Choosing the right clips for a dog lead often comes with trial & error. You’ll buy one and love it, buy another and not get on with at all. Sometimes they even fail and worse case scenario happens. This can be serious if your dog is a runner.
Trigger Hooks
The most common type of dog hook is the trigger hook. Usually stainless steel (the best), but can also come as nickel plated or brass/brass plated.
They are rated by their breaking strain, i.e. at what point does the trigger hook fail when put on a test rig.
When you buy them as a retailer, their length, weight and what they are made of are important deciding factors. The ‘eye’, the bit the webbing or rope goes through can be square or round, round is usually for rope leads and square is for flat webbing.
The ‘trigger’ is the bit you put your thumb on, I guess named after the trigger on a gun. This should be oiled to keep it working properly.
Image shows a 19mm hook on a long line.
Auto Locking Swivel Carabiners
Let’s break this down.
Auto locking means that when you release the ‘gate’ it locks into position and cannot be unclipped without turning the barrel on the gate.
Swivel means the top part swivels on the bottom part. This is important for preventing leads from twisting.
A carabiner for the pet trade is the same design as a mountaineering carabiner but for the pet market. This means they are specifically designed for dog leads, are not as big or heavy and although they usually have high breaking strains, are not recommended for mountaineering (i.e. holding a person).
This type of carabiner can easily be worked one-handed and is a safe option. I use this on the Stealth – Anti Theft Dog Lead.
Image shows an auto locking swivel carabiner fitted to a Multi dog walking bet attachment.
Screw Locking Carabiner
Again, the same principle as above with regard to their recommended use, but this carabiner is fixed and does not have a swivel function. It comes with a screw locking gate as opposed to an auto locking one.
I only sell this type of carabiner as a dog walking belt accessory and when in use they will have leads attached to them that already have a swivel at some point, like for example the trigger hook.
Locking Carabiner
The locking carabiner, also called the barrel carabiner has a slider on the gate which moves up and down to lock and unlock.
This type of carabiner has less gate clearance and may not fit larger gauge rings, the clearance is around 4mm.
They should be oiled every now any then as with any item with moving parts and should be cleaned if grit is allowed in to the barrel as it will affect the intended use and may fail.
Image shows a 25mm locking carabiner with square eye & the only lead we fit this to is the Locking Carabiner Lead.
These are the types I use, but there are a multitude of different types of clips or fastenings on the market today for pets.
Ultimately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to dog lead clips. It comes down to how you walk your dog, their strength, behaviour, and the level of security you’re comfortable with.
What matters is understanding how each type works, where its strengths lie, and where it might fall short. A clip is a small part of the lead, but it’s the one point of connection between you and your dog, so it’s worth taking the time to choose something reliable, well-made, and suited to your setup rather than just what’s most common or convenient.
AS always, you can contact me to discuss what’s best.