FAQ'S

You should be able to sniff out answers here.

Go ahead and nose around.
However, if you're still a little fuzzy, feel free to ask us questions, no begging required.

Frequently asked questions

What is BioThane®?

BioThane® explains their product as: "BioThane® is the brand name of all coated webbing products made by BioThane Coated Webbing Corp. It’s basically a polyester webbing with a TPU or PVC coating that makes it more durable, waterproof, easy to clean and weldable."
Our explanation: "It's like the coolest stuff ever!!! My dog gets muddy and it cleans right off! Oily icky build up from dog fur, no problem! I wash it and it's instantly dry! I love it!!"



How do I clean or disinfect my dog's collar?

Cleaning couldn't be easier! Typically a simple wash in cold or warm water with mild soap will do the trick. It's what we do here! We've had some REALLY dirty dog collars wash sparkling clean again with a quick rinse. We pat dry with a paper towel to finish the job, but that's really unnecessary. To disinfect, we'll share exactly what BioThane suggests:
"We recommend the following to disinfect our belts (choose ONE of the following):

1. 10% bleach solution (take the bleach out of the bottle, at 6.5% active ingredient, and dilute 1 part to 9 parts water)
2. Envirocide (follow directions on bottle).*
3. *Cavicide (follow directions on bottle).*

*We do not specifically endorse the effectiveness of these products only that they will not harm BioThane in proper use. For additional information on Envirocide please visit http://www.metrex.com/products/surface-disinfectants/envirocide or for additional information on Cavicide please visit http://www.metrex.com/products/surface-disinfectants/cavicide."



What if you don't have the color I want?

We stock most, but not all Biothane® colors. We may not obtain special edition colors, sometimes colors are discontinued by the manufacturer, and other times limited availibility procludes us from offerings. At times, we've simply chosen not to stock colors that have low demand. We apologize if we don't have everything your heart desires, but we feel we're rather colorful. When it comes to color, your dog has a totally different view on the subject.



How long will it last?

According to BioThane® :
"Under normal use, BioThane® will long outlast leather and nylon."
According to us:
That's a great nibble of information, but allowing your dog access to chewing on BioThane® will significantly shorten the life of the product. (As is the case with most things a dog chews.)



Is this made in the USA?

According to BioThane® :
"Yes, BioThane® is manufactured in our only plant located in North Ridgeville, Ohio in the USA." As for our manufacture at Antique ReVisions:
We make the collars lovingly by hand, one at a time, in our rural Pennsylvania workshop. While we buy most of our hardware and parts from local small businesses, we can not guarantee that all hardware is made in the USA. Products manufactured for Antique ReVisions: Special edition and other items produced specifically for our shop are Amish made and hand crafted in the USA. They are made using the same, high-quality parts that we use for all of our items.



Will insect repellant harm BioThane®?

In short, yes, it can.
Please read the following information from BioThane®: "Insect repellents may cause staining or pitting on TPU/PVC coated belts and leather products. Many insect repellents use DEET as an active ingredient which will pit/stain Polyurethane products. An alternative would be to use an all-natural/organic insect repellent."



BioThane® vs. Leather

BioThane® says that:

"BioThane® is more durable, cleanable, stronger and easier to maintain. It is also readily available in different colors." Here at Antique ReVisions, we currently offer a large variety of BioThane® colors. We currently, regularly stock only Super Heavy Beta BioThane®. Our personal feedback from dog world friends is that this product looks, feels and moves most leather-like. We personally use BioThane® products on a regular basis for our dog. We agree with others that this feels soft and supple like leather, but without any maintenance hassles.



Does this contain latex?

No, BioThane® coated webbing is latex-free.



Will synthetic hurt my dog or cause hot spots?

No more than leather would. If you size your dog properly, this should not cause issues.



Will it start to smell if my dog gets wet?

No, the collar will not start to smell. What you are smelling is probably wet dog. BioThane® material is stink proof, the dog is not.



Does this freeze in the cold or get sticky in the heat?

BioThane remains flexible and durable in cold weather. BioThane will not get sticky or tacky unless exposed to certain chemicals, like DEET. (See "Will insect repellant harm BioThane" for more on that sticky subject.)



Will Beta colors "bleed" or transfer onto other surfaces like hair, skin, or fabric?

According to BioThane®: "It is possible for certain colors, especially fluorescent colors, to transfer from the Beta rolls or finished products onto hair, skin or fabric. These colors are not hazardous and they should not present a health or safety hazard. If color transfer happens, wash with soap and water. If irritation persists, get medical attention." Our experience:
In working constantly with the material, we have experienced VERY MINOR color transfer from a couple colors. The color transfered lightly onto our hands after handling a very large quantity of those particular colors. A quick, light wash with soap and water and it was completely gone. Our Amish friends have taught us a lot about BioThane®. They advised they've seen many advancements and improvements in the product since it's start and that this is now a fairly rare occurrence. What we do see more commonly, is that sometimes a color from something else will bleed or transfer dye onto the BioThane®. For example, a dyed suede chair or denim jeans may transfer dye onto a lighter color BioThane®, in particular colors like yellow or pink. When this occurs, it seems to be permanant and we have been unsuccessful at removing the transfered dye on the BioThane®



Will the color fade?

