Sociologists report that 41% of Russian residents own dogs. Among other pets, only cats are ahead in number of “man’s best friends.” This is not surprising; after all, a dog is an animal that requires a person to invest much more time and money than other representatives of the tailed animals. The average Bobik living in a city apartment definitely needs at least one set of collar and leash. Unfortunately, prices for ammunition are rising every year. But experienced dog lovers know perfectly well how to save money and provide their pet with a set of accessories for any occasion. This article reveals their secrets on how to make a leash with your own hands from available materials.
Roulette leash
Thanks to the internal mechanism, it twists and unwinds without sagging or dragging on the ground. A roulette leash for dogs can be convenient as a walking option for owners of small and medium breeds. Not recommended for strong animals, as the roulette mechanism cannot withstand sudden jerks. Such a leash can be tape or cable, but it is worth remembering that any roulette leash for dogs teaches the animal to pull. Unfortunately, this is the only model, the manufacture of which at home is almost impossible without specialized materials.
Belt dog collar
Making a collar from a belt is somewhat more difficult: it will require special tools and skills in working with leather.
Step-by-step production looks like this:
The production of a leather collar is shown in detail in the video:
How to make a pinwheel on a dog collar
A pinwheel or swivel is a metal product for attaching to a leash collar. They are usually used for large breeds, in particular those on a chain.
A self-made swivel for a dog on a chain is shown in the photo
It is difficult to make a pinwheel for a collar; it is better to buy them in a store. A small pet will not break the mount. But since a large dog can damage the swivel when jerking, sometimes it is better to weld the product yourself.
For this you will need:
- bolt;
- nut with sawn thread;
- wire.
You can use other available materials. But they all must be strong, and the turntable must not open or break when jerked.
DIY dog collars can be sewn, woven, or made from an old belt. And if you show a little imagination, your pet will sport a beautiful accessory that doesn’t look like standard equipment.
Today, a dog leash is an essential accessory for any pet. Every person walking with their pet uses this link to control their dog. Now you can find out what leashes for dogs exist, how to properly train your pet and how to make an accessory with your own hands.
Material selection
Since you need to make a leash that is strong and reliable, you also need to take care of the right choice of materials. Many modern models are made of nylon sling. This is not the best choice, since such material is often excessively slippery and hard, and its edges are sharp. When tugging, a nylon leash will definitely burn your hand.
Tarpaulin is distinguished by naturalness and increased strength. You can sew a fairly heavy carabiner onto it, and the dense fabric material will not sag under its weight. There are two downsides to tarpaulin - just like nylon, it slips and burns your hands, sometimes to the point of blood, and besides this, its appearance is far from beautiful and graceful.
Soft leather, especially calfskin, the so-called “fat” leather, is an excellent material for leashes. The most expensive and comfortable models are made from it. The leather does not slip and does not cut your hands if it is soft. This material is beautiful, light and comfortable. The only drawback is its ability to tan after interacting with water. But this can also be avoided by purchasing soft, expensive leather. Unfortunately, these tips are of little use for making them yourself, since making a leash from leather materials at home is quite problematic.
The right option for DIY sewing would be a synthetic sling without a hard edge, trimmed with a softer, possibly colored or reflective cotton braid.
DIY dog leash in 5 minutes - master class
Olga Khatkevich |
07/17/2015 | 16502 Olga Khatkevich 07/17/2015 16502
One day I went to the market to buy a dog leash, but when I saw the prices, I thought that I could easily build this product with my own hands. After all, everything you need is sold separately in any more or less large hardware store. And it will cost nothing.
My dog is a young hunter, so he loves to chew and dig everything. The first time my husband took his dog for a walk, he only had to stop at the grocery store for 5 minutes. The dog remained tied outside. Having made his purchases, the faithful went out into the street and saw a chewed leash and a happy dog sitting next to him.
Salary was still a long way off, money was running short, but a new leash for the pet was still needed. Therefore, taking into account market prices, my husband and I decided to build it ourselves. There is nothing complicated about this, the whole job takes 5 minutes, and the cost of raw materials is minimal.
