Warning! Check Those D-Rings!!!!
 

Please take a moment to read, then check the D rings in your harnesses.

I had a big scare last week when staying at the beach with Ginger. Her regular everyday harness was being laundered and she had to go out. So, I put one of her vest harnesses on and walked out the door with her. Our house shared a path to the beach with several other houses, and even went out to the road (the very busy road). Just as we started down the stairs to the yard Ginger spied two people walking up the path (towards the road) and took off to greet them. Took off and WASNT attached to me! I paniced and called her. She usually has a pretty good recall, works great in my fenced in yard, (alot of good that does). But she didn't heed my calls.

Anyway, she chased the people right out to the road, fortunately they stopped to see her and I asked them to walk back towards me. I was able to get her then. Whew!!!!

But, the problem??? The D ring that had been sewn into her harness was not a solid D but had a "split" along the flat side (the side that's hidden by the fabric of her harness). I then checked out my other vest harnesses and found that 2 more had the same type of D ring. Needless to say, I won't be using them again.

Please, check the D rings on your harnesses. Make sure they are solid. Pure luck saved Ginger that day.

Oh gosh, I am so pleased Ginger was alright. Thankyou for the warning, im sure it will help to save a lot of runaway dogs :thumbup:

Oh dear

The ones that i put in mine are solid.

Better notify whoever made the harness for you. I bet they don't know that they do that.

I'm glad she didn't get hurt

Glad to hear yours are solid...and I've already sent an email. I'm sure they don't know, and Ginger's not a little tiny yorkie, so they MAY hold up fine most of the time on a little 5-6 lber, but I'd hate to take that chance.

The same thing happened to me
 

with my little chihuahua. Fortunately, I was in my own neighborhood and it was 6:00 AM so noone was out yet. It scared me to death though because I immediately thought how bad it would have been if I had been walking them by one of the busier roads like I sometimes do. My chihuahua is a runner too and always takes off full speed. I had to tie the leash in a knot around the vest to get her home. The bad news is, I made the vest. I checked all the others I made and had my husband sodder all the ones that were not a solid D ring. At least it made me aware of what could happen at a good time.

I'm so glad that you were able to catch Ginger. That is an awful feeling.

OMG. Thank you for the warning!! And thank goodness Ginger is safe.

What was the manufacture of the D rings that you are using. I was thinking about buying them and I just want to make sure that I buy one of good quality. Thank you for the heads up on that.

This is why i love yt thank you for sharing this with us this will save a lot of dogs and i'm glad everything worked out for you!

Thank you for taking the time to post this. We'll all be checking those D-rings now!

Thanks for the warning!

Glad your baby's OK :)

I don't know who the manufacturer was, since I did not make the vests. However, JeanieK (see post above) says she uses ones that are solid. Maybe check with her. (or maybe she'll see this).

Good luck!

Great post for us all.:goodpost: I am sure we will all run to our harnesses and check to make sure they are secure. I know I am!!!:wavey:

My D rings aren't solid, but the open ends abutt each other very tightly -- and once when I tried to remove one - I almost couldn't do it. I ended up having to use pliers and a screwdriver to pry it apart.

Worth checking! Carol Jean

Good point. The other two I found seemed really tight, perhaps this was a defective one. I don't know if I would have been able to tell if I'd checked it before walking her. However, prior to the "incident" I had walked her using that particular harness several times. At the very least I think everyone should be aware and check the snugness of the D rings BEFORE taking their babies outside. They may be fine one time, but not the next???

Thanks for the information - I know I always check now... but when the girls first started wearing harnesses I didn't look at the whole ring - thanks and good post -

I'm glad this turned out to be a GOOD learning experience for you....it could easily have gone the other way.

I had the very same experience---the D ring was not solid and she got away. It was frightening, but we managed to catch her.

Terrific information and warning!
I'm so glad your baby was not hurt. I'm sure other babies will be safe because you shared your experiance with us!

Thanks for the warning. I ordered the vest harness for small animals (rabbits, small dogs) from Petsmart that someone here on YT had recommended. Yup, the D-ring is of the split variety. The ends do meet but I wonder for how long after the little one starts tugging on it. I don't trust it. I will use it for training in the house but I won't take my baby outside in it. In fact, I might just send it back.

Thanks for the warning and I am glad she is okay :) I have D-rings on all my harnesses so I will check them now when I get home. I ordered the majority of them from Des (Tiger's_Mom). Diamond is quite the runner too so I would be going NUTS if she got loose!

Great warning. I went immediately to check Penny's harness. The D-ring Deb (Tiger's Mom) from Go Fetch used is solid.

Thank goodness! Penny is a 7-lb puller!