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Blind Dog Tool: DIY

Blind Dog Tool
Pet owner Ron Stotz has designed a simple tool to help owners of blind dogs go on walks. (A standard 6′ leash gave his dog too much freedom and the dog bumped into things all the time.)
With Ron’s approval, Walkin’ Pets is sharing Ron’s DIY directions in order to help others with small blind dogs. Thank you to Ron!



Here’s what you’ll need:
A short lead, about 16″ in length with a D-Ring mounted on the end of an old ski pole. It is something most
anyone could make at home with simple tools.
Parts:
- Ski or trekking pole
- Dog Leash. 1/2″ nylon, 21 inches long with the standard bolt snap end
- A second bolt snap of the same size as the bolt snap already on the other end of the dog leash
- 1 D Ring with 1/8″ shaft. (D ring is of the size used on 1/2″ nylon collars)
- 1 Mounted head zip tie
- 1 Small zip tie
Directions:
- Cut a few inches off the ski pole to remove the sold portion of the ski pole tip, where the pole diameter is 3/8″ or greater.
- 1/4″ from the freshly cut end of the pole, drill a 9/64″ hole through the entire diameter of the pole. This hole size will accommodate a 1/8″ D ring.
- Cut a leash to 21″, leaving the bolt snap intact on one end.
- Thread the cut end through a second bolt snap; fold the cut end back over the leash and super glue (JB Weld) 2 to 3 inches of the cut end of the leash onto the leash.
- Overall length of leash with bolt snaps is 21″. I left it a bit long, not knowing how long I really needed it until I used it. I had planned to simply put a knot in the center of the leash, which would reduce the length by some 3 inches, but did not need to.
- The D ring is cut and split apart at the seam along the straight segment of the D ring, then inserted through the drilled hole in the ski pole and pressed back together in a vice.
- A mounted head zip tie, with a smaller zip tie run through the head, is installed at the point where the loose end of the leash can be secured when not in use.
- Take JB Weld, or some other super glue product, and force it into the small opening at the tip end of the pole where the D-Ring is attached. The pole tip will be facing up. When the glue is in place, pull the D-Ring up to its normal position by hanging the pole from a hook for several minutes while the glue starts to dry. Then move the D-Ring about its axis to free it from the glue so it will rotate properly before it dries solid. The glue remaining around the straight shaft of the D-Ring that runs through the pole will then remain centered, rather than flopping around when the dog pulls from side to side.







Go to the Walkin’ Blind Dog Halo page to see a ready-made product that helps visually impaired dogs navigate their surroundings.