Welcome! This community is here to help you learn how to make your first paracord dog collar. Here are your next steps 👇 1. Start the free course by heading to the Classroom. 2. Download the Skool app and turn on notifications so you don't miss anything! 3. Join the weekly Q&A calls on Tuesday's at 9:30am EST. Details listed under Calendar. 4. Introduce yourself! Name, where you're from, and what your goal is. 5. Stay active: ask questions, help others, share wins, make friends, and have fun! Plus, I'd love to see your dog. 🐶 Cheers to you! Ashley PS: What’s your goal for the next 30 days?

One of the biggest differences between beginner collars and professional-looking collars is consistent knot tension. When tension is uneven, you’ll notice: • Twisting in the weave • Gaps between knots • Uneven collar width A helpful trick: After every few knots, gently tighten the entire section evenly instead of only tightening the most recent knot. This keeps the structure balanced and prevents distortion. Over time your hands naturally develop a rhythm. And, if you're getting a weird twisting as you weave, it could be that you've missed a step or two in the knotting sequence. Take your time, especially as you're learning. Even for someone like myself who has braided hundreds of collars, I still miss a step at times and have to unbraid a few knots to fix things! ~Ashley

I’m excited to share that DIY Dog Collar Kits are now available! These kits were created specifically for students in this community who want an easier way to start building collars without the hassle of sourcing supplies. Each kit includes the materials needed for any tutorial you learn here, with cord lengths already figured out and hardware selected so everything works together. No guesswork. No ordering from multiple suppliers. Just open the kit and start creating. You can learn more about the kits, color collections, bundle options, and how the hardware works inside the Dog Collar Kits section in the classroom. ➡️ Head to the classroom to check it out. Ready to get your kit? 👉 Explore the DIY Dog Collar Kits here. If you have any questions about the kits, colors, or bundle options, feel free to ask below. ~Ashley

One thing I want everyone in this community to remember: Every skilled maker you see today started out making imperfect things. The first time you try a new skill — whether it's tying knots, measuring cord, or finishing a collar — it can feel slow and a little awkward. 🥴 That’s completely normal. Your brain is literally learning a new physical skill. Researchers who study skill development call this procedural learning, which is how we build muscle memory for things like playing instruments, typing, or tying knots. The interesting part is that once your brain begins forming those neural pathways, improvement can happen surprisingly quickly with repetition. What that means for makers is simple: → Your first collar might feel slow. → Your third collar will feel easier. → Your fifth collar will likely look dramatically better. Skill compounds. And honestly, that’s one of the most satisfying parts of learning a craft — you can see your progress. One day you’ll look back at your first collar and think: "Wow… I’ve come a long way." And that moment is pretty awesome. ✨ ❓What’s one skill you’re hoping to improve as you start making collars? Drop me a note in the comments. • Knot tension • Speed • Finishing cleanly • Color design • Something else? ~Ashley P.S. Here's some pictures a student of mine sent me a while back, with her first attempt at a Snake Belly collar vs. her second attempt. She sent me a picture while she was constructing the first one so I could give her feedback, and I immediately saw what she was doing wrong. Her second attempt came out much better! And here's a picture of her dog, Han, with another collar she eventually made. Her progress is coming along really well! 🤩

I’m curious where everyone is starting from. Vote in the poll below with which one sounds most like you. Bonus question: What kind of dog would your first collar be for? 🐕 I’ll go first — mine was for my doodle Ziggy 🐶 , who of course thinks every collar should be slightly bougie. Ashley