In my opinion, owning a dog is one of the most joyous, fun, and enriching things you can do in life. They can provide unconditional love and companionship that is hard to find elsewhere in the modern world, as well as providing practical and mental support in a multitude of scenarios.
I’m not alone in my love of dogs. They’re the most popular pet in the USA, with over 63 million households owning one or more pooches. Ownership statistics are similar in Canada, too. That’s a lot of dogs. And with a lot of dogs, comes a lot of dog accessories — leads, collars, beds, and the like. Sadly, most dog products are made cheaply, designed to serve a purpose until they perish, ready to be replaced with an equally cheap product – just like lots of modern commerce markets.
At Heddels, we believe in the concept of owning things you want to use forever, and not just when it comes to clothes and shoes. We’ve covered categories like cast-iron skillets, knives, and even Persian rugs in the past, but today, it’s all about dog gear.
Why Invest in High-Quality Dog Wear?
The answer to this question is the same as why we know it’s worth investing in a high-quality pair of jeans, boots, or jacket. Or anything for that matter. Owning fewer, better things that you will use more and grow to cherish will lead to better outcomes for both yourself and the environment. This mantra is the case of dog wear, accessories, and equipment.
Flexi Comfort Extendable Lead & Blueberry Pet Dog Leash. Images via Petco.
In my experience, most of the dog products in mainstream pet stores are perishable and not really that attractive. A quick look on Petco shows the above leashes as the top sellers. On the right is an extendable leash ($24.99 and up) I have personal experience with and would not recommend. It’s a simple extending mechanism in a plastic casing with plastic buttons to operate the mechanism, however, the design allows for rainwater and dirt to get inside the mechanism, causing it to rot and become brittle and prone to snapping. Not good! On the right, a ($23.99) leash with an admittedly cute design made from polyester webbing – a material that is not as strong as nylon webbing like Cordura. This one will last a couple of years, but let me tell you, most of those hearts are coming off after a few months of decent dog walking and the leash will be more prone to fraying and tearing, especially if you own a larger breed.
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