Awesome easy to make paracord dog leash, with not 1 but 2 HANDLES. How great is that?!? This is my first instructable, so hold with me while I attempt this!

This is best if you already know how to do a Cobra Stitch, its very simple, and the base of a King Cobra Stitch. IF you don't know how, I have a section to explain it!

Good Luck, and happy Cording! :)

Step 1: Step 1- Gather Supplies and Measure, Cut the Cord!

To make this leash you need to start with supplies, the ones that you NEED are:

Paracord (I used 2 colors)
Scissors (or knife)
Lighter (or matches)
Measuring tape (cloth) or yard stick/meter stick
Swivel eye snap hook

Not necessary, but helpful are:

Hemostat clamps

For a 4 foot leash, I used about 66 inches as a base, (for the length of the leash) and a total of 40 feet of cord PER COLOR

Please make sure to BURN the ends of the cut cord. AND Use parental supervision when using fire or scissors.

Step 2: Step 2- Setting Up the Cord and the Hitch Knot

So if you DO NOT know how to do a hitch knot, listen up:

Hitch knots are super easy to do.

How you may ask?

Fold the cord so that you have a loop at one end and the tails at the other
Pass the FOLDED portion through the swivel snap hook
Push the TAILS through the Folded Loop
Pull tails all the way through and tighten!
Fold the cord, Pass the cord through anchor (snap hook), Push tails through loop, Pull tails to tighten

SO BAM, you have a hitch knot. If you DO NOT WANT TO WASTE CORD do this:

When forming the hitch knot, measure 60-66 inches of cord on one side, and the rest on the other, (the hitch knot shouldn't be in the middle). The 60-66 inches is the core of the 4 foot leash, and you can't just use 4 feet, (48 inches) of cord because the handles have a core and take up cord as well.

In Summary:

You should have knotted both cords onto the snap, with the "core" or short sides on the insides of the 4 strands of cord.

Step 3: Step 3- Cobra Knot

Begin the cobra knot, If you do not know how, follow the pictures. The pictures for forming the knot have notes on them.

In the 11th picture, I show that I have bundled up one of the lengths of cord. It is easier to work with that way. M

MY WAY:

I find it easier to work with just the bottom strand, only moving that strand, this is what I call the "working" strand.
I bundle this moving/ bottom/ working strand to not tangle it (not Knot it. lol)

So after doing the first knot, I realized that I liked the "Bottom" color (yellow) a lot more than the "top" color (galaxy), So I just flipped the project over, and worked with it that way, there are pictures showing that as well.

Continue for about 6 inches until you get to where you want your first handle!

Step 4: Step 4- First Handle

After knotting for about 6 inches, I decided that was where I wanted my first handle.

What I did, and I am sorry that I didn't take more pictures, I'm horrible, I know :P

I want a 6 inch long handle, so take your core strands and fold them into a loop, I then used my hemostat clamp to grab ALL the strands So the 2 from the loop and then the tails, (this is the first picture)

Then, while the clamp is still in place, I tie a cobra knot, (just half of one) once the knot is mostly in place, remove the clamp.

Once you have "secured" your loop, begin knotting just on the loop, like you would for the rest of the leash. Determine how much of the handle you want to be "attached" I wanted 4 inches. Once I only had 4 inches left, Gather both the LOOP and the TAILS and knot over them, MAKE SURE THAT THE TAILS ARE FACING THE CORRECT DIRECTION. You should have the tails parallel to the handle, and facing AWAY from the snap hook.

Once you get back the the end of the loop (you would have been knotting back towards the snap, begin King Cobra stitch, back to the end of the leash.

King Cobra is essentially cobra stitch over the existing cobra stitch, hence the name "King Cobra". Once you get to the end of the handle, where the rest of the core is, instead of continuing around the handle, "jump" back onto the core strands.

Step 5: Step 5- Continuing the Leash

Continue the cobra stitch from the first handle until the end of your leash. I wanted 4 inches of core to work with in weaving back into the leash for stability. You will eventually weave the core back into the leash and then use the King Cobra stitch over that, and tuck those ends in. But once we get there I will go into detail.

This is the boring part, I would pick a good movie or TV show to watch while working!

Step 6: Step 6- Finishing and the Handle

Knot until you have 3-4 inches of core left. (picture 1)

Fold your knotted leash over, to make the handle, I wanted a 7 inch long handle. So take the last 7 inches of KNOTTED cord, and fold it over

Picture 2-5

Take the core strands and weave them back into the leash, use the hemostat. It will cause you a LOT of pain (and blood and tears and sweat) if you try using something else, trust me, I have used EVERYTHING else essentially....

Keep weaving, I like to do every other or so knots to weave in, its easier this way.

Finished weaving back in (picture 6) make sure to BURN the ends of the core strands

Use the remaining working strands to King Cobra stitch over where you wove the core strands, once you have just a few inches left, do the same thing, weave those ends back in, cut if you have to and burn. Congrats, you have an awesome 2 handled dog leash!

Step 7: Step 7- Wrapping Up

Thank you for using this instructable, if there is anything you need extra clarification on please let me know. I am also registered for the "Dog" contest. If you would go vote for me that would be fabulous. I made this as a request from someone, I have a shop on Etsy where I sell mostly dog products in leather and paracord.

I am an active member of the Gainesville, FL group of Southeastern Guide Dogs. SEGD is a non-profit organization that breeds, raises, trains, and provides medical needs to all puppies and dogs in training. It costs between $40000-$60000 to raise ONE dog. Each person who receives a guide, receives a guide and the 26 days of in-house (at the school in Florida) training, as well as more training in home. This incredible organization depends on volunteers (like me and many others). I am a volunteer Puppy Raiser, I have raised 1 dog, a yellow lab (Rosemarie) who is now a breeder for the school and will be bringing lots of superheros into the world to save peoples lives. Currently I am finishing (meaning I got the puppy when she was older than 6-8 months) a golden retriever, Ava. I loved both dogs with all my heart, and although it was so hard to let my Rosemarie go, even though she is now someones dog, she will always be my PUPPY, and I went into this knowing that I would be raising a puppy for about a year, and then giving her back to the school. It was a hard day for me, but more bittersweet, I know that each puppy I will raise will change someones life, maybe the pup will become a Search and Rescue dog and save peoples love ones, or become a PTSD dog, who will allow a veteran to rejoin society.

If I win, I would use this prize to film our outings, during raiser meetings, to let people see what the dog sees when it is working.

Thank you again for reading and using my instructable, and hopefully for voting for me! :)