Review and Giveaway: Snappy collars and leads from Buckle-Down!

Fasten your seat belts and get ready for a product review and giveaway that'll give you a new leash on life. If you're tired of the same old collars and leads, Buckle-Down, the maker of unique products made with recycled and refurbished seatbelt buckles, has just the thing for you.

There's nothing like a new collar and lead in a happy pattern to motivate a dog walk. And now Buckle-Down has released a whole trunk load of unique designs to please the most demanding pup. Each collar has a mini version of Buckle-Down's signature seatbelt  buckle and has a matching lead to suit your and your dog's personal style and taste! Be sure to read to the end for a chance to win your very own Buckle-Down collar and lead in the style of your choice!

I chose the Mom and Dad CU pattern -- featured on Cosmo above  -- for its happy, joyful pattern and splashes of Honeysuckle, the Pantone Color of the Year. I figured just a smidge of reddish pink would complement Cosmo's black and white splendor and provide just the right infusion of color.  But when it arrived, the collar and lead seemed just a little too big -- and admittedly a bit too girly for a stud like Cosmo ... it didn't look quite so PINK on the website.  So I had the perfect solution. It was time to do a test drive with...

The Girls Next Door...

The whimsical pattern of hearts, cherries and a field of flowers looks smashing on Truffles and she wears the ensemble with pride!

Next, Snuggles wants her turn at dress up and the bold but sweet graphics are the perfect fit for her coloring and figure type as well!

The product details

Collars: Made with a miniature seatbelt buckle which releases with the push of a button and a welded steel D ring for leash attachment. At one-inch wide, these collars are a bit too wide for Cosmo, but perfect for a medium or large sized dog. The collars in the same bold, graphic patterns are available in a 1/2 inch size with a regular plastic buckle collar -- perfect for smaller dogs.

Leashes: Approximately 4 feet long by 1 inch wide, leashes also come in 1/2-inch size for smaller dogs. The four-foot lead was one detail that appealed to me as this length is often hard to find and it is my preferred lead-length for city walking and keeping your dog safely close by.

Graphics: Bold and unique, I prefer the more "peace-ful" styles and there are a few from which to choose. Try Born to Blossom, Peace Flowers, Love Love Pink or Mom and Dad CU. For the edgier dog, Trust No One features skulls and crossbones and Death or Glory adds shooting flames. Collars and leads are available in some licensed automotive themes as well.

Price: All collars and leads are made in the USA and retail for approximately $20 - $30.

Where to buy: PETCO stores and specialty stores across the country. More information at www.buckle-down.com or at Buckle-Down's Facebook page.

A chance to take your own test drive:
To win your very own Buckle-Down collar and lead, simply leave a comment on this post stating which style you choose and why. Check out the Buckle-Down website for all the styles. Post your comment before 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 17 and be sure to leave your email address. Winner will be picked using random.org and posted here on Saturday, March 19.

Disclaimer: Buckle-Down provided the collar and leash to us at no charge for review. The opinions expressed on this blog are my own.

Now, park your comment below and let's go to the hop!