If you have a dog and are looking for a stylish and durable dog leash, you can make one with a paracord. It may seem like a daunting task at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s actually quite easy to do. If you’re interested in learning how to make your own paracord dog leash, read on!
How to make a dog leash out of paracord?
Paracord is a lightweight nylon rope, available in a variety of colors and styles. It may not be the first tool you think of when you’re looking for a leash, but it can work just fine. Paracord is strong and durable, making it ideal for this project.
Preparing the Dog Leash
The first step to making a dog leash out of paracord is finding the right type of paracord. Paracord is a rope made from seven strands and can be found at many outdoor stores. There are several different kinds of paracord, but they all have the same general purpose: to be strong and durable. The great thing about using this material for a dog leash is that it’s lightweight, easy to work with, and won’t break easily like cotton rope sometimes does.
After you’ve purchased your paracord, you’ll need some scissors or other cutting tool. Then bundle up four feet worth of dog leash material (about 10 feet total). Cut through one side at an angle so that both ends are sharp points when viewed from above; this will make tying knots easier later on!
Choose the right paracord thickness
Paracord comes in a variety of thicknesses, with the most common being 550. The higher the number, the thicker and stronger your leash will be. For large dogs or those who like to play rough, you may want to consider using paracord that’s rated at 750 or higher. On the other hand, if you have a small dog or one that stays relatively calm during walks and doesn’t pull hard against their leash much (if at all), thinner paracord will make for a great choice.
Choose the right length of paracord
There are many different ways to make a paracord dog leash, but the basic premise is that you need to account for both the length of your paracord as well as how much you expect it will stretch out over time.
To measure the right length of paracord:
- Lay your tape measure along one end of the cord and mark it where it reaches across one inch (2.5 cm) from either side of the center point.
- Cut this piece off with scissors. This will be your loop at the end of your leash.
Now cut an additional 12 inches (30 cm) worth of cord and fold it in half so that there is 6 inches (15 cm) hanging down from each side; then tie them together in a knot or braid them together if desired! This will be used later on in step 4 when we add our snap hook/buckle onto our hand made leashes!! Next up we’ll show how easy it is to make two braids around each other into one long rope…
Start knotting your dog leash
Start knotting your dog leash by creating a loop where you’ll attach the handle. Start by wrapping some paracord around a finger and then wrap the rest of it around your palm. Pull on this length to create a double loop, but leave enough space at each end so that you can tie them together later on. Once you’ve got this done, pull one end through the other side—this will create one long piece of paracord with two loops at each end.
Next up: make another braid! Weave all four pieces together in any order that works for you as long as they don’t cross over themselves or get twisted around very much (you want this to look nice!) Then take both ends of these braids and feed them through those loops we just created earlier on our hand-held leash handle thingy…
Make the first loop
To make the first loop, tie a knot in the paracord so that there are about five inches in between. The loop should be big enough for your dog’s collar to fit through easily.
Make the braid
Now that you have your paracord, it’s time to make a braid!
To start, take ~4-6 strands (about half the length of your cord) and tie them together in an overhand knot at one end. Then, start braiding them in this pattern: Under – Over – Under – Over…
The length of your leash depends on how many times you want it to wrap around your wrist or hand. Once you’ve decided how long you want it to be, continue braiding until the entire cord is used up.
Make another braid in a similar fashion to the first one
To make the second braid, you will need to cut another piece of paracord about 18 inches long. This will give you a total length of 36 inches for your leash.
Take eight strands and put them in pairs. Tie them together using an overhand knot, just as you did with the first two braids. Once they are all tied together at one end, start braiding by alternating one strand from each pair with every other strand on the left side (as if looking down at the braid). When you get to the end of this section add in another strand from each pair before continuing back down again, always alternating sides when adding new strands until all eight have been added to this section of your leash. Finally repeat this process again making sure that when starting up again after adding another set of four strands that they are inserted into their respective positions according finish off both ends by tying them together with an overhand knot followed by a quick pull through with both pieces threaded through so that they come out cleanly in opposite directions from where they started out.
Make a third braid in a similar fashion to the first two
Now that you have two braids, it’s time to make a third. This will be the last braid of your leash, so make sure that it is long enough to lead your dog around comfortably. The third braid should look similar to the first two in terms of length and thickness.
To finish off this paracord dog leash, simply weave all three strands together using an overhand knot until they’re completely woven together like one cord. Then trim off any excess material with scissors and melt each end using a lighter or candle flame so there are no sharp edges left behind on your new leash!
Finish knotting your dog leash
When you have finished making your paracord dog leash, make sure that the loops are even and the knots are tight. Also, make sure that the leash is long enough to use comfortably without having to bend too much. And lastly, make sure that your pup can’t chew through it!
If you want a shorter leash for smaller dogs or if you want a longer leash for bigger dogs, just cut off some of the cord before starting on step 5. When measuring out how long it should be, remember: You don’t want any slack in the cord when holding it up straight; there should be about an inch of play between where your hand is located and where there is no tension on either end so that when walking forward with your dog attached at one end he will have room to walk alongside without feeling restricted by being tied off too short or having his freedom limited by excess length extending past his reach or being dragged along behind him (if this happens often).
Add a dog leash clasp
The last step is to add a dog leash clasp.
- Attach the clasp to the end of your paracord leash.
- Adjust the length of your dog leash so it fits comfortably in your hand and isn’t too short or long for your pup.
- You can attach a clip at either end of your paracord leash, but I like having just one because it makes it easier to hold on to my pup when we’re outside running around together!
Attach the clasp and adjust it to fit your hand size
- Attach the clasp to the end of your cord with a carabiner.
- Adjust the clasp for comfort and ease of use.
Conclusion
I hope that you found this post helpful. If you have any other questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
