Easy off Terrier Couples ........

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

my terrier stands 13&1/2" tts. i am due to pick up a new pup in about 4week. (jrt) will these collars be suitable for use with the obvious size difference or would i have to wait a few month and walk on seperate leads? i would prefer to use a couple straight away if possible. do you make the collars for the smaller dogs? the mother to the new pup barely stands 9" tts and the sire is not 1/2" bigger so she should be around that size when fully grown. any info/advice will be very appreciated as i am definately interested after reading all the feedback from them.

thanks

ATB JENKS

 

The collars shown are 1" wide, I'd suggest you'd be better with 3/4" wide for smaller dogs, it would be no problem to make a smaller/made to measure set of collars, neck sizes would be be good then take it from there.

[jenksi87 3]

ok mate will drop you a p.m in a couple of week

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

Unfortunately, due to price rises everywhere, all the parts I use for these collars have had a price rise, so I'll have to put my prices up in the next few weeks, not by a lot, probably a couple of quid on each collar.

[jaykay 2]

I like the idea of soldering one side. I'm a bit thick really and would prob lose one

[ellir0305 9]

I like the idea of soldering one side. I'm a bit thick really and would prob lose one

 

brazing would be better mate but if its brightly colored like ss aid you cant lose it ... can you???

[erik 71]

Unfortunately, due to price rises everywhere, all the parts I use for these collars have had a price rise, so I'll have to put my prices up in the next few weeks, not by a lot, probably a couple of quid on each collar.

 

 

imo is your stuff from sutch a quallity that the price is worth it even when they are 20€ a pice

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

I like the idea of soldering one side. I'm a bit thick really and would prob lose one

 

brazing would be better mate but if its brightly colored like ss aid you cant lose it ... can you???

 

 

After a lot of feedback from lads at shows through the summer I won't be fixing either side permanently to the trigger couple ............... because, lads sometimes use the collars on their own for 1 dog, and couldn't do that if they were fixed to the couple.

 

 

 

 

ERIK, thank you!

[MYDOGSNUTS 2]

look great to me, are they 1 inch thick SS? wish i had 1 inch thick ones so the terriers wouldnt pull so much, got trebbles off you bought the brass elsehwere but the collars off you, would i buy any other collar? if you made there in trebbles i think id invest...but 2 doubles are no good to me as i have 3 terriers, cheers

 

 

 

yes i would invest in one as well because i have 3 terriers, i think you would only need a bigger ring at the start or a oval one if you sort it get back to me

[Barrie 1,325]

SS.... I've been using an identical design for 30+ years, the only other person I knew that used anything similar was Colin Roscoe who I met some 25 years back and who in those days was Secretary of the Rother Valley WTC.

 

The potential disadvantages have already been covered, namely the possibility of losing a collar and the fact that those unfamiliar with the design can be prone to "unbuckling" rather than "unclipping".

 

I've made several sets as gifts over the years and have only known one person to lose a collar, but I would always carry a spare in my net bag anyway. The real secret is to get into the habit of just unclipping the one D ring and leaving the other attached to the clip.

 

In terms of actual design considerations I would offer the following suggestions based on my own use in the field over many years:

 

1. Due to that little bit of extra flexibilty at the joining of the 2 D rings and the clip, I always spaced my adjustment holes closer together than on the more traditional collars, in order to still have a comfortable (but most importantly) slip proof fit.

 

2. I always fitted my buckles offset rather than central (as in your picture), ie. as close as practical to one of the D rings (I think you can see what I mean in the Russell pic). The reason being that when a terrier is pulling at the collar, either when walking or tied down at a dig, that way the buckle's not digging into its throat/larynx area.

 

I've attached a couple of pics. The one of the black dogs is a scanned version of a very old pic and I'm afraid not too clear, the one of the Russells is more recent and hopefully much easier to see.

 

I'm convinced that given a fair trial your offering has the potential to become the de facto standard for terrier couplings/collars in the field. J.M.H.O.

 

 

 

Kindest Regards and Best of Luck - Barrie

[Rabbit Hunter 6,613]

How much would it be for these couplings then SS?

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

How much would it be for these couplings then SS?