Necessary materials
To get started, go to a large hardware store. In the construction or sewing accessories department, look for durable belt tape, metal carabiners and rings. The width of the tape depends on the weight of your dog. The heavier the pet, the thicker the leash for it should be. Thin leashes are used for miniature lap dogs.
The tape material can be anything: synthetic, tarpaulin or linen. I chose the most budget option - synthetic material.
The edge of such a tape must be processed. The easiest way to do this is with a lighter.
The length of the leash can be adjusted by yourself at the sewing stage. Surely this is not the first day the dog has been in your home, so you already know at what distance from each other you are comfortable walking with the animal. To the required length of the leash, add the approximate length for the hand loop and 4 cm for the bend for the carabiner.
I bought a piece of tape 2.5 m long. It was just enough for 1 leash. Swivel carabiners, which are often used as accessories for bags, were not on sale, and it’s a shame - for a leash this is the best option. I had to make do with a regular ring and a metal ring to boot. Make sure that this part is strong and without a seam, otherwise it may fail you at the most unfortunate moment if it unravels or breaks in half.
You will also need strong scissors, a lighter, thread and needle, and a thimble or sewing machine.
Sew a leash
Since the tape for the leash was synthetic, we had to trim its edges with a lighter to prevent it from fraying. Light a small fire and run it along the edges that the scissors touched when separating the piece of fabric from the bobbin.
The accessories must be secured very well so that the dog does not break the homemade leash with one sharp movement
Thread the end of the ribbon through the ring and secure it with a needle and thread to create a small loop. Bend the other end of the tape so that you get a larger loop that will fit around your hand. Its size depends solely on the size of your palm. The hand should fit freely into this loop, without rubbing or restricting your movements. Secure the end of the leash with a needle and thread. To make the seam stronger, sew the attached loops of the leash on a sewing machine. You can use any thread, but synthetic ones are more suitable. As a rule, they are stronger than cotton ones.
Open the carabiner and place it on the metal ring. The leash is ready!
This is what a homemade dog leash looks like
HouseDo it yourself
Let's start with the classics
Now we will look at how to sew a classic leash.
For the one and a half meter version you will need:
- nylon or canvas tape two or two and a half centimeters wide and 180 centimeters long;
- durable carabiner with latch;
- for design, jacquard ribbon, approximately three meters;
- sewing machine;
- a thread;
- scissors.
We take the carabiner and insert the end of the tape three centimeters into the eyelet, wrap it inside. It turns out to be a hem of three layers; it must be sewn around the perimeter using a sewing machine, and then crosswise. In any case, we perform securing seams.
From the second end of the ribbon we sew a handle. To do this, wrap the tape around your hand and add three or four centimeters for comfort. Now we sew the ribbon with a hem, and you will get a loop.
Take the jacquard ribbon, fold it in the middle and cut it. We apply both parts of the ribbon to the base of the leash, while closing the seam next to the carabiner and loop. We fasten the ribbon with pins, then sew it on a machine. There you have it, a nice classic leash.
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Sewing instructions
Do-it-yourself harness for a cat - the pattern is made in the same way as for a dog. To get a cat or dog accessory, you need to follow these steps:
- Initially, you need to take measurements using the method described above. After this, you will have to make a pattern, taking into account the seam allowances. If nylon is used for sewing, then the allowance will be 2 cm. If leather is used, it is necessary to leave approximately 5 mm for the seams.
- The pattern must be placed on the selected lining material and the lining must be carefully cut out. You need to make a stitch along the inside of the future harness.
- Having attached the pattern, the product must be opened around the entire perimeter and a soft braid must be sewn on. On the straps you will also have to make stitches on the outside.
- Next you need to assemble the product. Steel rings should be attached to the back. In order to make an adjustable leash, you will have to attach the rings to the straps.
- The next step is choosing the decor of the product. For small puppies, you can use bright stickers, bows, multi-colored pebbles, and beads.
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Correct tailoring of the product
If you wish, you can learn how to make a pattern for a bed for a cat or dog.
Video “Choosing a reason for a pet”
In the following video you will learn about the pros and cons of different types of leashes.
Sorry, there are no surveys available at this time.
Pet stores sell a variety of equipment for four-legged pets. But you can make a dog collar with your own hands. A homemade accessory will turn out to be original and will cost several times less than a purchased one.
