Next time you’re at the animal shelter or vet, watch as the staff there easily handles three or more dogs at once on a multi-dog leash. Of course, you can’t help but notice the amount of hardware involved in creating a great multi-dog leash.

When we think of a leash, we automatically think of a nylon line with a loop at one end for the walker’s hand to slip through, with some kind of snap or hook at the other end to attach to the dog’s collar. The average person doesn’t normally think too much of what it takes to turn a length of nylon into a safe piece of equipment for you and your dog.

In hardware “speak,” the pieces that make a simple nylon lead so effective and safe are familiar items in Henssgen’s everyday inventory.

Swivel Eye Bolt Snaps and Trigger Snaps

This is the item that connects you to your dog at the other end of that nylon line. It comes in several different metals, including malleable iron, brass and die-cast zinc, all of which are sturdy and weather-resistant. This is important for a couple of obvious reasons:

• You and you dog still must go out, no matter what the weather;
• You need something that is going to work smoothly and be rust-proof;
• If the hardware on your leash is low quality, your dog could get loose and be injured;
• It can get expensive to keep replacing your leashes.

Your Dog’s Collar and Comfort

If you’ve ever noticed, your dog’s collar is designed to fit on him snugly, but comfortably, allowing him to breathe with ease and move his head with no restrictions. The same is true of the increasingly popular harness-type collars, often used for bigger dogs or for dogs who are learning not to pull on the leash.

The Dee Ring on the collar and harness is used to attach the leash to your dog. There’s a reason it’s shaped like a “D” and not an “O” or other letter of the alphabet: it provides maximum comfort for your dog, while offering the best method of connection and quick release from the trigger or bolt snap.

Multi-Dog Leashes

For those of you who are real hardware “nerds,” a multi-dog leash is a beautiful example of the right use of hardware items such as quick release snap hooks, dee- and O-rings, and large harness swivel-eye trigger snaps for larger, heavier dogs.

So, the next time you’re getting ready to take your dog out for a walk, stop and take a look at the smalle but important pieces of hardware that transform a simple length of nylon into a safe, sturdy and dependable leash that keeps you and your dog safe and secure on your daily jaunts.

Henssgen Hardware has been supplying rings, quick release snaps, leather and chain hardware to dog leash and collar manufacturers since 1978. For more information, visit our website and shop our online catalog.