Sighthounds - Greyhounds, Lurchers, Whippets, Italian Greyhounds

We have many Greyhound, Lurcher and Italian Greyhound clients at Holly&Lil. They are members of the Sighthound family and primarily hunt by eyesight, as opposed to other canines, which use scent.  Greyhounds have the ability to see distances up to ½ mile away.  Most are sensitive, sweet and elegant, brave and loyal. They are often very intelligent, but its character is often undervalued because of its reserved behavior toward its master and toward strangers. Though they do bond very strongly with their own "pack" members. Indoors, these dogs are calm and sociable to a point where they can even be considered lazy.

Our Cowhide and Calf collars are a great choice for any sighthound. Hand made in fabulously waterproof ‘hair on’ cowskin and supple calf leather, they are strong, yet kind to neck fur and delicate necks. Hand in hand with their everyday hardiness goes their wonderful colourways..

Like all our hound collars you can chose whatever dimensions you would prefer as they are made in our own workshops in England, we offer a bespoke service allowing you to have any colourway made in any size or width.. From the small but delicate 5/8" full buckle, to 3/4" or 1". And the width is completely up to you - the most exciting collar we have made so far was 5/8" to 3" Pirate collar for a lady in the USA. Italian greyhounds suit a 1/2" half buckle wideing to 1.5".

Hounds also look fantastic in our Safari Print Cowskins.

Sighthounds being such superb "hunters" and a total joy to watch them running full pelt in the fields or parks - their own fabulous version of a Safari. And our cowskins are very much everyday collars. Being made of Italian calf leather, the colours stay true and the leather stays supple. Our own dogs swim and mud wallow in theirs all the time.
Harris Tweeds and Scottish tartans are another personal favourite of ours for all the sighthounds. The essentially ‘country’ feel of these wonderful hardwearing fabrics really suits them. . We can also make you collars and leads in your own clan or family tartans or Estate tweeds. Please ask us for further details.
They also look adorable in the classic structured elegance of the Manhattan Stripes and the stylish humour of the Pirate range.

      

Our cowskins, tweeds, tartans, denims and calf designs are very much everyday collars. Being made of Italian calf leather, the colours stay true and the leather stays supple. Our own dogs swim and mud wallow in theirs all the time. The New Fly the Flags range is made for your sighthounds as well and Italian greyhounds look super sweet with an Italian Flag collar.

   

A couple of years ago, a customer came to our stand at Crufts. Some months before, she had bought a Holly&Lil red cowskin collar for her husband’s working collie and paniced as she left the Hall, thinking “What have I done buying (what looks like) a fashion collar for the dog?” Her husband laughed when he saw it, but once it had been on the dog for a while he asked her to come and find us at Crufts… to thank us for the great collar….and buy the matching lead!

Moving away (only) slightly from the absolutely practical, our adorable Beau Belles collection looks heavenly on Sighthounds. Our only caution though is that if your dog does does run madly andenjoys a tussle withouther dogs, then Bows should be kept for slightly more sedate outings. We have several great colourways, but you can create your own to special order.

And the Brocades suit their natural elegance perfectly

Holly&Lil have made several Decorated Collars for special occasions for greyhounds - Pictures coming soon.

You will have to see our size guide to get your hounds size correct as they can vary so much. Italian Greyhounds are usually a size 1 - whippets 2 or 3 and greyhounds and lurchers anywhere from size 4 to size 6. But follow the instructions online and use their existing collar and you should be fine. The favourite hole is the most crucial measurement for the perfect fit.