When making your own collar, you need to take into account three parameters: length, width and strength.
The length is measured using a measuring tape along the pet's neck or using an old collar. Additionally, a few centimeters are added for seams and fastenings.
The width depends on the thickness of the neck and accessories: rings, latches, rivets.
The standard size for large dogs is 2.5 cm. For a puppy and small breeds (Chihuahua, Toy Terrier) - half as much. The width of the fastenings should be the same.
The material is selected based on the owner’s taste and needs. The most durable and wear-resistant accessory is made of nylon, leather and textile sling. It is universal; any leash can be attached to it, including a show leash.
A noose collar is best made from a braided cord, and a collar across the body (harness) is made from textiles.
To make an original dog collar, use beautiful accessories: beads, beads, metal rivets, ribbons.
Leash Training Guide
Before you go for a walk with your animal, you need to know how to train your puppy to use a leash. And no matter whether it is a leather double dog leash or a chain, training must be done properly. For example, before putting on an accessory, you need to teach your pet the “Near” command. Moreover, this command is quite simple and the dog can learn it in a few lessons.
Team "Nearby"
If you want your pet to know the “Near” command, training should begin as early as two to three months. Experts recommend teaching the dog the “Next” command so that it walks to the left of the owner.
- Start walking in a small circle, enticing your pet by constantly repeating the word “Near.” For example, you can walk with a treat in your hand.
- The treat should always be held in your hand, but not offered to the dog.
- You need to stop walking and wait until the dog, having heard the command “near”, comes up and stands to your left.
- Now you can give the dog a treat.
- So you need to walk in a circle until the animal develops a reflex. You can walk for a long time, the main thing is that the dog walks with you not on the command “Next”, but reflexively.
How to stop pulling?
How to teach a dog not to pull on a leash? This question is relevant for many breeders, since the bad habit manifests itself in most puppies. It is quite possible to wean a pet of any breed at home, but it will be more difficult than getting it to move next to you. If the dog learns the “Nearby” command faster, then you will have to tinker a little with weaning (the author of the video is D DSov).
For this purpose, you will need to choose a deserted wasteland. Keep in mind that when training you will need to quickly change the direction of your movement. To wean the animal, you will need to put a leash three to five meters long on it.
So, in order to wean animals of small or large breeds from a bad habit, you need to put on the accessory and perform the following steps:
- When the dog begins to pull the owner, the person should calmly call his pet by name and gently tug the leash.
- After these actions, immediately change the course of movement, turn in the other direction, and it is important to slow down the pace a little.
- To wean your dog from a bad habit, you need to ensure that he always follows you.
It is unlikely that it will be possible to smoothly pull a dog when it pulls, especially if we are talking about a large dog; a jerk in this regard works better.
Idea for small dogs
You can also sew a harness for small dogs, for example, a pug. This type of harness is perfect for a Yorkie. An example of sewing can be seen in the next master class.
To work you will need a piece of fabric, faux suede and Velcro.
Harness pattern with allowances already included. The front side is shown in a darker color.
Fold the harness in half and cut a blank from regular fabric and suede. There should be Velcro in the places where the rectangles are located.
Now you need to decorate the edges. We cut out a strip, the width corresponds to the diameter of the ring for the leash.
Fold towards the middle.
We cut out a strip of adhesive material of exactly the same size.
We stretch the strip through two rings.
We place the strip in the middle and iron it with an iron.
Use finishing tape to trim the edges. We sew a strip and select the area where the rings are located.
Sew the Velcro together by hand.
According to statistics, forty-one percent of residents in our country have a dog. Among domestic animals, only cats exceed this percentage. And this is normal, because a dog requires more effort, time and finances from its owners, unlike other pets. An ordinary dog definitely needs a set consisting of a collar and a leash. It is very sad that even for such a small part of the necessary equipment the price increases every year. But you can save a little and still have several sets of this equipment for any occasion. Now we will look at how to create a dog leash with your own hands.
What is a harness and why is it needed?
For dogs of large and service breeds, a harness is the trainer’s best assistant; you cannot do without it at dog competitions. If you have a pet of a decorative breed (Yorkie), the harness will make the walk comfortable for all participants in this pleasant process. You can make it yourself using durable materials: leather and braid. Harness for domestic dogs must be equipped with a carabiner and buckle. It is important that the device does not have a lot of weight.
