Leather Leash - Page 1

Hello Members,
I purchased a new leather leash. How do I soften it? I heard that u have to soak it in some oil for few hours? Any suggestions.

Rub some neetsfoot oil (or olive oil will do as well) on it. It should soften with use as well.  

 

Remember to rub it in. If you just soak it you can turn the leather to mush at the least it will make it to slippery to get a good grip.

Neatsfoot oil and / or saddle soap.

If you use neatsfoot oil, be certain it is PURE neatsfoot and NOT Neatsfoot COMPOUND. The compound will rot the leather. Saddle soap should be used for cleaning and then be sure to oil the leather after rinsing the soap off. The soap alone left on will cause drying and cracking. Also, oil only the hair side of the leather, the flesh side needs to "breath" so it should not be clogged by oil.

I agree Neetsfoot oil can be found at any shoe store and it works great. But don't soak the handles and clip, only the main strech of leather. Because if you over oil it, it's hard to keep a grip. I usually rub in the leather and then bag the leash for a few days. Then i take it out and work the leather in my hands, rolling and streching it. Once you have it broken in it will only get better. And if you keep it lightly oiled it will last for many years. I still have my first leather leash, it's 20 plus years old and i still find myself reaching for it daily.
Have fun training.
Fry

Hi guys 

joanro --- oil only the hair side of the leather, the flesh side needs to "breath" so it should not be clogged by oil.

When oiling a new leather Leash should the flesh side be oiled too?
 

No, I said only oil the hair side, the flesh side needs to breath and not be clogged. Just rub a light application into the hair side with a soft cotton rag.....it should not be greasy when done.
Do NOT use neatsfoot oil Compound, it will rot the leather. Use PURE neatsfoot oil.

thanks Joanro

By the time leather has been tanned, etc. it is very dry and will crack easily. I found this out the hard way when someone was making me a pair of stirrup leathers. He tried them on my saddle to find out where to put the holes, and had me put my feet in the stirrups.

By the time he'd made his measurements, both leathers had deep cracks in them!

So...that's the reason for the neatsfoot oil! I would always work it in using my hands, as the warmth helps it soak in. I would gently flex and bend the leather as i did so, until it was supple and flexed easily.

Personally, I would do the whole leash, including the hand-hold, as it is the place that takes the most strain if a dog pulls. You want to make absolutely sure it doesn't crack!

I never found neatsfoot made the leather slippery and hard to hold...but horse sweat sure does!