Our story
Germany · Est. 2008
After saying goodbye to my very first dog, Dicke Nase, leash laws were spreading across more and more of our walking grounds. With Cara at my side, I went from “I’ve never needed a leash” to a collar-and-leash person — and slowly made peace with the idea.
The trouble was: back in 2008, there was almost nothing beautiful or individual to buy. But I’m a trained pattern cutter and stylist, so I can dream things up — and actually make them. One day a young girl walked past me with her dog on a scrap of old sailing rope, and that was it. The clarity arrived. I developed the ELBstrick right away, and the ELBreep followed three or four weeks later.
And that’s how Elbband was born. In the beginning I designed only for Cara — she was always my model.
Since 2008
Made by one pair of hands
I still make everything myself — running between the workshop and the office. Every piece is cut, made, stitched and wrapped by hand, one at a time.
So the piece that arrives at your door wasn’t pulled off a shelf. It was made — by me — for your dog.
Shop the collectionThe reason behind the rope
Three Spanish Water Dogs — Cara and Esmeralda rescued from Málaga, and Mathilda from a caring hobby breeder. They are the heart of Elbband — never forget: Cara is the reason Elbband exists at all.
My first Elbgirl, and the reason there is an Elbband at all. Calm, proud and quietly self-assured, she carried herself through life with the deepest amber eyes and a will of her own. Happy at work, in the water, nose to the ground — never stubborn, never bothered. Forever the cinnamon eminence.
Perro de Agua Español · Málaga rescue
≈ 24 May 2005 – 18 June 2022
My shy, slender soul who found her place as second Elbgirl in no time. She walked the world tucked close behind my knee, always sweet, always near. Her quietest, most peaceful years were the last ones — and those final months together were wonderful. Fly, my Essi.
Perro de Agua Español · Málaga rescue
≈ 1 June 2010 – 10 December 2024
The next generation after the Cara era — and what a dog. Not a rescue but planned for, she came to us from a caring hobby breeder. Wonderfully social, always in good spirits, fully focused at work and easy as can be otherwise. A trained mantrailer, dummy worker and board-game queen, and a serious swimmer with sandy paws.
Perro de Agua Español · from a hobby breeder
Born 12 December 2018
Read the full, unabridged story of Nico & the Elbgirls (in German) at elbband.de
“Made by hand, for the dogs who made me.”— Nico, Frau Elbband