Daily Dog Question #9 10/6/07?

Question

Since we have been on the topic of walking on previous questions, I thought I'd ask about your leashes.

What type of leash do you use for your dogs? Any good information to share? Anyone use retracting leashes? Do you have other good leashes to recommend to the group?

As with previous questions, you all know I cannot answer myself.

I do have some additional information to share about a family member. This person has 5 dogs. When he takes his dogs out walking (with his fiance), he uses the 2 loop nylon leashes found at any pet supply store. He says they are nice because that 2nd short loop lets you have more control if needed. He also uses a 20ft training lead when he is practicing recall in a park.

As always, your answers are eagerly awaited and I will choose a best answer.

Enjoy this question which still is most certainly not a poll.

Here is an example of a 2 Loop leash.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751402&cp=2767032.2849844&fbx=0&fbn=Taxonomy%7CLeads&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2849844&fbc=1&parentPage=family&keepsr=1

Torbey... funny you should say you own 32 leashes. I think I have that many as well.

Answer 1

I have 5 dogs currently, and own 32 leashes. I have cotten webbed in 4,6,8,and 30 foot.

I have your standard 6 foot nylon in most colors and many patterns..including my favorite MOOSE leash. I also like my Turtle leash. I like the Lupine brand. I will replace it even if the dog chews it....which happens more than I care to say.

I have 4 retractable leashes. One is the standard large Flexi with the cable. Not my favorite. The other three are the large all blet ones. Love them. I know how to use them and they are great for water training, pottying a dog at a show, walks in the quiet park, and any rest area that I stop at while traveling.

I do also have a few 6 inch "handles" that work well for corrections while training.

I have about 4 leather ones also. Most were won at working events. I like them, but they are harder to clean and keep from getting wet and mouldy.

You can never have too many leashes. But, I think I do have a problem. Like some people with shoes. I was at Old Navy a few months ago, and they had some 6 foot leashes on clearance for $1.50!!!!!!! Who can pass that up!!!!!!! A good 6 foot leash for that price!!!!
I always keep 6 in each car, along with 6 sna-on cotton training collars since we do not keep collars on our dogs most of the time. That way I am always ready to throw a dog in the car and go to the park!!!!!!

Answer 2

For everyday leashes & collars, I use a flat collar and a standard 6 foot leash. I love Lupine products, they are guaranteed even if the dog chews it up. ( http://www.lupinepet.com/ )

I have various other collars and leashes we use sometimes, but the most used is the Lupine.

I also have a 20 foot leash for training.

I'm not a ran of retractable leashes. I don't like that fact that the dog has to pull against them a bit to get the lead to let out further. I also don't like that it's just a little cord and the dog tends to get tangled in the cord more than they would with a flat leash.

Answer 3

I personally think it depends on the size of dog, and how leash trained they are. I have had a pug, I think a small energetic dog like that did very well on a harness so it wouldn't chock her when she wanted to go run and socialize when it wasn't time. I also have 2 pits and they do well on the retracting leash. They are large dogs and I can have more control when needed, and they can run farther when its time. Although while training my pits I kept them on a short double loop leash as you mentioned. That way I had total control until they were leash trained. Now, I love the retractable leashes for them.I think it depends on whatever the owner feels most comfortable with but this is my personal experience.

Answer 4

Never heard of the 2 loop leash but I guess you're in the US and I'm in UK. I used to use a retractable leash until Harry chewed it! I liked the way I could hold the large 'handle' it was comfortable on the hand. I've also used nylon leashes but find those uncomfortable, I now use a leather 6ft leash with a rolled leather check collar.

Answer 5

Well, I have a 2 foot braided leather, very durable lead that I use for obedience classes and when I am out at matches. Then I also have a 4 foot leather, a 4 ft rayon, a 6 ft rayon and a 10 ft rayon. Soon I am adding a 30 foot rope lead to my collection for herding training. This length allows me to keep control of my learning dog while on the sheep.

I do not use retractable leashes at all. Any time my dog is on lead, it is a form of training, even for just taking a walk and retractable isn't something I would use for that really.

Answer 6

I have 4 ft leashes and 6 foot leashes and leather leashes (NO RETRACTABLE LEASHES!!! bad leashes). My favorite is the two loop leash - sometimes called a leash with a traffic loop. The dogs get walked and I hold the traffic loop, which keeps them at my side at all times. If I want them to have free time, they get 4 feet to smell and we have "free time".

I also have a 20 foot training leash for distance work. But daily walks are with the 4 foot 2 loop leash - and everyone has their own color.

Answer 7

I use the standard 6 foot nylon leashes for my dogs. When they were puppies and I was training them how to walk with polite manners I used halti's (I don't like gentle leaders because they don't release when proper behavior is exhibited by a dog) and gradually moved them to the standard leashes.

I use a 20 foot nylon leash to teach my dogs really reliable recall. Those are the only leashes I own :)

I do not like and do not recommend the retractable leashes. Actually, I hate them!!! Dogs should walk politely next to their owners, not 30 feet in front of them! I think they are horrible. We have had 4 dogs over the past year get injured while being walked on the retractable leashes.

Three got hit by cars (one lady backed right out of her driveway because she didn't see the dog... the owner was about 20 feet behind him!) and one got into a scuffle with another dog on a retractable leash. Both owners were too far away to get to them in time. It was horrible! Once your dog is 30 feet in front of you you have to lock the leash and catch up to them to get them back! They are awful!

I can confidently walk with my dogs off-leash and I know they will not budge from my side, however, you will never ever catch me with them off-leash. I trust my dogs, I do not trust other people and their poorly behaved dogs.

Answer 8

Retractable leads are all right but I find them a little annoying and so does my dog when I accidentally let go and it thwacks him on the butt,
Nylon works okay but I find that hideous so I have a leather collar with a thick black ropey nylon leash which is really strong. We even play tug of war with it. If you want to rein the furry fella in a little more then you can buy one of those ones which goes around the belly and attached to the neck as well -the harnesses I mean.
So yeah

Answer 9

Morning. I use the 6 foot nylon leads. I dont like the retractable ones they are not ment for strong dogs.
I find I have much better control over my dogs with just these leads.
I also use a 20 foot lead for traing many things plus recall. Right now my pup goes out with a 10 Ft. lead on. This way I can control exactly where he goes. I let him drag it around with him. If he tries to get into something he shouldn't then it easy for me to get control by either stepping on the lead so he cant move any further or just pick it up and get him out of where he isnt supposed to be. It works for me

Answer 10

I use a Gentle leader on my pup. I need to step up with my training as I need to transition her from that to a flat collar but life has kinda gotten in the way.
Flop is on a regular flat collar. I use a slip/tuggy fleece leash with him for Agility trials that I got from CleanRun.com. It's easy to walk them both this way - I don't like those split leashes for 2 dogs, my guys would so not be into that! I don't like retractables, either - people cannot see the thin line that connects you to the dog and try to just walk through it (???) and also, Flexis break. I don't want a false sense of security.