Illuminate a Dog Collar with LEDs

Use a craft knife to cut a small hole in the webbing between the D ring and the female side of the buckle on the pet collar. Feed the leads of the tactile switch through the hole so the wires emerge on the inside of the collar.

Using a hot-glue gun, glue the base of the tactile switch to the outside of the collar, over the hole you just made, as shown. Then, using super glue, secure the webbing around any cut edges, both inside the collar and out, to keep them from fraying.

On the outside of the collar, use the hot-glue gun to attach the battery holder on the other side of the D ring from the tactile switch, as shown. Make sure the positive (+) end of the battery holder is facing the buckle and switch.

Put the collar on your pet and adjust the length to fit. Remove the collar, and on the outside, use pencil or chalk to mark the places where you want LEDs. (If your pooch is still growing, be sure to add some space so the LEDs will look good even if you have to adjust the collar!) To space the LEDs evenly, start from the center of the collar and use a ruler to measure exactly.

When placements are marked, set the collar down flat in front of you with the D ring to the right. Use tweezers to pick up the tiny LED sequins, and use a small dot of super glue to set each one in place. To make sure all the LEDs complete the circuit and are oriented in the same way, glue each so its negative (–) end points toward the top edge of the collar.

On the tactile switch, use wire strippers to trim the two leads sticking through on the inside of the collar to about 1″ long. Then, strip the plastic off the ends of the leads, exposing about half an inch of the wire inside. If you need, use pliers to help hold everything steady; if the wires separate once exposed, just twist them back together again. When you’re done, use the hot-glue gun to secure the base of the wires to the collar, leaving the exposed wire ends free.

Use a needle with conductive thread to sew down the free end of one of the wires you just stripped (it doesn’t matter which one you choose; tactile switches have no polarity). Sew around the wire as many times as necessary till it’s completely covered. Then push the needle through to the outside of the collar and sew through the sewing hole on the positive (+) side on your battery holder. Knot the thread and cut it

Using a needle and conductive thread, sew through the sewing hole on the negative (–) side of the battery holder (unlike tactile switches, battery holders do have polarity!), and then sew along the surface of the webbing to the negative (–) hole in the first LED. You don’t need to push the needle through the collar—just pick up the top threads of the webbing as you sew.

Continue sewing until the thread has connected all five LEDs on the negative (–) sides only. Make sure not to cut the thread in between them! And remember, the super glue holds the LEDs in place; the thread just connects them to the circuit. When finished, knot and cut the thread.

Using a needle and conductive thread, and starting with the LED where you just ended, sew the LED’s positive (+) side, and keep sewing to connect the positive (+) ends of all five LEDs.

When the positive (+) sides of all five LEDs are sewn together, and without cutting the thread, push the needle through to the other side of the collar and sew the conductive thread to the second, unattached wire lead of the tactile switch. As in step 7, sew around the wire as many times as necessary to completely cover it with thread, then knot and cut the thread.