BioThane advises:
"The opaque colors tend to hold color significantly longer than the fluorescent colors. In general, the deeper the shade of the hue, the longer it will last." Our Amish friends told us:
They USED TO notice that colors sitting on shelving with constant exposure to sunlight would fade. However, they have seen many improvements to the product over the years and they do not notice fading of colors anymore.



Prop 65 / Do you have the regulatory information about this product?

WARNING: Proposition 65 For specifics, please view this pdf.



FLAT COLLAR - How to Measure? / What size should I order?

There are a few ways you can go about answering this. Size (length) matters, not weight. So not all dogs or similar breeds will fit the same. YOU WILL NEED TO MEASURE. 1. If your dog already owns a collar that you like the fit of, measure the wearable length of that collar. 2. Using a flexible measuring tape, measure around your dog's neck in the area where you want the collar to lay. Pull the tape snug, but not tight. Your dog needs room to breathe, so remember to leave about two fingers of space between the collar and dog's neck. 3. If you don't have a measuring tape, use something like a piece of string. Find the length around your dog's neck in the area where you want the collar to lay. Pull the string snug, but not tight. Your dog needs room to breathe, so remember to leave about two fingers of space between the collar and dog's neck. Then measure the length of the string that you needed to fit your dog's neck. OUR STANDARD SIZES Most dogs will fall within these ranges. Sizes are adjustable, but for the best fit try to order the size where you're dog's measurement falls in the center. Example 1: If your dog needs an 18" collar, we suggest ordering a 1" Small (NOT Medium) Example 2: If your dog needs a 14" collar, we suggest ordering a 5/8" Medium (NOT Small or Large) If your size isn't available, contact us to discuss if we can make it. If you already own a Clyde's Collection collar, standard sizes are branded with a letter on the rear, near the holes. The letter will match one of the above sizes in the width of your collar.



Is BioThane® strong, and how thick is it?

YES, it's strong!
BioThane® boasts a tensile strength of 1000 lbs. per inch. The Super Heavy Beta material that we use is: .140" - .160" 3.56mm - 4.06mm The Standard material that we us is: .095" - .105"
2.41mm - 2.67mm



Can I find this cheaper?

Yes, you may find what seems to be the same thing, only cheaper. We can assure you, it's likely to be just that, cheaper. Many of the products available from other sources are using a different BioThane® coating. It may not look or feel like ours. We use only genuine BioThane® products. The majority of our products are made with Super Heavy Beta. Few others use strong and durable Stainless Steel hardware, like we do. Shockingly, many manufactures don't seal the product, thus leaving it vulnerable to water penetration. We heat seal the ends of our items for waterproof integrity. Each collar is lovingly hand crafted, to assure quality control. If we wouldn't let our dog wear it, we wouldn't sell it. We can assure you, we are QUITE particular, which is why we started making these in the first place.



Can I get all of the styles and colors in my dog's size?

Usually, however, there some exceptions. Due to manufacturing limitations, we are unable to make certain items. For instance we can not make a 5/8" Tiny collar in a two color model. Also, at this time, limited edition collars are only made in 1" width. We're sorry your tail is tucked between your legs. We didn't mean to upset you, but we DO have plenty of other fun offerings that we hope will get your tail wagging again.



Does your dog wear what you make?

Absolutely! Clyde is our biggest supporter. He's got as many collars as Imelda Marcos has shoes! He's been the biggest contributor of our research and development team. He always accepts a new collar with a sniff, wag of approval and bow of the head to make it easy to put on him. The whole idea for this part of our business started becasue of Clyde. As a Service Dog AND a Therapy Dog, he's an active guy. We're on the go a lot and our needs are specific. We were frequently frustrated with existing gear and dreamt of improvements. After years of tinkering, dreaming and research, we've made something we love, we use and we believe in. We hope you'll find Clyde's Collection to be just as satisfying and exciting!



What is the difference between the 5/8" and the 1"?

The biggest difference is the width. The thin one measures 5/8" wide and the wider one is 1". Hardware on both is rust resistant / stainless steel. Hardware differs slightly. The buckles are a different style. Rivets on the 5/8" may be placed closer together.



TRAINING COLLAR - How to measure? / What size should I order?

Use a flexible measuring tape. If you do not have one, use a piece of string or something flexible. Then measure the piece of string that was necessary to fit the neck properly. Measurements for a training collar should be taken in a different area of neck than measuring for a flat collar. Take note of the dog picture above. Measure under the neck and behind the ears for a training collar. Measure snugly to the dog's neck. Order the training collar size where your dog's measurement falls closest to the center. Example 1: You want to order a martingale training collar. Your dog's snug measurement under the neck and behind the ears is 14".
Order a MEDIUM 13"-15" collar. (14" falls in the center of that measurement) Example 2: You want to order a slip collar. Your dog's snug measurement under the neck and behind the ears is 16".
Order a LARGE 15""-17" collar. (16" falls in the center of that measurement)