AgileDobe

From time to time I make my own kangaroo leather show leads. I started making them as I was so particular about what I wanted in a lead, so decided to try a hand at it myself. It is fun as every lead is different, and I rather enjoy making them. Everyone prefers something a little different!

Here are a couple I made recently for friends. I wasn't sure about the all metallic look, but I have to say I really like the all gold lead. The other lead is Bronze leather- I love the copper beads on this one.

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MACH7 Delta Duchess of Davenport CD RN MXC2 MJB3 MXF T2B TQX CGC - Delta
CH MACH3 Mandre's Grace Under Fire MXC MJB2 XF T2B - Grace
LH's Heart of a Dragon MX MXJ MJB - Draco
Dancing Star's Born To Prevail NAJ (major pointed) - Reva
U-CH Tri-Star's Avalon Sunset MX MXB MXJ MJB OF WAC ATT CGC VCX - Ava

Juneau Duchess of Davenport OA AXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP5 MJPS PAX - Juneau
11.22.1999 - 10.6.2009 - DCM/CHF

Meldrew79

Very pretty!

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GingerGunlock

Oh, nifty! They did turn out well.

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Fitzmar Dobermans

Those are lovely!

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CH Cha-Rish A Moment Like This RN WAC CGC "Louise"
AKC GRCH/UKC CH Fitzmar's Command A Minute CGC "Harvard"
Fitzmar's Victory Hop Devil "Jezebel"

dobegal

Very pretty

donnatoldu2

Beautiful!

VZ-Doberman

Gorgeous.

triciakoontz

Wow - those are so beautiful and unique!!!

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[IMG][/IMG]

"Please visit and 'like' our paradise at http://www.facebook.com/SweetMemoryGardens"

Adara

Wow, those are fantastic!

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Colleen
Flirt, ADAMAS All the Girls Do It, OA, NAJ, CL2-F, CL2-H
Gabby, Ch Gold Run's Token of Rumor, JH, NA, OAJ, NF, NJP, CL2,CL3-H, CL3-F Vizsla
Havoc, GCh HRQ Guess Who's In Trouble, JH, OA, OAJ, CL2-H, CL2-S, CL2-F Vizsla
Envy, Kizmar's Bailey HotShot of Adara, Vizsla

Beaumont67

Fabulous works of art...thks for sharing, your talent.

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------------Kelly & (Amy - RIP @ 11.7 y/o)

NOX

Amazing work.
You should open a store !

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Q734

Those are wonderful.
If you don't mind, where did you learn to braid? And how do you bevel the leather?
This is something I've always wanted to try for fun just to know. I've several books on braiding leather but not the same as being taught in person for me.

/arthritic feeble hands here!

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New here looking for a breeder to get your dog from?
Check out links BELOW for health testing behind sires & dams when considering a puppy.

Each link has something different to offer.
> http://dobequest.org/ (<-incomplete but worthwhile)

*http://www.offa.org/

>http://www.dpca.org/longevity/listsemen.php

>http://www.puppiesonice.com/breed.cfm?breedid=56
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eventermal

Q, check out YouTube. It's a pretty easy 4 stranded round braid. And I don't know about agile, but I bought a beveler from y-knotlace.com.


Agile, I love your work. Really nice and clean and the colors are great!!

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CH O's Godiva Signature WAC CGC CA "Perrin"
CH Treu's Star Witness v Touchstone CA "Guilty"
"Vixie" (Papillon) NA NAJ

AgileDobe

I actually do have a Facebook page and a website

Thanks! Yes, it is a standard 4-strand round braid. The pattern is easy to figure out, but keeping even pressure is important as it helps create a smooth consistent braid. I learned on my own, with the help of the internet . I looked up a few different examples and just sat down and kept working at it. I also wanted to learn how to do nice knots to keep the beads in place. I found the books helpful, and I may have found some youtube videos but I can't recall any off the top of my head. I do bevel the leather (see below). I think that is one of the things that makes such a HUGE difference in the finished product. I want a smooth lead that is super soft, and not rough on your hands. After I bevel and braid I roll the lead in between two ceramic squares to smooth out the braid and help soften up the lead.

Thanks! I haven't used the Y-Knot one, but it looks like it could work well. I have kind of a unique beveler. I found a guy making them on a forum a couple years ago. I don't know if he is making anymore of them. Here is a picture of mine -





Here is a 6-strand black 18" collar I made. Working with 6 strands definetly requires a lot of finger dexterity!

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MACH7 Delta Duchess of Davenport CD RN MXC2 MJB3 MXF T2B TQX CGC - Delta
CH MACH3 Mandre's Grace Under Fire MXC MJB2 XF T2B - Grace
LH's Heart of a Dragon MX MXJ MJB - Draco
Dancing Star's Born To Prevail NAJ (major pointed) - Reva
U-CH Tri-Star's Avalon Sunset MX MXB MXJ MJB OF WAC ATT CGC VCX - Ava

Juneau Duchess of Davenport OA AXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP5 MJPS PAX - Juneau
11.22.1999 - 10.6.2009 - DCM/CHF

honda123

Those are pieces of art! Gorgeous.

Q734

I have looked & have some bookmarked but I always have questions about the end piece & haven't found one that demonstrates it.
I have managed to fubar the end of an already finished simple lead in seconds & not figured out how to fix it.

I think I'd have a hard time holding all pieces taut and evenly also.

__________________
-^-^-^----_^-^-^---^-^-^-^-^-^->
New here looking for a breeder to get your dog from?
Check out links BELOW for health testing behind sires & dams when considering a puppy.

Each link has something different to offer.
> http://dobequest.org/ (<-incomplete but worthwhile)

*http://www.offa.org/

>http://www.dpca.org/longevity/listsemen.php

>http://www.puppiesonice.com/breed.cfm?breedid=56
-^-^-^-^---^-^-^-^-----^---^--------/\_____

Darkevs

WOW!

they are beautiful!

