Cow vs. Bison Leather: What Are The Differences

You’re shopping through the pet store, looking for the perfect dog collar for your special member of the family when you come across several fetching leather options. Upon further examination, you see two different kinds of leather, cow and bison. Leather is a great choice for a dog collar because it typically wears well with little care. Leather collars also maintain an elegant look and feel much longer than a dog collar made of nylon or some other synthetic material. Bison Dog collars are increasing in popularity. Therefore, the pet owner’s curiosity about the differences between cow and bison leather are increasing as well.

Quality Leather Dog Collars

The best quality leather dog collars will typically be made with either bison or cow leather. These leathers have been handcrafted by artisans using age-old techniques to tan, stretch, buff and snuff the leather into several quality leather ratings. Bison dog collars and those made of cow leather share many similarities, such as overall strength, wear-and-tear, and quality rating. This makes them an ideal choice when choosing a quality product.

Be Sure It’s North American Bison Leather

Bison leather is different than buffalo leather. If you’re looking for buffalo leather, you will be shopping for leather made from the Asian Water Buffalo or the African Cape Buffalo, most likely. Bison leather, however, refers to the North American Bison only. A bison dog collar should have a tag that says made in the USA.  

How The Leathers Are Processed

Cow leather is oftentimes processed in a more modern and commercialized way, using chemicals during the tanning process. Conversely, bison leather is usually processed with more natural, old-school techniques that involve organic based compounds.

Stretching Of The Leathers

In addition to a more natural tanning process, bison leather isn’t stretched like cow leather. Bison leather has a more textured, rustic quality to the grain pattern– a quality that makes it coveted. Stretching the leather would diminish this quality. For this reason, bison leather is often thicker and stronger than a cow leather collar of the same quality.

What About Price

Even though bison are larger than cows by about 600 pounds on average, the bison hide is typically smaller in area. This is due to the fact that the bison hide isn’t stretched as much or in the same way as a cow hide. In general, bison leather is therefore more expensive than cow leather.

What Quality Of Leather Is Best

If you’re shopping for a quality leather dog collar, full grain leather is the highest quality, offering the most strength and texture. Full-grain quality leather has been minimally processed, which allows it to maintain both its strength and character. Top-grain leather is also durable, strong, and the most common type of leather. Top-grain leather still maintains strength, though the very top layer has been smoothed away. This type of leather is not as pricey as full-grain leather.

Which Dog Collar Should I Choose

This boils down to a question of aesthetic, preference, and price. Because bison leather is coveted for the rustic grain pattern, it’s naturally more expensive. Bison dog collars are typically stronger, and with a little maintenance, will last a very long time. However, if you prefer a cleaner, smoother look or are hoping to save some money, a quality cow leather dog collar will be a great investment. The bottom line: quality leather dog collars are an excellent investment, as they wear well and maintain an elegant look for many years. Furthermore, spending a few extra dollars for a nice bison dog collar could last you through the lifetime of your pet.