Why a Backup Safety Leash Can Make Dog Walking Safer

Safety Leash – Adjustable Backup Connection

Most of us don’t think about a leash connection failing until something goes wrong.

A buckle isn’t completely closed. A collar slips over a dog’s head.  A clip gets attached to the wrong ring. It only takes a second, and suddenly the only thing connecting you to your dog is gone.

For many dogs, that might result in a short and slightly embarrassing chase down the sidewalk. For a frightened dog, a newly adopted rescue or a dog with a strong prey drive, the consequences can be much more serious.

That’s why we like the idea of a backup connection. Not because every dog needs one on every walk, but because sometimes having a second point of connection simply makes sense.

What Is a Backup Safety Leash?

A dog safety leash gives you a second point of connection to your dog rather than relying entirely on one collar, harness, clip or attachment point.

But there’s an important detail here. That second connection needs to work with the equipment your dog is actually wearing.

The JettaJacks Safety Leash has an adjustable secondary connection, allowing you to change its length depending on your dog’s size and walking setup. If you’re walking with a Fluid Motion Harness as the primary connection, for example, the backup can be adjusted to connect to the dog’s collar.

The same leash can be configured differently when using a Lay-Flat Control Collar. In that case, the control collar can be your primary connection while the adjustable backup attaches to a second collar.

That adjustability matters. You don’t want the secondary connection so short that it interferes with the fit or function of the primary equipment, and you don’t want so much excess length that webbing is unnecessarily swinging around your dog.

The idea is simple: your primary connection does the work while the second connection is there as the backup.

Some Dogs and Situations Need a Little More Security

Not every dog needs a backup connection every time they leave the house. There are, however, dogs and situations where we think the extra security makes a great deal of sense.

A newly adopted rescue may still be learning to trust its surroundings. A nervous dog can react very differently when startled. Some dogs can go from calmly sniffing the grass to chasing a squirrel in about half a second.

A second connection can also make sense when travelling, hiking around wildlife, walking somewhere unfamiliar or introducing a dog to a busy environment.

And when that extra security isn’t necessary, you shouldn’t have to change leashes.

That’s another reason we made the backup section of our Safety Leash removable. The secondary connection attaches to the main leash with a buckle, so when you don’t need it, simply remove it. You’re left with your regular leash without an unnecessary second connection hanging from it.

When circumstances change, buckle the backup connection back on, adjust it for the equipment you’re using, and you’re ready to go.

A Safety Leash Doesn’t Replace Properly Fitted Equipment

This part is important.

A backup connection should never be used as a substitute for a properly fitted collar or harness. Your dog’s primary walking equipment still needs to fit correctly, be appropriate for the dog and be checked regularly for wear.

Clips, stitching, webbing, buckles and adjustment points all deserve the occasional inspection. Dogs change too. They gain weight, lose weight, grow thicker winter coats and sometimes simply learn new ways of getting themselves into trouble.

The same applies to the adjustable backup. It should be long enough that it isn’t constantly pulling against the secondary collar or harness, but short enough to do its job if the primary connection is lost.

Good walking equipment starts with proper fit. A backup connection simply gives you another layer of protection when something unexpected happens.

Safety Is Usually About the Little Things

After years of designing and making dog walking equipment and working directly with dog owners, we’ve learned that some of the most useful ideas aren’t particularly complicated.

A second connection isn’t complicated. Neither is checking a buckle before leaving the house, making sure a harness still fits properly or looking over a leash occasionally for signs of wear.

But those small things can matter enormously when a dog suddenly spooks, lunges or decides that the rabbit across the road is considerably more interesting than anything you have to say.

That’s really the thinking behind our Safety Leash. Make the second connection adjustable so it can work with different equipment. Make it removable so you don’t have to use it when you don’t need it. And keep the primary leash simple enough to remain useful for everyday walks.

We can’t remove every risk from walking our dogs, and we probably wouldn’t want to. Exploring the world with them is part of the fun.

We can, however, give ourselves a backup plan.

And sometimes one extra connection is all it takes.