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Thanks for making this signature for me Amelia!

alwayshadpets

Wow! Wow!Wow!

AgileDobe

What part about the end do you have questions?

Just curious, if it was the same thing I was stuck on. I had to learn how to tuck/weave the ends on my own. This is probably the most difficult/tedious part of the lead for me.

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MACH7 Delta Duchess of Davenport CD RN MXC2 MJB3 MXF T2B TQX CGC - Delta
CH MACH3 Mandre's Grace Under Fire MXC MJB2 XF T2B - Grace
LH's Heart of a Dragon MX MXJ MJB - Draco
Dancing Star's Born To Prevail NAJ (major pointed) - Reva
U-CH Tri-Star's Avalon Sunset MX MXB MXJ MJB OF WAC ATT CGC VCX - Ava

Juneau Duchess of Davenport OA AXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP5 MJPS PAX - Juneau
11.22.1999 - 10.6.2009 - DCM/CHF

interrobang

Wow, these are gorgeous!

Q734

Oh no I've not tried to do a lead myself, properly anyway.
I wrecked a simple inverted show lead that I got @ a show last spring, nothing spendy, it's probably a simple fix but it escapes me every time I run across it. I took it apart for some reason, don't remember why now...maybe to change the slip ring size.

On a lighter note I think we need MORE pictures of your handiwork

__________________
-^-^-^----_^-^-^---^-^-^-^-^-^->
New here looking for a breeder to get your dog from?
Check out links BELOW for health testing behind sires & dams when considering a puppy.

Each link has something different to offer.
> http://dobequest.org/ (<-incomplete but worthwhile)

*http://www.offa.org/

>http://www.dpca.org/longevity/listsemen.php

>http://www.puppiesonice.com/breed.cfm?breedid=56
-^-^-^-^---^-^-^-^-----^---^--------/\_____

voodoolizard

stunning.. i tried these once .. i got the braid right.. but could not for the life of me fgure out how to do the ends.. so i gave up lol.. yours are lovely xx

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eventermal

For the ends, I learned using these links and a LOT of trial and error.

How To Make a Four Strand Round Braid Dog Leash From Paracord

http://myriam.dakotabraiding.com/Tut...n/DogLeash.pdf

I also use leather needles to "sew" the strands back into the braid. This is also my least favorite part of the process...that and the knots at the beads.

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CH O's Godiva Signature WAC CGC CA "Perrin"
CH Treu's Star Witness v Touchstone CA "Guilty"
"Vixie" (Papillon) NA NAJ

AgileDobe

That reminds me of the lead I took apart once! A friend had bought a lead from someone, and it turned out to be not so nice. I used it twice on her dog and that was the end of the lead, so we took it apart and decided to re-braid it and play around with it. This 36" lead shrunk down to about 16" once it was properly braided. We just kind of laughed and used it as a good example of how not to make a lead.

More pictures coming up soon

Leather lacing needles are your best friend when it comes to the finishing the lead. Ingenious little things, they actually "screw" onto the leather ends and you can then weave the ends back into the previously braided area. I couldn't do it with out those and a lacing fid. It took a little trial and error to get it lay nicely and not be hot mess at the end of the lead.

I was trying to find the Dakota braiding tutorial!! That was the one I found that helped me the most. It just kind of clicked after that. I still don't like the back braiding/weaving in but I do like doing the knots. I have been working on learning how to do more intricate knots but they are HARD!

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MACH7 Delta Duchess of Davenport CD RN MXC2 MJB3 MXF T2B TQX CGC - Delta
CH MACH3 Mandre's Grace Under Fire MXC MJB2 XF T2B - Grace
LH's Heart of a Dragon MX MXJ MJB - Draco
Dancing Star's Born To Prevail NAJ (major pointed) - Reva
U-CH Tri-Star's Avalon Sunset MX MXB MXJ MJB OF WAC ATT CGC VCX - Ava

Juneau Duchess of Davenport OA AXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP5 MJPS PAX - Juneau
11.22.1999 - 10.6.2009 - DCM/CHF

AgileDobe

I would love to know what is important to people when they buy a show lead. What do you look for in a lead? What are things you don't like and like? I know I have my preferences, but I like to know what others would want in a lead too. Things like bead placement, colors, size, handles, anything and everything

Some of these photos aren't the best, as I have to take them with my cell phone camera. I try to borrow a camera when I can to get better ones, but my phones does an okay job in the meantime.

I am working on a new way of finishing of the ends of the leads, and I would love to see what you guys think of the knots on this lead. I didn't get a good up close photo if it, but you can see the knots at both the handle and loop end of the brown lead below.

This lead kind of has a unique story. The "original" lead was made by one of our late DT members (Dobestar). Her and I worked on leads together, and she made this lead for a friend of ours. Unfortunately a dog chewed up the original lead, so I cleaned up the beads and re-made the lead. So this one is Version 2.0



Pink is not my thing, but some people love it



Here is another one, this is one I use myself.

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MACH7 Delta Duchess of Davenport CD RN MXC2 MJB3 MXF T2B TQX CGC - Delta
CH MACH3 Mandre's Grace Under Fire MXC MJB2 XF T2B - Grace
LH's Heart of a Dragon MX MXJ MJB - Draco
Dancing Star's Born To Prevail NAJ (major pointed) - Reva
U-CH Tri-Star's Avalon Sunset MX MXB MXJ MJB OF WAC ATT CGC VCX - Ava

Juneau Duchess of Davenport OA AXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP5 MJPS PAX - Juneau
11.22.1999 - 10.6.2009 - DCM/CHF