What is a strong and sturdy metal clasp of retractable leash?

The recall of Slydog retractable leash due to poor quality of metal clasp caused great discussion. It is very important to get a strong and sturdy metal clasp of retractable leash, Pugga brings some points on what is a strong and sturdy metal clasp of retractable leash!

choose a retractable leash or lead with a sturdy, heavy clasp

1) Never use one that’s rated lower than the weight of your dog or that has no size or weight rating at all. Refer to our former article on TUV test, the max loading is 3 times of the weight of purposed pet.

2) A good metal clasp has strong structure as well as strong metal - Zinc alloy. The holding ring end and the hook both must be strong enough. Due to cast moulds, a carefully designed mould guaranteed quality metal clasp. Nevertheless, the Zinc alloy must be pure to assure quality material also.

3) Be aware of the fact that most metal clasp purposed for bags use, some of them not designed specially for pets, bags just requires equivalent loading as its possible contents weight, not as strong as 75kgs for a medium size of dog.

Possible faults of the metal clasp of retractable dog leads or leashes:

Most of such metal clasp is designed for bags, which do not require strict loading, as you may know, most luggage is just about 15kgs. If you check on some bag clasp you will find it out.

1) the holding end of the metal clasp
2) the hook body
3) the linkage

Be aware of the damage it can do if it should ever break and fly back at your face. So use it with utmost care, especially if your dog is jerking at the other end.

An easy way to test the metal clasp of retractable dog leads or leashes:

Test the dog leads to a force of 500 N, which is equivalent to an average-size (20 kg) dog pulling two-and-a-half times its weight, a force that smaller, weaker people would have problems resisting. Mostly, hang yourself by hand on the handler with brake locked, pending on some place, it is much easier to find a sturdy metal clasp of retractable dog leads or leashes.

Another way is just throwing the retractable leash onto ground at height of yourself, those get no damage you could give more trust. Anyway, some stores imports retractable dog leads or leashes from outside American but required very low prices to compete with those qualified ones.

Our advice on the metal clasp of retractable dog leads or leashes

Dog responds to another dog’s barking with a pull on the lead, it is a very typical reaction. But what happened next is in no expectation. The metal clasp of the retractable dog lead snapped in half and, with its jagged edge, went flying back straight into eye, causing major damage.

We have a leash law to keep dogs on leash and using a long line is difficult (hard to reel it in, the extra slack tends to get caught around pets’ legs, hard to carry, etc) so we sometimes use the retractable leashes. Dogs were already well trained to walk on loose leash fits much better to retractable one.

Pugga retractable leash or lead - Safety Precautions and Directions

It is strongly recommended to read and follow these Warnings and Directions for Use before using your retractable leashes or leads, to avoid the risk of eye or face injury and cuts, burns, and amputations to your body or the body of another person from the cord or lead or all belt and hook of retractable leash or retractable lead.

We declare that this article adopted most ideas and listings from the Flexiusa website.
Safety Precautions and Directions shall be included in every leash package. Read the safety precautions below before using pugga leash.Failure to follow these safety precautions can result in serious injury.

INTENDED USE comments from pugga

The retractable leash or lead is for use by responsible adults only. Do not allow anyone to use this leash who has not read the Warnings and Directions for Use pamphlet. Keep out of reach of children. The leash is not a toy! To avoid the risk of injuries like cutting, burning, amputation or eye injuries to infants and children, DO NOT USE THE LEASH NEAR OR AROUND INFANTS AND CHILDREN!

This retractable leash or lead is intended to help you lead and restrain your dog. The leash user is responsible for keeping the dog under control at all times. The leash is for dogs that are controllable and well behaved.

Remember all the time the following tips:

DO NOT use this leash for disobedient or uncontrollable dogs.

DO NOT use this leash for dogs that exceed the specified weight for the leash.

DO NOT use this leash as a stationary (non hand-held) leash attached to a pole or other fixed object. You should use specially designed garden tie-out as a stationary leash.

DO NOT use this leash with any product except for the dog’s collar, which must be strong, and in good condition.

DO NOT use the leash near or around infants or children.

DO NOT attempt to operate or use more than one leash at a time.

DO NOT allow anyone to touch or come in contact with the leash cord or tape lead or all belt while in use. It can cause injuries like cutting, burning and amputations.

BEFORE USE

ALWAYS examine the leash before each use.

Stop using the leash if it becomes frayed, damaged, shows signs of being chewed, or does not function properly.

Be sure your dog’s collar is strong enough to withstand the tension of the leash and a sudden stopping of the leash.

Be sure to have your dog under control before attaching the leash.

Securely fasten the leash's hook to your dog's collar and to the leash safety loop before each use.

Wear gloves when using the leash to reduce the risk of hand or finger cuts, burns or amputations from the cord or lead or all belt.

Wear long pants to reduce the risk of leg burns and cuts from the cord or lead or all belt .

PROPER USE

Hold leash by the handle not the cord or lead or all belt.

Never allow the cord or lead or all belt to become wrapped around fingers. The cord or lead or all belt can cut or amputate a finger.

