Hello and an Introduction
Hi, I’m Daniel. I’m a mechanical engineer, mountain biker, and trail runner. I love to run with our dogs; it’s fun to have such enthusiastic running partners. Running gives you time and space to think about things, often in a new and different way. A recurring problem I thought about while running was how to make a better leash for running with dogs. When possible, I like to let the dogs run off leash. They have more fun and it makes it easier for me to run, especially on technical trail segments. The things that bothered me about a conventional leash were:
The constant stopping to attach and detach the leash when we passed other trail users.
Having to carry the leash while the dogs run free, especially if you have more than one dog.
Leashes dragging behind the dogs quickly became frayed and dirty, and can be hazardous for the dog if it were to catch on something.
Managing long, dragging leashes inside the house or car which created unnecessary chaos, especially with multiple dogs.
I wanted a way to make on/off-leash transitions a smoother more dynamic process. At first I tried modifying the clasp mechanism, making it super easy to latch on and release. The prototypes were cool, but you were still left carrying a leash when the dog was free. The obvious solution was to have the leash retract into the collar. This keeps your hands free, it makes releasing the leash as simple as it could possibly be, and regaining hold of the leash becomes very straightforward. Conceptually, it was straightforward but then came the engineering challenge of making something that functioned well, was as strong or stronger than a traditional leash, and did these things in a small, lightweight package. I went through five major design iterations and prototypes which were subjected to daily use. I finally arrived at a version that I really enjoyed using and checked all the boxes of what I wanted. This became the SpeedHound leash.
Based on my excitement about the leash and the positive feedback I was getting from others, I decided to grow a small manufacturing business around the SpeedHound leash. However, I didn’t want to go the traditional route of finding an overseas supplier, ordering 1000 units and crossing my fingers. I wanted to own the process, start to finish and do it here in Colorado. It’s definitely not the easiest way to do things, but I think it offers distinct advantages and touches on a few things that I feel are important.
Manufacturer choices impact our future. It’s important that manufacturers source from responsible, well-regulated producers of raw materials. Production of metals and other raw materials can be extremely detrimental to the environment and people that surround and work at these facilities. I wanted to be able to offer something that didn’t externalize manufacturing costs to the environment and human health. By sourcing materials made in the U.S.A. I can do just that.
Many consumer products have become a race to the bottom. In the pursuit to make everything cheaper something is being lost. We’re surrounded by more and more products that seem to mean less and less. Quality has taken a back seat to cost and objects have lost the intrinsic value given to them by knowing they were made by people and companies that have a passion for what they are doing.
Manufacturing is something I’m passionate about. It has been, and will continue to be, a very interesting journey that I’m eager to share.
Our main goal over the next few months is to continue to grow production capabilities in response to demand and expand our available color options. We will be documenting our journey via Instagram (@runspeedhound) and cover topics more in depth on the blog here. If you have questions or suggestions we’d love to hear from you. Thanks for the support and please follow along as we grow! As the weather warms and the trails start to dry out, make sure you get out there and get those dogs running!
Daniel