Purpose
Note! The pet should not always be in a walking harness. When the dog moves, it has a different center of gravity than when walking with a collar. Therefore, when you have to walk without equipment, the animal does not like it.
In order to choose the right material, you need to decide for what purpose it is selected. For example, it is best to use nylon and cotton to hold a leash while walking. Leather is not a good choice in this case, since it needs to be used in dry weather, and when exposed to moisture it quickly loses its shape. If we talk about the classics, the simplest model consists of two leashes sewn together, fixed at four points.
For small breeds, the harness also has a handle to make it easy to lift your pet. For puppies, equipment should be soft and durable. For those who are preparing a dog for an exhibition, the harness is decorated and decorated with rhinestones and other accessories. For small indoor dogs, holding leashes make them not only convenient, but also beautiful.
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How to choose an accessory for an animal
Choosing a good harness for your pet is not easy. Arriving at a pet store, your eyes widen at the large assortment of products. If you don’t know how to choose a harness for a dog, you should follow these tips:
- the best materials for the accessory are cotton and nylon;
- You need to adjust the size using straps;
- The shape of the harness should resemble the letter H or the number 8.
- the gasket must be felt;
- the width of the straps should not be more than one and a half centimeters;
- The fastener should be light and the fastenings comfortable.
You can now see the current price of dog harnesses and buy them right here:
Before purchasing, it is recommended to try on the animal’s “outfit” for walking to understand whether it is suitable for him or not. The optimal size is considered if two fingers of a person fit freely between the back and the harness. Along with such an accessory, you need to immediately buy a leash. Recommended length is 2 meters. The best models can be called roulettes, due to which you can quickly “pull” the dog towards you and protect passers-by from it.
In the pet store you will be able to find different versions of harnesses, with excellent functions and lighting. The most budget option is a universal harness with a leash, made of thin belts. Most often, such models are produced by Chinese manufacturers. But they are not suitable for many animals, since a large dog can jump out and tear it. An alternative to such a device can be called a jumpsuit for an animal, which many pets quickly get used to.
Types of devices
All harnesses are divided into several types depending on their purpose:
- A dog harness for every day (walking) is made of durable and long-lasting materials, usually leather or nylon.
- Medical harnesses and vests. Designed for walking with an injured pet, such models cover most of the animal's body, the mount is located near the hind legs, and helps your pet move with support on the front limbs.
- Harnesses for large breeds. More recently, it was believed that walking in harnesses was only available for small dogs. But today manufacturers have presented products for large four-legged animals, such as:,,, etc. Such models have a special design that does not allow the pet to pull on the leash; such walking becomes more convenient not only for the animal, but also for its owner.
- Harnesses for small dogs. On the harness market, most models are presented specifically for small-sized pets (,). They have different designs, materials, colors, and most importantly, they provide comfort for the dog while in it.
- Harness for puppies. A puppy should be accustomed to this type of dog equipment only 6-9 months after birth, because... At this time, the dog’s skeleton is formed and the muscles are strengthened. And putting on a harness at the wrong time can harm the puppy’s health.
- Accessories for dog shows and exhibitions. The purpose of such models is to emphasize the external advantages of the four-legged “star”, due to the beautiful finish and bright fittings.
- Products for sled dogs. This type is intended exclusively for sledding activities using dogs such as, and ,
therefore they are made of durable material and have a special design. Sled dog breeds can save a person in snowy conditions after an avalanche or serve as transport in snowy areas. Therefore, harnesses for them should be as comfortable and durable as possible. - Harnesses with weights (cargo). They are needed to keep the dog in good physical shape, as well as to prepare the four-legged dog for competitions. Can be used in two versions. The dog pulls a weight attached to the harness, or weights of different weights are placed in special pockets, and the pet trains with them.
- Accessories in the form of a vest. Intended for animals with short fur, and serves as insulation for them. Typically, such vests are worn on small dogs.
Important!
Do not put a harness on a large dog or one with an aggressive character, for example, they include etc. the animal may feel at ease and cause harm to others. Always wear a muzzle when walking.
These products come in a variety of colors and sizes.
