How to Make a Hands Free Dog Leash With Paracord

This is a useful leash to have if you are a jogger that likes to run with their dog. If you don't know how to tie the knots to make this leash, they're very easy to learn.

Supplies

You will need; Paracord (or a similar kind style rope) two leash snaps, one O-ring, a measuring tape, a pair of scissors and a lighter.

Remember to preshrink your paracord in hot water. Paracord loses 10% of it's length when it gets wet and when you are walking a dog it IS going to rain at some point.

Step 1 - Measuring Your Waist

Loosely measure your waist. This measurement should be comfortable enough to that you can walk, but not loose enough to slide over your hips.

STEP 2 - Measuring the Paracord

Add your waist measurement to however long you want your leash, in inches. To that number, add a 20 inch allowance for the knotting of the paracord.

STEP 3 - Fastening the O-ring

This is the first step for making the "belt" part of the leash. We are going to use the Surgeon's Loop Knot.

Using the measuring tape, measure off your waist measurement PLUS 5 inches. Slide the O-ring thru the paracord to the measurement and fold the rope. Now form a loop in the end of the line

Make an overhand knot with the O-ring.

Make another overhand knot with the O-ring

Now tighten up the knot that you have made.

STEP 4 - Adding the First Snap.

You will find that there is a long and short end of paracord. The SHORT end is forming the belt part. Attach the snap to the end of the paracord with the Surgeon's Knot as illustrated in step 3. Try the belt on for size, making sure that it is comfortable. If it isn't, undo the knots and start over until it is to your liking.

STEP 5 - Adding Knots to the Dog Leash

While you are out and about with your dog, you might face a situation where you have to control him quickly. This is where a few knots in the leash will come in handy. We will be tying Double Overhand Stopper Knots to accomplish this.

With the leash on you waist, mark the spot on the leash to where you can comfortably extend your grasp.

Wrap the end of the rope round itself.

Wrap it again.

Now pass the rope through both turns.

Tighten the knot. Make as many knots as you feel necessary to make a good leash to grab onto. I made two knots.

STEP 6 - Adding The Second Snap

Now you are knotting the snap for the dog's collar onto the leash. Use the Surgeon's Loop Knot from step 3

STEP 7 - Finishing The Leash

All the is left to do is trim the loose ends of paracord.

Cut the paracord, leaving about 1/2 inch of excess. You will need a little extra since the knot has not fully tightened from dog walking

Take your lighter and melt the end to keep it from fraying in the future.

Karen Friesecke is the author of Bloggie Stylish a new blog dedicated to recipes and free projects for dogs. Please visit Hands Free Leash to see this tutorial, complete with pictures.

How to Make a Paracord Dog Collar Using the Seesaw Knot

Paracord is an awesome cord to use for braiding! It's tough, lightweight, washable and virtually indestructible! This tutorial will show you how to make a "manly" collar for your dog using the seesaw or zigzag knot.

Supplies and Tools You Will Need

You'll need a few basic tools to make this project. A C-clamp, hemostat clamps, scissors, a lighter, a flexible measuring tape, a 3/4″ plastic snap and D-ring and paracord.

Preparing The Paracord

You need to preshrink the paracord before you use it. To preshrink the paracord, soak it in hot water for 5 minutes and then hang it to dry.To determine how much paracord you will need for your project, take the neck measurement from your dog and multiply by four. A sample neck measurement will be 18″ X 4 = 72″. So you will need TWO strands of paracord that are EACH 72″ long.

STEP 1 - Putting The Cords and D-ring on the Snap

Fold the cords in half and run each of them through the end of the snap that has the single slot. Now run the D-ring through the cords and place close to the snap. You will now run the loose ends of the cord through the loops of cord that are sticking out of bottom of the snap. Pull the cords tight

STEP 2 - Clamping the Snap

Clamp the snap down onto a steady surface like a table. This will keep the snap steady and you will be able to put tension on the cords when you are knotting.

STEP 3 - The First Knot

To make the seesaw knot, you will be knotting alternating half-hitch knots. Take the first set of cords, bring it behind the second set of cords and through the loop that you have just created. Gently tighten up your knot. Don't tighten too much or your knot work will begin to twist.

STEP 4 - The Second Knot

You will now take the second set of cords and make a half-hitch in the OPPOSITE direction. To keep going, take the first set of cord and make a knot in the same direction as you did with knot 1. Keep knotting in alternate directions until you make a knotted cord two inches less than your final measurement. Don't forget to take the snap into account when taking your measurement. Stop knotting at 16″.

STEP 5 - Attaching the Loose Cords To The Snap

Run the loose cords through the double slotted end of the cord and leave a one inch length of cord from the end of your knotting work.

STEP 6 - Finishing The Cord Ends Part 1

Take one cord from each set, run then around the front and through the top of the loop that you have created on the back side of the collar.Lay the cords that did not make the knot flat against the backside of the collar. Tighten the knot as much as it will go.

STEP 7 - Finishing The Cord Ends Part Two

Find where a set 1 cord passes under a set 2 cord. Pass the hemostat clamp underneath the set 2 cord, grasp the set 1 cord with the hemostats and pull through. Repeat this with the second set of cords. Do this "back knotting" one more time. Now stretch the collar out with your hands and trim the cords as close as you can to the collar.

STEP 8 - Melting The Cord Ends

*NOTE* hot plastic is dangerous and can burn you very badly! Use caution when melting the cord ends!!

Take your lighter and place the flame as close as you can to the cut cords. You really need them to get nice and hot. When the cord ends turn brown and get bubbly, take the flat side of your scissors and press the hot cord onto the collar. You might have to have another pass with the lighter if the cords haven't fused properly.

Once the melted ends of the collar have cooled, you can put it on your dog.

Karen Friesecke is the author of Bloggie Stylish a new blog dedicated to recipes and free projects for dogs. Please visit Seesaw Knot Dog Collar Tutorial to see this tutorial, complete with pictures.

Homemade Dog Toys From Socks

Learn how to make homemade dog toys such as a Sock Swing Ball and a Sock Ball from old or holey socks in under five minutes.

SOCK SWING BALL

• Take 4 or 5 discarded socks. At least one of them should be knee length.


• 
  Use this knee length sock for the base. If it has big holes in the foot part, push another sock inside it so that the holes are covered


• 
  Roll up and stuff the remaining socks inside


• 
  Tie a knot in the base sock(s) just above the stuffed area

That's all there is to it! Go play fetch or tug-of-war with your dog! (Just watch carefully to make sure your buddy doesn't swallow any pieces of sock. These can cause choking or digestive problems.)

SOCK BALL

• Use a minimum of 4 socks


• 
  Use your longest sock with the smallest holes for the base


• 
  Roll and stuff the other socks inside


• 
  Tie a firm knot in the base sock above the stuffed area


• 
  Double the end of the base sock back over the entire ball


• 
  Tie a knot above the stuffed area again


• 
  Repeat until you cannot tie a knot any more


• 
  Cut the end off the sock just above the last knot

Sock balls are best used for playing fetch or soccer, indoors or out. Again, please supervise your dog at all times to make sure he or she does not choke on or swallow any sock pieces.

Notes: Sock balls can be washed and dried along with other dog items.

For a bigger ball, use thick stockings or several layers of old pantyhose for the base sock.

Jo Soliday has been a dog lover and crafter since childhood. For more ideas for making things for dogs, check out her website at http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com