Strength-Testing and Safety in Dog Gear

Want to prioritise your dog's safety but feeling overwhelmed by all the information available? We're here to help.

In this guide, we'll explain the different safety tests used for dog gear and accessories, what you should look for when choosing safe products, and the questions you should be asking before you buy. The right equipment could make all the difference in keeping your dog safe.

At Twiggy Tags, dogs are at the heart of everything we do. Their safety and comfort will always come before anything else. We've written this guide to be as balanced and informative as possible while explaining why we make the safety decisions we do and how we plan to continue improving our testing and development in the future.

Strength Testing: What Is It and Should My Dog's Gear Have It?

Strength testing is one of the most important things to look for when shopping for dog gear.

You might think this only matters if you have a large, powerful dog, but even small dogs can generate up to three times their body weight when they suddenly pull. If your lead or harness isn't strong enough, it could fail when you need it most. Large dog owners already understand the importance of strong equipment, but it matters just as much for smaller breeds.

However, simply seeing the words "strength tested" isn't enough.

Not all strength testing is equal, and brands don't always explain exactly what has been tested. For example, many retractable leads are only tested to around 50kg because of the limitations of their internal mechanism. If a product simply states "strength tested" without publishing the actual results, you may not realise it isn't suitable for your dog.

If a company doesn't publish its testing data, don't be afraid to ask. A reputable brand should be happy to explain how its products have been tested and what loads they are designed to withstand.

If your dog suddenly lunges after a squirrel or cat and the lead or harness fails, the consequences could be serious.

Tensile (Pull) Testing

The most common method of testing dog gear is tensile testing.

During a tensile test, a machine steadily pulls the product in the same direction it would experience during normal use. The force is gradually increased until the product breaks. The maximum force recorded before failure becomes the product's tensile strength.

As Intertek explains:

"Tensile tests measure the force required to break a sample specimen and the extent to which the specimen stretches or elongates to that breaking point. Such tests produce stress-strain diagrams used to determine tensile modulus. The resulting test data can help specify optimal materials, design parts to withstand application forces, and provide key quality control checks for materials."

Twiggy Tags Independent Tensile Test Results

Adventure Harness 2.0

• 250kg to 700kg (depending on size)

Apex Harness

• 600kg to 800kg (depending on size)

Comfort Collar

• 180kg to 560kg (depending on size)

Leads

• 220kg to 300kg (depending on size)

See our FAQ page for full results on individual sizes and all products

Sudden Impact Testing

Another valuable test is sudden impact testing.

Unlike tensile testing, which applies force gradually, sudden impact testing measures how well a product withstands a rapid, high-force load, similar to a dog suddenly lunging at full speed.

This type of testing is less common, but if a product is marketed for reactive or powerful dogs, it's reassuring to know it has been tested for these real-world situations.

Our products have been independently sudden impact tested in the UK and showed no damage during testing.

Adventure Harness 2.0

• Size 1: 18kg

• Size 2: 18kg

• Size 3: 30kg

• Size 4: 52kg

• Size 5: 84kg

• Size 6: 170kg

Apex Harness

• XXS: 18kg

• XS: 18kg

• S: 30kg

• M: 52kg

• L: 84kg

• XL: 170kg

• XXL: 260kg

Comfort Collar

• XS: 18kg

• S: 30kg

• M: 52kg

• L: 84kg

• XL: 170kg

Leads

• Close Control: 260kg

• Small Lead: 260kg

• Apex Lead: 260kg

For full sudden impact results please see our FAQ page

Crash Testing: Is It Necessary?

Crash testing is completely different from standard strength testing.

Rather than simply measuring how much force a product can withstand, crash testing evaluates how a harness performs during a simulated vehicle collision. The harness is fitted to a crash test dog model inside a test vehicle, and the forces experienced during a collision are recreated.

This type of testing can help develop harnesses that better protect dogs during road accidents.

However, crash testing currently has significant limitations.

Only a small number of facilities worldwide offer this testing, and most can only test dogs weighing approximately 25 to 30kg. Testing is also often limited to relatively low impact speeds, commonly around 30mph.

At Twiggy Tags, we'd love to develop a dedicated crash-tested car harness. However, we don't feel comfortable releasing one until we can properly test it across the full range of dogs we cater for.

Ideally, we'd want testing that includes motorway speeds of up to 70mph and covers everything from the smallest breeds through to giant dogs.

Why Aren’t Twiggy Tags Harnesses Currently Crash Tested?

Crash testing has strict design requirements.

To qualify, the harness normally has to attach directly to the vehicle's seatbelt rather than using a tether. It also needs seatbelt-grade webbing and metal buckles designed specifically for crash performance.

