Avenue

About

Avenue makes nylon webbing walking gear in four matching prints — Hydromania , Ninja , Sweet Feet and Tattoo — with a collar and a 1.2m padded-handle lead in each. There is also a plain nylon collar and lead, a Bowl & Bones lead, two adjustable harnesses and an 8m retractable. Getting the width right is the decision that matters, and it is about load rather than looks. Collars and leads run 10mm, 16mm, 19mm and 25mm. Wider webbing spreads pressure over more of the neck, so a heavier dog or one that pulls wants 25mm; a small dog is better on 10mm or 16mm, where a wide strap just sits stiffly. Match lead width to collar width — a heavy clip on a narrow collar hangs at an angle and wears the hardware. Sizing a collar. Measure the neck where the collar will sit, then pick the size that puts your measurement in the middle of the adjustment range rather than at either end. Two fingers should slide flat underneath once buckled; room for a third means it can come off backwards. Sizing a harness. Measure the deepest part of the chest, just behind the front legs. Harnesses loosen over the first week as the webbing beds in, so re-check the fit after a few walks. Collar or harness? A flat collar is for an ID tag and an easy walker. Any dog that pulls hard enough to choke itself should be walked on a harness — sustained pressure on the throat does real damage over years, particularly in small breeds. Nylon washes in warm soapy water and air dries. Worth doing after beach walks: salt left in the webbing stiffens it and wears the fibres. Dog Collars, Leashes & Harnesses