Leash Hardware malfunction?

[dianep3a]

I was taking my dog out when I arrived home from work the other night around 10:30. We had been walking around the backyard for a few minutes and the leash was securely attached to his harness. A neighbor came out of his house and Tobey pulled in that direction to investigate. He's a 12 pound Chi mix and the leash is a Lupine that I had up until then felt was very secure. I heard a click and felt Tobey break free of the leash. Luckily I stayed calm, grabbed some treats out of my pocket, called his name and he came to me. I grabbed the harness and attatched the leash back onto his harness. When I got back into the house I could'nt find any actual break in the leash or harness hardware.

Lupine leashes have a hinged "gate" type of clasp I had thought was more secure than my other leashes. Has anyone had this type of problem with a leash hardware twisting in such a way as to disengage? Is one type of clasp more secure than another? Any brand suggestions for leashes that folks feel are more fool proof?

Thanks in advance. I'll be walking him more in the dark now that it's Fall and I'd like to get some better leashes.

Diane

[Herschel]

I think the clasp on the Lupine leashes is better than most, but definitely not infallible. That being said, I'm not sure if the leash mechanism failed. If it did, it would have had to break.

Are you sure the leash was fastened completely? I know it sounds outrageous but I've had experiences where I didn't let it click all the way.

Are you sure that you attached the leash to the right place? Once, I attached Nala's leash to the ring for her tags. As soon as she pulled, the ring bent apart and off she went.

[FoxyWench]

if all hershals suggestions failed attatch something with a strong ring to the leash clip and have one person pull the leash while the other puls on whatevers on the other end. build up pressure and see if it gives, then try a quick tug experiment and see if it gives then...
if not id say it was likely not clipped properly...

if it gives id send it back to lupine and let them replace it as its likely a faulty mechanism.

lupine are wonderfull!

[houndlove]

I've had both scenarios Herschel describes happen to me too. We have a Lupine leash and a couple times it has not fully fastened and I didn't notice and it came off the collar mid-walk (thankfully my dogs are are such creatures of habit they don't notice and keep on walking). Just a couple weeks after we adopted Marlowe we were taking him for a walk and he lunged at something and SNAP! We had attached his leash to the ring for his tags by mistake and it bent and snapped off. In that instance Marlowe most definitely did notice and it was by sheer luck that we managed to capture him again quickly.

[ToscasMom]

I did have that happen once when Tosca was young, but the fastener was too large for the collar ring and it kind of slipped thru in a freak way.

[ToscasMom]

I've had both scenarios Herschel describes happen to me too. We have a Lupine leash and a couple times it has not fully fastened and I didn't notice and it came off the collar mid-walk (thankfully my dogs are are such creatures of habit they don't notice and keep on walking). Just a couple weeks after we adopted Marlowe we were taking him for a walk and he lunged at something and SNAP! We had attached his leash to the ring for his tags by mistake and it bent and snapped off. In that instance Marlowe most definitely did notice and it was by sheer luck that we managed to capture him again quickly.
Yeah I did that once too. Boy it was scarey. Made me get a whole lot more careful of what I hook the leash to right to this day.

[Herschel]

Yeah I did that once too. Boy it was scarey. Made me get a whole lot more careful of what I hook the leash to right to this day.

Seriously! It happened once and I make sure it will never happen again. I'm kind of glad that it happened in a familiar place with familiar people.

[Chewbecca]

Honestly, I've NEVER had a leash pop open on me.
NEVER.
I've had a collar break, that's why I, too, am a collar nazi and only get my collars from one place now
.
When you have a 55 lbs. dog aggressive dog, you CANNOT have equipment failure.

Anyway, get yourself a nice leash, with either a bolt DURABLE and STURDY bolt snap, this is a bolt snap:
http://www.fifthd.com/images/xlgssboltsnap.jpg



Or a swivel spring snap:
http://www.domvet.com/pharmvet/images/446.jpg



Or a leash that is connected with an o-Ring and a quick link:
http://www.pmirope.com/images/products/resize.aspx?img=Steel%20Ring.jpg

locking quick link:
http://www.flagandbanner.com/f-b-images/CROPEQUICKLINK.jpg



I use all of these on leashes with my dog, but I also use a thumb release bullsnap.

Your dog is small enough, though, that I think a decent bolt snap and swivel spring snap would be secure enough for you.

[Xerxes]

Wow, so many options...only one dog...

[ToscasMom]

lol Xerxes you can always become addicted to leashes.

I have a nice quality latigo leather one with quality hardware on it and now I don't worry about those things. I think with leashes, you can get what you pay for sometimes.

[Chewbecca]

I've never had one of the leashes I make break on me or on any one of my customers so far *knocks on wood*.
You do get what you pay for and that is SOOO true nowadays, especially.

[Herschel]

We love our $18 Planet Dog hemp leashes with matching $15 Planet Dog hemp collars (Puppia harness for Herschel). Not very expensive, not too cheap, but extremely reliable.

However, the original poster was using a Lupine leash. They are high quality, especially the hardware.

http://a763.g.akamai.net/7/763/1644/-2/app.infopia.com/img/image/fp/VPID/3882512

[Chewbecca]

I know Lupine is good quality (wouldn't last my dog, but it's GOOD quality).
I missed the "Lupine" part of the person's post.

[ToscasMom]

I have a Paco leather that I like a lot. It was a little stiff at first but it softened nicely.

[Chewbecca]

I wish I could put leather on Ella.
Her neck is SOOO sensitive to it, it has to be made in a special way with double padding and extra soft suede or it gives her sores on her neck.

[ToscasMom]

Chew Tosca is ok with pretty much anything on her neck, she has so much fur. Nothing shows though so I just have a standard leather collar for her and a nylon one. The leash is really for me. lol. I just like the feel of it.

