Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these actually made by hand?
Yep. Each Dog Ear Leather piece is cut, assembled, and personalized by hand in Washington, DC. Which means yours is made for you—not pulled off a shelf and monogrammed on the way out the door.
What kind of leather do you use?
We use genuine, high-quality leather selected for its feel, color, and character. Most of our standard leathers are vegetable-tanned and will soften and develop a patina over time. A few colors are chrome-tanned and will age differently; those colors are clearly marked and noted on the product pages. Specialty leathers have their own personalities, because apparently regular leather wasn't enough for us.
Will my leather look exactly like the photos?
No—and that's part of the point. Leather is a natural material, so color, grain, texture, markings, and other characteristics will vary from hide to hide. We don't consider those differences flaws. We consider them proof that your journal did not begin life as plastic.
What happens to the leather over time?
Leather changes as you use it—that’s part of what makes it good. It will soften, flex more easily, and pick up the little marks of everyday use. Vegetable-tanned colors will also develop a richer patina over time, while chrome-tanned colors tend to keep their original color more consistently.
A well-used cover won’t look brand new forever. It’ll look like yours.
What can I personalize?
Quite a lot. Start with your leather and elastic colors, then add initials, a phrase, or both. From there, you can add pockets, choose contrasting leather for them, add a bookmark or Fetch pen holder, or take things considerably further with custom artwork.
Want your dog on it? We can do that. Something inspired by an inside joke, a favorite place, or a highly specific idea that makes sense only to you? That’s what Drawn Conclusions is for.
Have a slightly unhinged idea we haven’t listed? Ask us. We’ll do our best to figure out how to make it happen. Stanley is extremely pro making ridiculous ideas a reality.
What are The Very Serious Doodle Project™ and Drawn Conclusions?
They're our hand-drawn artwork options. The Very Serious Doodle Project™ turns your animal into a simple, personality-filled drawing, while Drawn Conclusions lets us create artwork from something else meaningful to you.
The Doodle Project started as a slightly silly idea to add a little more fun and personality to a piece of beautiful leather. Hence the very serious name. It stuck.
Because every drawing is done by hand, it won't be a photographic reproduction—and that's exactly the point. It should look like your animal, just doodled.
Can you draw something other than a dog?
Absolutely. Dog Ear may have a dog in the name, but we're equal-opportunity animal people. And Drawn Conclusions can go beyond animals entirely.
Can I request something that isn't listed?
Please do. If you're dreaming up a different color combination, personalization idea, piece of artwork, or other customization, get in touch. We can't promise every idea will work in leather, but we're happy to tell you when it will.
Can I add pockets?
Absolutely. Our pocket options are available across the Pack, sized to fit each journal. Choose just the pockets you’ll actually use or build out the full set, and keep them matching your cover or mix in another leather color for a little contrast.
You can explore all the shapes, configurations, and color options on our Pockets page.
Have a different pocket in mind? Tell us what you’re trying to carry or how you want it to work, and we’ll see what we can make happen.
What notebooks fit the covers?
Each member of the Pack is designed around a standard notebook size:
- The Chihuahua — Passport (145 × 90 mm)
- The Beagle — A6 (148 × 105 mm)
- The Dachshund — Traveler (210 × 110 mm)
- The Labrador — A5 (210 × 145 mm)
- The Great Dane — A4 (297 × 210 mm)
They’re refillable covers, so when you finish a notebook, just swap in a new one. The paper comes and goes. The leather sticks around.
Does a notebook come with my cover?
Not automatically. That way you can use the paper you already love. We also offer compatible notebooks as optional add-ons.
How long will my order take?
Everything is made to order. Please allow 5–10 business days for production, plus shipping. If a material is unavailable, we will contact you about options and timing.
If you have a deadline, please reach out before ordering and we'll let you know what we can realistically do. We don't like disappointing people, and leather is notoriously bad at respecting calendars.
Can I return a personalized order?
Because personalized pieces are made specifically for you, personalized items are final sale. Specialty leather items are also final sale, whether personalized or not. Please double-check spelling, initials, dates, and other submitted personalization before placing your order.
If we made a mistake or something arrives damaged, that's different. Contact us and we'll make it right.
What about non-personalized items?
Non-personalized pieces made with our standard leathers may be returned within 30 days of delivery, provided they're unused and in their original condition. Return shipping is the customer's responsibility.
Please contact us before sending anything back so we know it's coming.
Do you offer custom or bulk orders?
Absolutely. We make custom and bulk orders for client gifts, teams, conferences, weddings, events, celebrations, and pretty much any occasion that calls for a whole pack of something special.
Orders can all match or be personalized person by person, with options for leather and elastic colors, initials, phrases, logos, custom artwork, pockets, accessories, and gift-ready extras.
Our minimum is 10 pieces, with volume pricing based on quantity and customization.
Planning something we didn’t mention? Ask us. We like an interesting project.
Where is Dog Ear Leather made?
Right here in Washington, DC. Dog Ear Leather is woman-owned, DC-based, and made by hand—with love and occasional dog hair.
Still have questions? Or a slightly ridiculous idea?
We’d love to hear it. Send us a note and we’ll see what we can make happen.