For this reason, most brands that offer crash-tested products design a completely separate harness specifically for vehicle use.

Meeting crash testing requirements often means compromising features that make a harness comfortable, lightweight and practical for everyday walks and outdoor adventures.

My Lead Clip Is Rated to 400kg. Why Isn't the Whole Lead?

This is something we recommend paying close attention to.

Some brands advertise the strength of an individual component rather than the strength of the finished product.

For example, a company may state that its buckle is tested to 600kg without ever publishing the strength of the complete harness.

When you're walking your dog, every component matters. The webbing, stitching, D-rings and hardware all need to work together. The weakest part determines the overall strength.

Our locking carabiners, for example, are independently tested to 400kg. However, we publish the strength of the complete lead because that provides a much more realistic indication of its performance.

If a brand only advertises the strength of its clips or buckles, ask how strong the entire product is.

Transparency matters.

Other Safety Features Worth Looking For

At Twiggy Tags, we build additional safety features into our products wherever possible.

Locking Lead Clips

This feature came from real-life experience.

At our first outdoor show, Finley the Border Collie was secured beside our gazebo using a double-ended lead with traditional trigger clips.

A few moments later, we looked up and saw him happily wandering around 20 metres away.

Nothing had broken. The clips hadn't failed.

Instead, the trigger clip had twisted against the harness D-ring while he rolled on the ground and simply unclipped itself.

Traditional trigger clips remain one of the most common lead fastenings available, but they can twist against D-rings and accidentally release. After that experience, we immediately began developing safer alternatives.

We first introduced a manual screw-lock carabiner before progressing to our lightweight auto-locking carabiner.

Today, locking clips have become increasingly popular, with many leading brands also making the switch.

AirTag, ID Tag and Tracker Storage

Our Adventure Harness 2.0  includes a dedicated pouch that can securely hold:

• An Apple AirTag

• Your dog's ID tag if they don't wear a collar

• A spare ID tag

• Other small tracking devices

It's a simple feature that adds extra peace of mind, particularly for off-lead adventures.

Extra Safety Features

Our Collars feature an additional small D-ring to attach ID tags for legal safety and security on walks with your dog. However, this tag will come off under extreme force, ensuring an off-lead dog can’t get caught by branches etc and accidentally strangled.

Our Close Control Leads include a second handle positioned near your dog, making it easier to maintain close control in busy environments, near roads, or when managing reactive dogs.

Our award-winning Multi-Way Lead offers multiple safety advantages. It can be used as a secure tether while you're out and about, and it's especially useful for rescue dogs. By attaching the lead to both a collar and harness, you reduce the risk of escape if a dog slips one piece of equipment. This makes it particularly helpful while dogs settle into their new homes or adjust to walking in unfamiliar environments.

Our Adventure 2.0, Horizon and Scramble Harness feature a neck buckle, meaning they don’t need to be pulled over your dog's head. This allows for a more secure fit because the neck can be adjusted independently. Dogs with heads larger than their necks are therefore less likely to back out of the harness.

Our brand-new Scramble Harness has a third strap around the belly, keeping “houdini-dogs” safe with an escape-proof design*, especially effective when paired with our Martingale Collar, which tightens when a dog pulls. This is incredibly important for nervous rescues who are prone to escaping, and for sighthound breeds who have necks larger than their heads.

The harness also features a Y-shaped front design, allowing unrestricted shoulder movement while walking and running.

Night Time Safety

Adventures don't stop when the sun goes down.

That's why we offer a rechargeable light designed to improve visibility during darker walks. 

Whether you're heading out after work during winter, taking your dog into the garden before bed, or relaxing around a campsite in the evening, improved visibility helps keep both you and your dog safer. We have even added a designated “light loop” to a lot of our products to give a safe and secure section to attach your light to so you can see your dog always.

The Key Things to Remember

If you're feeling overwhelmed, remember these simple tips.

• Choose products with published strength testing results, not just claims of being "strength tested."

• If a brand only publishes the strength of individual clips or buckles, ask for the strength of the complete product.

• Choose locking lead clips whenever possible to reduce the risk of accidental unclipping.

• If you're buying a crash-tested harness, ask exactly what speeds and dog weights it has been tested for.

• Buy from brands that are transparent about their testing, design decisions and safety standards.

The more information a company is willing to share, the more confident you can feel that your dog's safety has genuinely been considered.

*It is very hard for a dog to be able to back out of a correctly fitted Scramble Harness, however Twiggy Tags always recommends pairing with secondary safety items and cannot guarantee a dog will not be able to get out of the harness, especially if not professionally fitted by us.