[dianep3a]

Thanks so much for all the replies and suggestions. I've been thinking about getting an Ella's lead for a while now, Chewbecca, didn't notice before that it is your company. I'm sure I'll be doing that soon.

Everyone's responses have made me realize that I must not have fastened the clasp securely that night. I think I learned a valuable lesson -- thankfully without losing or harming my dog. The Lupine will stay in my leash collection, but I'll always be on the look out for others of good quality!

[SizzleDog]

I've only had one leash ever break on me - and that was a leather leash from Petco. The metal shak simply snapped. Luckily I was on 50 acres of land in the middle of nowhere, so Ilsa really didn't have anywhere harmful to go.

Now, my die-hard everyday leashes are leather. The ones I use on a daily basis are agitation leashes, thick leather with very durable snaps. My favorite snap so far is a locking alligator snap:

http://www.ldsleather.com/images/alligator_bronze_snap_518x205.jpg

Unfortunately, it's on one of my weaker leashes (bullhide, from LDS leather) but it will not come undone when locked... pretty neat!

[Sher]

Where do you find these really good quality leashes with the great locking hardware? I have had a the leash come off a couple of times and need something I can "lock" on her collar, but I don't know where to find such a thing. Any store or online site anyone can point me to?

[SizzleDog]

www.ldsleather.com

[Chewbecca]

Where do you find these really good quality leashes with the great locking hardware? I have had a the leash come off a couple of times and need something I can "lock" on her collar, but I don't know where to find such a thing. Any store or online site anyone can point me to?

I sell leashes with locking quick links, but I don't have the locking alligator snaps, yet.
I've been looking for them for cheaper than $4.65 a snap.
I think I'm going to have to cave and buy them for that price.

[ToscasMom]

Nice stuff Sizzle. Looks like my Paco things. I love handmade leather for feel and strength.

[Sher]

Sizzle,
Nice site, but I still didn't see any 'locking' hardward on any of the leads there. Very nice leather stuff, though.....

Chewbecca: Some of your stuff looks very interesting. I'd like to know what a 'panic snap' is exactly.... does it lock? I paid $16 for my 'Aspen' leash and now finding out it is not supposed to be very good. It has a swivel spring snap, which I keep pinching my fingers in for some reason.

[Chewbecca]

A panic snap is
http://www.dfp.com/ProductImages/bondage/panicsnapsmall.jpg


If an owner panics, while dealing with livestock, they can easily release the animal by pulling on that metal piece with the arrow on it.
They're supposed to be really nice, but unfortunately they only come in huge sizes.
I have not used one of those before, but I got them due to a customer request for them.

[Sher]

Chewbecca: What do you mean they are huge? I saw them on dog leashes. They didn't look huge in the picture. Anyway, the leash I saw that really got my attention was the "Ella's Fool-Proof Lead". That is EXACTLY the kind of hardware I am looking for on a leash! Looks like I can order a not too heavy leash with this kind of hardware? Is that right? I can't get the image that I need to open.

[Chewbecca]

This?
http://k.b5z.net/i/u/6112056/i/Ella_s_fool_proof_lead_ezr2.JPG



My issue would be, for your dog, that the panic snaps I can get are WAY too big for a 12 lbs. dog. They'd be weighty and I just know you'd be unhappy with them.


The Ella's fool-proof lead has a locking quick link. That will NOT accidentally open on you, unless you don't twist it into lock correctly.

My only fear with my leashes, other than the spliced leashes I have, is that the hardware might be too heavy for a smaller dog.
The entire leash weighs no more than a pound, but you have to figure, most of that weight is going to come from your hardware.

But, it might be ok for you. It might not weigh down on your dog. I'm not sure.
I know i have a customer with a min pin that has bought a leash with the rope clamps on it, and LOVES the leash. She has not complained of it being weighty.

It all depends on what you're looking for. :)

[Sher]

Yes! That is exactly what I have been looking for..... that indeed looks "fool-proof"..... What ARE spliced leashes, anyway? Are they lighter weight? Can you get that O ring and quick link thingy on them?

On the regular leash with the fool proof hardward, are you saying that entire thing only weighs less than a lb? Might not be too bad for my dog. She is really strong and I am having trouble with her pulling.... maybe a littlle weight would make her think she has a job....:lol-sign:

As for the 'panic snap'... I was just curious about what it did. I don't need something that she can get OUT of quick, I need something she CAN'T get out of...unless I undo it....

Thanks so much for your help. I REALLY appreciate it....:)

[Chewbecca]

The entire leash weighs about a pound.

I think your dog would be fine in it, but I just wanted to let you know that the hardware is there and it's heavier than your regular leads, or it can be.

I made some leashes for a lady who has Mals and she does protection work with her mals. She also runs with them. She wanted us to make a police lead for her, so we did. She LOVED the extra weight of them because she said that sometimes when she runs with her dogs, they get ahead and it's like they forget that there is a human on the other end of the leash. She said the extra weight helps to remind them that they are actually connected to something and they stay by her side when she runs with them now.


The spliced leads do not have the rope clamps as the rope is spliced and connected back into itself. But we do not make these, our supplier does and therefore we cannot make them special. So, no, the o-Ring and quick link are not able to be included in those.


And no problem, I am here to help if you have any questions. :)

[Sher]

Thanks so much! Since I usually hold the handle kind of doubled up in my hand the handle clamp won't be weighing on the leash, so it will just be one set of clamps weighing on the leash, so I don't think that will be so heavy. I am definitely going to order one.... I am so glad I saw your page.... you have some great looking stuff there! Thanks again.....:)