Introduction: Sugru Dog Lead Bag Hanger Hack

Like all good dog owners, I pick up after my dog while we're out walking, and and deposit his, well, deposit, in the nearest bin provided for such things*. As these bins are usually a long way away from where I have to bag the offending item, it generally means that I have to walk around toting a bag of poo (I can't be coy about it any longer), which makes you feel a little bit like a crazy person.

I figured that there had to be a better way, so when my local hackspace held a Sugru build night, I got to hacking a solution. I'm really pleased with the result, as not only does it mean I don't need to walk around swinging a bag of poo, it also frees up a hand to use my phone or whatever.

*Pro tip: don't ever breathe in when you open the lid on those things, especially on a hot day. They are the open gaping mouth to Hell.

Step 1: Materials Needed

For this hack, you'll need:

  • An extendable dog lead
  • Sugru (I ended up using two 5g packs)
  • Wire (you could probably use a bit of wire coat hanger at a push)
  • Wire cutters

Step 2: Make and Attach the Hook

Take your wire cutters and cut a piece that's twice as long as you want your hook to be, and double it up. Bend it into a shape, as shown.

Next, take about 3/4 of a pack of Sugru and wrap it around the wire - make sure you've got it all covered. Then use the rest of the pack to attach the hook to the body of the lead, as shown in the pic.

Step 3: Finishing Up

Once it is in place, use the other 5g pack of Sugru to bulk up the hook, and make sure that it has a good solid base where it joins the lead.

When that's all done, leave it alone for at least 24 hours to allow the Sugru to cure, and then you're finished. You're now the proud owner of a dog lead with a poo bag carrying hook. Congratulations!