The paper aims to illustrate the relevant use of infrared thermography as a nondestructive, noncontact and real time technique (a) to observe the progressive damage processes and mechanisms of leather failure, and (b) to detect the occurrence of intrinsic dissipation localization. The parameter, investigated in this paper, is the heat generation due to intrinsic dissipation caused by anelasticity and/or inelasticity of leather. Thanks to the thermomechanical coupling, this useful technique offers the possibility of scanning processes of leather mechanical degradation before reaching the ultimate strength. It allows a measure of the limit of a progressive damaging process under load beyond which leather is destroyed.