Our dog's gear goes through a lot, all day, every day - and unfortunately for us, our dog's don't have the opposable thumbs to take care of their own gear.
While wear and tear is bound to happen, especially when gear is used on a daily basis with our dogs, we have some tips for helping to keep your gear in functional, clean (until the next muddy puddle, of course!) condition. Adequate care can help extend the lifetime of your product, helping to avoid the need for you buying a replacement.
Read on for our recommendations on caring for each product.
Harnesses & Collars
The harnesses and collars from our current brands are quite low-maintenance! When needed, they should be hand-washed with very mild detergent. Then, leave to air dry, and avoid tumble drying.
We would strongly advise against washing in a washing machine, as tempting as it is, as the buckles, and other components, can damage your appliances.
We would also strongly advise against using fabric conditioner. The chemicals used in the majority of household fabric conditioner can damage plastic components, and can also lead to dulling/discolouration.
When used and dirty, but not ready for a spring clean just yet, we would recommend rinsing the harness off and hanging it somewhere to dry. This is especially important if the harness or collar has been in or near saltwater, as water is naturally very corrosive and can tarnish or damage metal and plastic.
When either of these are not in use, they should be kept out of your dog's reach. As dogs often associate their harness or collar with going out, some dogs get excited and may begin to play with it. Keeping the gear safely out the way gets rid of any temptations to chew them.
Leads & Clips
When needed, your lead should be hand-washed with very mild detergent. Then, leave to air dry - please avoid tumble drying.
Lead clips need regular rinsing, as dirt, grime or sand can jam up the mechanism. Our team often use a spritz of WD-40 on our own lead clips, to lubricate them and help prevent the clip from getting stuck.
We would strongly advise against washing in a washing machine, as tempting as it is, as the clips and sliders can damage your appliances.
We would also strongly advise against using fabric conditioner. The chemicals used in the majority of household fabric conditioner can damage plastic components, and can also lead to dulling/discolouration.
When used and dirty, but not ready for a spring clean just yet, we would recommend rinsing the lead off and hanging it somewhere to dry. This is especially important if the lead has been in or near saltwater, as water is naturally very corrosive and can tarnish or damage metal and plastic.
When your lead is not in use, it should be kept out of your dog's reach. As dogs often associate their harness or collar with going out, some dogs get excited and may begin to play with it. Keeping the gear safely out the way gets rid of any temptations to chew them.
Coats & Jackets
While every coat has it's own washing instructions, general advice is to hand-wash with mild detergent. Then, leave to air dry. Please avoid tumble drying, as the heat can damage film or tapes.
Much like harnesses, avoid washing in a washing machine, as the buckles can damage your appliances.
We would also advise against using fabric softener. The softener can impair the breathability of the coat, which will effect it's performance.
Some waterproof coats are treated with water-repellent, and as the coat is used and washed, this will wear off overtime. You can easily top this up at home, using products like NikWax - this saves you buying a replacement, and a product going to landfill.
Boots & Shoes
We sell a huge variety of dog boots and shoes, but again, the consensus is to hand-wash with mild detergent, before air drying - please don't tumble dry your boots.
Please note that some boot styles are treated as a consumable, depending on the variant you choose. Whichever boots you have, you can help extend their lifetime by:
- Trimming your dog's claws often and when needed
- Choosing the correct boot for your needs
- Some products, such as the Protector Booties, can be turned inside out halfway through a walk to help combat wear and tear
Any questions? Reach out!
If there's anything we haven't covered, please do reach out to us and we'll do our very best to help.
You can reach us by email on bark@mountaindog.uk, or call us on 01670 343010.