 

 

They are £30, details of prices etc are in the for sale section mate.

 

Thanks.

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

SS.... I've been using an identical design for 30+ years, the only other person I knew that used anything similar was Colin Roscoe who I met some 25 years back and who in those days was Secretary of the Rother Valley WTC.

 

The potential disadvantages have already been covered, namely the possibility of losing a collar and the fact that those unfamiliar with the design can be prone to "unbuckling" rather than "unclipping".

 

I've made several sets as gifts over the years and have only known one person to lose a collar, but I would always carry a spare in my net bag anyway. The real secret is to get into the habit of just unclipping the one D ring and leaving the other attached to the clip.

 

In terms of actual design considerations I would offer the following suggestions based on my own use in the field over many years:

 

1. Due to that little bit of extra flexibilty at the joining of the 2 D rings and the clip, I always spaced my adjustment holes closer together than on the more traditional collars, in order to still have a comfortable (but most importantly) slip proof fit.

 

2. I always fitted my buckles offset rather than central (as in your picture), ie. as close as practical to one of the D rings (I think you can see what I mean in the Russell pic). The reason being that when a terrier is pulling at the collar, either when walking or tied down at a dig, that way the buckle's not digging into its throat/larynx area.

 

I've attached a couple of pics. The one of the black dogs is a scanned version of a very old pic and I'm afraid not too clear, the one of the Russells is more recent and hopefully much easier to see.

 

I'm convinced that given a fair trial your offering has the potential to become the de facto standard for terrier couplings/collars in the field. J.M.H.O.

 

 

 

Kindest Regards and Best of Luck - Barrie

 

Hi Barrie, thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

 

It was 2 lads off here that asked for this type of couple, not sure if they'd seen yours or not, I hope I haven't inadvertently stolen your design (and I do mean that genuinely).

 

I do on the production version have the buckle so it is more to the side of the dogs neck, for exactly the reasons you mentioned.

 

I'm going to try this style of collar for some bigger stronger dogs too, again on the suggestion of someone who wants some made, that will be a single collar only, these aren't the sort of dogs you'd walk 2 of at once!

 

Many thanks again Barrie.

 

Best regards

 

Aaron

[Barrie 1,325]

Hi Aaron

 

Thanks for that and it's a very kind thought, but I suspect you give me far more credit than I'm due, I'm sure there were others using something of a similar design way before me.

 

In those days we didn't have people like yourself willing to provide good quality tailor made goods at an affordable price. We were stuck with 2 options when looking for couplings. Either visit a saddler (beyond my pocket) or use (as we did) those old ex army leather straps which I believe were used to fasten up stretchers in the military ambulances. They were durable enough, but as others can I'm sure testify.... an absolute bugger to strap on and off in the wet and cold, no matter how much neatsfoot you fed them .

 

Kindest Regards - Barrie

Edited August 27, 2009 by Barrie

[Guest busterdog]

How do SS, it was me that told you how to put the collars together but as Barrie said some one is always smarter that you think you are and i can't lay any claim to any design royalty's . the collars i use were given to me as a gift from a lad in Shropshire about fifteen years ago. Best of luck with them and as Barrie said once people have tried these collars theirs no going back.

[Barrie 1,325]

How do SS, it was me that told you how to put the collars together but as Barrie said some one is always smarter that you think you are and i can't lay any claim to any design royalty's . the collars i use were given to me as a gift from a lad in Shropshire about fifteen years ago. Best of luck with them and as Barrie said once people have tried these collars theirs no going back.

 

Hi Busterdog

 

At that time (15 years ago) I was doing the terrierwork for a pack of hounds in the Shropshire area, I did so for 17 seasons and finished about 10 years back.

 

Each year we'd hold a fund raising dinner with a bring and buy auction and I'd always throw in a couple of sets of those couplings. They were very popular and raised good money even in those days.

 

In the main the coupling sections were leather, rather than the metal links as in SS's version. Some had the dog clips attached to the leather by being rivetted on, and on the "posh version" the dog clips strapped on and off for replacement using rein end type fittings (as in the Russell pic).

 

Might your original set have been one of those ?

 

Y.I.S. - Barrie