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:
Our explanation:
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.
"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."
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.
Will insect repellant harm BioThane®?
In short, yes, it can.
Please read the following information from BioThane®:
BioThane® vs. Leather
BioThane® says that:
"BioThane® is more durable, cleanable, stronger and easier to maintain. It is also readily available in different colors."
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.
Will Beta colors "bleed" or transfer onto other surfaces like hair, skin, or fabric?
According to BioThane®:
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.
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."
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?
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.
Is BioThane® strong, and how thick is it?
YES, it's strong!
BioThane® boasts a tensile strength of 1000 lbs. per inch.
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.
What is the difference between the 5/8" and the 1"?
The biggest difference is the width.
TRAINING COLLAR - How to measure? / What size should I order?
Order a MEDIUM 13"-15" collar. (14" falls in the center of that measurement)
Order a LARGE 15""-17" collar. (16" falls in the center of that measurement)