Introduction: How to Make a Martingale Dog Collar
Martingale collars are a very popular choice for dog trainers. They are not a severe as a regular choke collar since they cannot infinetly tighten and choke the dog. This instructable will show you how to make a martingale collar from scratch.
I have recently started a DIY pet blog called Bloggie Stylish where you can find other cool tutorials like this one.
Step 1: Tools & Supplies You Will Need
You will need some sort of webbing. There are many kinds out there like cotton, polypropylene and nylon. Three D-rings, which you can scavenge off of an old collar. Scissors. I have two pairs, one for cutting and a small pair of trimming scissors for cutting the threads. A flexible measuring tape for measuring your dog's neck. A sewing machine (that's a given) and sewing thread.
Step 2: Measuring Your Dog
To ensure that the collar fits properly and that your dog cant back out of it, you need to take two measurements. One directly behind the ears and one lower down on the neck, for where you would like the collar to sit.
When measuring behind the ears, make sure that that the tape is snug. This is the most important measurement. If your collar is too loose, the dog will be able to back out of the collar when the martingale collar is pulled tight. Jerseys measurement is 14 inches.
Next you must measure lower down on the neck where you would like to martingale collar to sit when you are not walking the dog. Jerseys measurement was 17 inches.
Step 3: Cutting the Webbing
Now you have to cut 2 pieces of webbing, one for the neck loop and one for the control loop. Jersey’s “behind the ear” measurement was 14 inches, so I added 2 inches to that and cut a 16 inch piece of webbing. Next is to cut the webbing for the control loop. I subtracted the “behind the ear” measurement (14 inches) from the “neck” measurement (17 inches) and came up with 3 inches. This is the total spread that you will want on the control loop. I doubled this measurement and added 2 inches to come up with 8 inches that I needed to cut for webbing on the control loop
Step 4: Sewing the First D-Ring
Take one of the D-rings, insert the webbing through it and fold over about 3/4 of an inch. Sew a straight seam, up and down over the webbing. Triple stitch this line for strength, using the reverse button on your sewing machine.
Step 5: Sewing the Second D-ring
To get the correct size for the neck loop, you must take the length of the D-rings into account. Lay the webbing out on a flat surface and place the measuring tape next to it. Slide the second D-ring over the webbing and fold the webbing over the neck loop until you have achieved the length that you need. Pin the fold into place and sew two lines like in step three. It is also important to remember to have both folded ends on the same side of the neck loop. Now that you have completed the neck loop, trim all loose threads.
Step 6: Threading the Control Loop
With the folds of the neck loop facing OUTWARDS, thread the control loop through both D-rings. Slide the remaining D-ring on the LEFT side of the control loop webbing.
Step 7: Sewing the Control Loop Part 1
Put the control loop together so that they overlap by about 2 inches. Make sure that the D-ring is still lying to the left. Sew 2 seams like in step 3.
Step 8: Sewing the Control Loop Part 2
Now flip the control loop inside out so that the fold that you have just sewn is on the inside of the loop. Bring the D-ring as close as you can to the seam that you just finished and sew 2 new seams like in step three. Trim all loose threads
Step 9: The Finished Product
There you have it, you very own martingale collar. Remember that martingale collars should NOT be used for tie-out collars. Martingale collars sould not be worn by your dog unsupervised, the collar could snag on something and cause injury to your pet.
16 Comments
Tip 3 years ago on Introduction
If you are using the collar for regular use and as the dog's only collar, you will need FOUR rings. A ring for the dog tags will be needed too. The fourth one will go on the neck loop and would hang freely. I suppose you could save the fourth ring if you attached the tags to one of the other rings, but I think that might be more uncomfortable for the pup.
Reply 6 months ago
Lol no, your advice makes no sense.
11 years ago on Introduction
This is a great idea, but my issue with it is that it is silent. If you properly use a chain slip/choke collar, part of the training is the sound. After a use or two, a dog is conditioned to the sound of the chain slipping through the ring and realizes, "Uh oh, I know that sound, I'm about to get choked if I don't stop pulling."
Reply 3 years ago
Use a slip chain for the second webbing. Then you will get the noise you want.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
The purpose of a martingale isn't to choke the dog though, it's to ensure that it doesn't slip off the way buckle collars do.
7 years ago
I was short a D-ring but had a size slider thingy so I made mine multisized(probably good since it's a puppy), and it looks great
14 years ago on Introduction
is that a weimaraner?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Either that or a vizsla Weimaraner (grey/silver in pic) vizsla (Brown/red in pic)
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
kinda looks like a dark fila brazileiro puppy too
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
jersey is a little vizsla girl
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Cool! i have a Weimaraner. She is not as young anymore though, now a year old
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
ooh, so very cute!!
11 years ago on Introduction
Those are very cute!
Check out these designer dog collars I made!
12 years ago on Introduction
cool.
12 years ago on Step 9
Thank you! You've inspired me to save $$ and have dogs with pretty interchangeable martingale collars.. it's so hard to find nice martingale ones reasonably priced - this is GOLD!
14 years ago on Step 9
Thank you, I bought some reflective webbing. It is also helpful to burn the edges with a lighter to prevent fraying.