Never allow the cord or lead or all belt to become wrapped around hands, arms, legs or any other body part. The cord or lead or all belt can cut or burn you or another person.

To reduce the risk of injury from being pulled to the ground by your dog, always make sure you have firm and secure footing and you watch closely your dog’s behavior and activities while using the leash. If your dog starts running, immediately press the brake button and prepare yourself for a jolt.

If the cord or lead or all belt becomes wrapped around you or someone else, drop the leash and allow it to unwrap.

Keep the cord or lead or all belt from wrapping around the dog’s neck and other body parts.
Always hold the leash with your arm down and extended away from your body. Never hold the leash near your head. The cord or lead or all belt can retract rapidly and the hook can cause eye and face injury.

If the leash separates from the collar and safety loop during use, immediately apply brake and turn your face away.

When near other persons or animals, shorten your leash cord or lead or all belt and control your dog at your side. Never use the leash near or around infants and children.

If you lose control of your dog, immediately drop the leash.

Do not allow the leash cord or lead or all belt to be chewed or rubbed against trees, edges or other sharp or rough surfaces.

Before detaching the leash be sure your dog is under control and the leash cord or lead or all belt is fully retracted. If not fully retracted, the leash cord or lead or all belt can retract rapidly and the hook (8) can cause eye and face injury.

To avoid the risk of injuries like cutting, burning and amputations to infants and children, do not use the leash near or while operating an infant or child stroller, toy wagon or any other device used to transport infants and children. The leash cord or lead or all belt and the leash hook can cause serious eye, face, neck, and head injuries. Serious cutting, burning and amputation injuries can occur if the leash cord or lead or all belt or leash hook come in contact with an infant or child.


REPAIR

Do not attempt to repair the leash.

Do not open the leash housing. The leash housing contains a pre-wound spring that can cause injury if opened. Opening the housing will void the limited warranty.

TO ATTACH LEASH: Be sure to have your dog under control before attempting to attach the leash. With the cord or lead or all belt fully retracted into the leash housing, put the safety loop around the dog's neck near your dog's collar. Attach both rings of the safety loop and the ring of the dog's collar to the hook on the leash.

TO OPERATE: Hold the leash by the handle not the cord or lead or all belt. The leash cord or lead or all belt will run in and out freely without agging.

TO STOP LEASH: Press the brake button down firmly with your thumb.

TO RELEASE THE BRAKE LOCK: Press the brake button with your thumb, using your thumb draw back the lock, then slowly release the brake button.

TO WALK TO HEEL: Fully retract leash cord or lead or all belt and lock the brake.

TO BRING YOU DOG NEARER: Extend your arm foreward and press the brake button using your thumb to prevent the dog from further extending the leash cord or lead or all belt with the brake button depressed, step towards your dog and at the same time bring your arm towards your side. Release the brake button and repeat the movement as necessary.

TO DETACH LEASH: Before attempting to detach leash, be sure your dog is under control, the leash cord or lead or all belt is fully retracted, and the brake button is locked.

WET cord or lead or all belt: If the leash cord or lead or all belt gets wet, pull it out of the leash housing as far as it will go; lock the brake and leave it to dry overnight. After the leash cord or lead or all belt is dry, carefully and slowly retract the leash cord or lead or all belt into the leash housing by pushing and releasing the brake button and allowing the leash cord or lead or all belt to retract in short intervals. This will prevent the leash cord or lead or all belt from retracting rapidly and the hook from possibly hitting you causing eye or face injury.

The pugga retractable dog leash is for use by responsible adults onlyNEVER use this leash near or around infants and children.

Chat on retractable leads from Pugga blog

There is a discussion of the pros and cons of this type of lead. This response article from Pugga client on retractable lead topic purposed for your kind information and pugga blog will bring more. The pugga blog forum also has a range of responses from members about use of retractable lead.

Some even give us great ideas.

Quote as origin:
We were in the habit of taking Penny for a walk on a retractable lead. At first we used it only when we were going to the park and wanted to keep her nearby. But eventually we started using it in the street also.

However, when she suddenly took off down a steep hill, I realized that the extending lead didn't give me enough control on the dog.

Jabari's mum told me she doesn't believe in extending leads. In one email she said:

I personally do not like extensible leads for large dogs as I feel that there is not sufficient control over the dog. I use either a long and strong nylon type lead or make my own extended lead. I use a fine leather lead with an extension made by attaching (water) ski rope to the end of it. Ski rope is great as it is waxed so it does not give rope burn should it slip through your fingers. It is water proof so you can allow it to drag along the ground behind you if you want and move it in and out as the dog moves. You can roll it up to hold the dog on short lead when needed. When it is old and dirty you can replace it. Though I have not replaced mine for about 6 years. It is also useful for making very long tracking lead.

She also told me that waterski rope would be okay to use when Penny is swimming in the river up in the mountains. Since Penny gave me a terrible scare by running up from the river and across the busy highway, I haven't trusted her to swim there. If I had a long lead on her I would feel safer till I regain my confidence. Jabari's mum pointed out that this type of ski rope is designed to float.