Quick answer

To repair a tear in your dog's gear, clean the fabric, peel the backing off a Paikkatarrat patch, and press it firmly over the damage. The patch bonds without heat and stays through multiple washes.

Why repair instead of replace?

A small tear in a well-fitting harness or coat doesn't have to mean the end of the gear. Repairing extends the life of items your dog already trusts, saves money, and keeps usable gear out of the landfill. The trade-off is that a patch changes the look slightly and won't restore original tensile strength in load-bearing seams—for critical stress points, replacement is still safer.

When not to patch

Avoid using a repair patch on frayed webbing, broken buckles, or torn stitching along a harness's main load-bearing seam. Those failures compromise safety and need a professional fix or a new product. The Paikkatarrat patch is designed for fabric tears in coats, vests, and non-structural parts of harnesses.

Step-by-step repair process

  1. Clean and dry the damaged area: Wash the gear according to its care label and let it dry completely. The patch bonds best to clean, dry fabric—oils, dirt, or moisture will prevent adhesion. A common mistake is applying the patch to a damp surface. Wait until the fabric is fully dry.
  2. Select the right patch shape: Choose a Paikkatarrat patch that covers the tear with at least 1 cm of overlap on all sides. Round patches work well for small punctures; larger or oblong shapes suit longer rips. If the tear is longer than the largest patch, consider using two patches side by side with a small gap.
  3. Peel and apply: Remove the patch from its backing paper and center it over the tear. Press firmly from the center outward to push out air bubbles. The adhesive is pressure-sensitive, so use your thumb or a flat tool for 30 seconds. Do not stretch the fabric while applying—it can cause the patch to pucker or lift later.
  4. Wait before washing: Let the patch cure for at least 24 hours before exposing the gear to water or heavy use. The adhesive reaches full strength after this period. Washing too soon is the most common reason a patch fails early.

What you need

  • Paikkatarrat: The Paikkatarrat set includes four waterproof adhesive patches in different shapes. No sewing or ironing is required, and the variety of shapes lets you match the patch to the tear size for a cleaner repair.

    Paikkatarrat

    Paikkatarrat