Dogs, every day it is the same old routine. We adjust our collars, attach our leashes, and take our humans out for a walk. However, did you ever stop to think about who took the lead on using leashes and collars on dogs? Well just like the role of dogs evolved, so did our collars and leashes!
As we discussed in an earlier post, the oldest depiction of dogs using leashes was found in rock art in Shuwaymis, in Saudia Arabia. It showed a hunter with two dogs attached with a line to his waist. Now some theorize that the dogs were attached to his waist to free the hunter’s hands to use his bow and arrow. While others speculate that the line may only be symbolic. What we do know is approximately 8,000 years ago dogs recognized the need to keep their humans close!
Some historians credit the ancient Mesopotamians with the earliest evidence of using a leash and collar. After studying the ancient art from that region, they believe the Mesopotamians used a simple rope around the dog’s neck, similar to a slip-lead used today. It eventually evolved into using a collar made of cloth or leather, that they would attach to a cord or long stick for added control. Over time the collars became more ornate, and were a status symbol for the elite. The Sumerian goddess, Inanna, was often depicted as holding her dogs on leashes attached to thick collars.
There are others who credit the Egyptians for taking the lead on dog collars and leashes. As with the Mesopotamians, the ancient Egyptians also began by using a simple rope slipped around the head. However, over time they took dog collars to a new level by making them highly ornate works of art, with precious metals, semi-precious stones, and beads, depicting intricate scenes and flowers. In fact, it is the Egyptians that we can thank for adding our names to collars. They included names such as Brave One, Reliable, Good Herdsman, North-Wind, Antelope and even one poor pup answered to the name of “Useless!”
It is believed the Greeks were introduced to dog collars through trade with the Egyptians. They took a more utilitarian approach and designed collars for added control with the use of the choke chain. The Greeks also invented the spike collar to protect dogs from predators, including wolves. The Romans favored a utilitarian approach to collars as well, with their use of spike collars for war dogs, and brightly colored ones for racing dogs. However, proof that just like today’s dog owners, who are willing to try anything to stop excessive barking, Pliny the Elder’s dog wore a gold collar in the hopes it would calm the animal! Speaking of protecting the animal, you may not want to wait until the Holidays to have your human put a jingle bell on your collar. The Chinese and Japanese believed that putting bells on dog collars would protect the family from evil spirits. While upperclass Roman women used bells as a status symbol on their beloved dogs.
Europeans first used dogs as work animals. In addition to collars, they used harnesses so that the dogs could pull carts. However, as I explained in last week’s post, overtime dogs’ roles evolved from work to status symbols to family pets. So it stands to reason, so did their collars adapt to reflect the value placed on dogs. Today we wear tags on our collars for identification. However, during the Renaissance period, collars often had padlocks, and humans had to have keys for proof of ownership. By the 18th century, dog collars got a less cumbersome by printing the owner’s name and address directly on the leather collar or metal band. By the Victorian era dog collars included the dog’s name and even witty sayings. It was during this period that dog collars could be made from leather, silver, brass, to even gold! Leashes also followed suit ranging from mere rope, to leather, to chains, to bejeweled!
As for the leash, the design itself changed very little over the centuries. That is until 1908 when the retractable leash was invented. In her patent, Mary A. Delany called it a “leading device,” with a “drum and spring allowing the chain to be paid out in stages.” As she explained, on busy New York sidewalks dog owners were having difficulties preventing their pups from “running on the wrong side of lamp posts or pedestrians, thus causing much annoyance to the owner, who is constantly required to adjust the length of the leash in her hand and frequently the leash is dropped and the dog permitted to run away.” Thus her retractable leash gave the dog the freedom to explore that it wanted, while allowing the humans to have some sort of semblance of control.
Today, collars can range from strictly utilitarian or flashy to reflect your own personal style. While leashes can be made of a variety of materials including leather, nylon, or even hemp. However, dogs can all agree it’s great to have a human tethered to us on the other end, ready to join us on an adventure! If you would like to learn more about the history of dog collars and leashes, we recommend Joshua J. Mark’s “A Brief History of the Dog Collar,” World History Encyclopedia (2020). For more on Mary A. Delaney’s leash, and the problem of dog walking in industrialized New York, we suggest Katy Waldman’s “Follow Her Lead,” Slate (2014).
