes.  However, the leashes in the pictures are adorable!!  I am the only female in the house and would be ridiculed if I selected one of those cute collars for my boy dog! 

[LarryL]

I like the bowls, collars, and leashes from Mackenzie Childs.

Kind of on the pricey side, but I think they're super nice.

http://home.mackenzie-childs.com/search?w=pet&x=0&y=0&a...

[Julie and Max]

Okay Leslie, you just cost me like 80$ lol! I went to check out the lupine stuff because you mentioned it and made me curious and I am totally in love with the shadow hunter set, and now I want the regular collar, the leash, the matching tag and the combo collar, and I can order everything but the tag on amazon.ca for free shipping!

Those are super cute Larry but wow at the price. :(

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Max will look awesome in his new collar ;-)