Author Svetlana Rakitkina
10/26/2018 16:00 (Updated: 11/03/2018 22:25)
Zoosphere » Interesting
Agree, a leash is an essential accessory for every dog. All dog owners wonder which leash to choose, because there are so many of them. How not to make a mistake and choose the right leash for your beloved pet? Let's figure it out.
Indeed, the choice of leashes today is great. When buying a leash, you first need to determine what features you expect from it and understand whether it is suitable for your dog. How to do it? You just need to answer a few questions: 1. For what purpose are you buying a leash? Training? Walking? Exhibitions? Leashes? 2. What weight category does your pet belong to? 3. Is your dog calm or active?
Once you answer these questions, your search will narrow significantly, making your choice easier. So, now you can start choosing a leash. Let's look at the main types of leashes.
Roll leash
This version of ammunition is very convenient for use in urban environments and on walks. Thanks to the built-in mechanism and fixation, you can control the range of movement of your pet and, if necessary, tie up the dog when going to the store or if the dog suddenly jerks to the side, for example, decides to run after the birds or a cat, you can stop the freedom-loving pet with one press of a button located on the body. These options are most often suitable for small and medium breeds of dogs. For dwarf and miniature breeds of dogs, cable tape leashes are most suitable. When choosing a roulette leash, pay attention to its size, which is designated by the letters S, M, L. There are also mini leashes for the smallest breeds of dogs and Gigant, respectively, for large breeds of dogs. The dimensions of the leash and the reliability of the mechanism depend on the level of permissible loads and the weight of the animal. For example, the roulette leash M is suitable for animals with a body weight from 20 to 27 kg. Roulette leashes can be tape, cord, or cable.
If your animal is hyperactive, it is still better to choose a different leash option, since the mechanism may simply fail under constant heavy load. Also, such leashes are not suitable for training, training, or for large and active dogs.
Main types: how to choose a leash for a dog
There are different types of leashes for dogs, and they are divided according to their purpose, the weight of the animal, and also the breed. It is recommended for one dog to have several different types.
Roulette
Roulette is primarily intended for city walks. A dog on such a limiter feels as comfortable as possible, running in different directions over distances determined by a tape measure without obstacles. At the same time, the leash does not sag and is not smeared with dirt in the ground.
A special clamp regulates the length at which the pet can move away from the owner. This type is selected based on the dog’s weight. Experts recommend taking a tape measure with a reserve in case the dog jerks it sharply, trying to catch up with the cat.
Important! This type of leash is not recommended for large dogs.
Roulette leashes for dogs vary in length (2-8 meters), and also come in two types:
- Cable - used for small dogs. They are very comfortable because they do not twist when stretched, but are less reliable in terms of load.
- Tape - suitable for stronger and faster dogs due to their durability. The disadvantage of this type is that it can get twisted.
Among the high-quality manufacturers of tape measures
are
Flexi
and
Ferplast
. They are more expensive than their Chinese counterparts, but this is more than compensated by their reliability.
Chain
A leash in the form of a chain looks stylish and cute from the outside. But it is not suitable for all animals. All the chains are quite heavy, so it will not be very comfortable for children to walk under their weight.
This type is also not suitable for long-haired four-legged animals due to the fact that their hair can get caught in the chain links and get tangled.
It will be useful for the owner of a long-haired dog to know what is grooming, trimming, furminator and how to choose a clipper.
Even if the owner needs to wrap a chain around his hand to shorten the distance to the pet, it will be extremely uncomfortable. Therefore, such a leash is most often used for appearances at exhibitions or competitions.
Ringovka
Another design for walking is a dog ring. Let's take a closer look at what it is. In appearance, it is similar to a noose: a one-piece structure with loops on different sides. The owner holds on to one of them, and the second is put on the animal’s neck and fixed. If the dog jerks the ring sharply, the loop contracts, cutting off breathing, and then the dog weakens the pressure.
This option is only suitable for participation in exhibitions, when the four-legged animal needs to be fixed in the required position. There are many models of dog choke, but the most commonly used are the whole type.
Driver
The driver looks like a loop with a carabiner. It is convenient to put your hand through the loop and lead the animal next to you. Its purpose is to walk large dogs in crowded places.
For small breeds, this option will be inconvenient because the owner will have to bend very low.
fold
A svorka, or sparka, is a special leash for owners of several dogs. The Spark is unusual in that it has several carabiners at the end for walking two or more dogs at the same time.
Did you know? Collars with spikes were invented in Greece to protect the animal's neck from wolf bites.
This type is very convenient for exhibitions, and is also often used by owners of hunting dogs. For long-term walking, this design is inconvenient and is practically not used, since it limits the animal’s movements.
Harness
Harnesses are an excellent option for small dogs or overly active pets. The harness is placed on the body of the animal. Its advantage is that it does not put pressure on the neck and gives the dog freedom of movement.
Important! The main condition is that the harness fits snugly to the body.
Driver leashes
These leashes are short models and are intended for short walks. Very convenient for walking in crowded places, when transporting your pet on public transport or in a car. In appearance, such a leash resembles an elongated loop that is fixed to the collar. Suitable for large breed dogs.
Chain leashes
Many owners, when choosing a chain leash, are guided by the appearance of the product. Indeed, the chains look more elegant and beautiful than, for example. canvas leashes. A feature of such models is increased strength, which depends on the type of metal and the quality of the alloy. metal leashes can have various protective coatings that prevent exposure to natural factors. There should be a comfortable leather loop at one end, and a reliable fastening element, a carabiner or crocodile clip at the other. But you need to take into account that the chains are quite heavy, and in long-haired dogs, the hair will fall between the links. They are not very convenient to use in the cold season, if you need to sharply pull the dog towards you and reduce the length. It is best to use such leashes as an alternative, backup option. When choosing such a leash, find out the composition of the alloy, evaluate the quality of the connection of the links, the activity level and breed of your dog. Pay attention to the uniformity of the coating. The leash should not have any defects, chips, burrs, or sharp protrusions.
What types of dog leashes are there?
- Standard , has a length of about 1.5 - 2 meters, and is used most often. Made from nylon, leather or braided rope. It has a comfortable handle, making it convenient for them to keep the dog under control;
- Short - has a length of up to 1.5 meters. Designed for traveling by transport or walking around the city among large crowds of people. Often used to control and restrain service dogs.
- A slip leash, or choke , combines the collar and leash into a single piece, forming a sliding loop instead of a collar. Used for dog training.
- Long leashes , up to 10 meters long, are made of nylon. They are used primarily for training; it is not convenient to walk with them, as they constantly get confused. As a convenient alternative, retractable leashes are used - roulettes.
Leash - tape measure
Leashes are roulettes that teach the dog to constantly pull the owner forward or to the side, and do not allow him to control his behavior. They pose a danger to both the dog and the owner and others.
A dog may rush onto the roadway or rush at a pedestrian, and the mechanism that is supposed to block this jerk will not withstand or will not work, as a result the animal may get hit by a car or knock down a person and cause injury to him and himself.
A thin cord can easily wrap around an animal or person and cause various cut wounds, and with a strong tug, the plastic mechanism can simply be torn out and injure the animal and owner.
Long leashes
They give the dog a sense of freedom, he can walk and explore the territory at a considerable distance from the owner, while keeping himself and others safe.
Before use, it is necessary to teach the animal to obey the commands “Come”, “Sit”, “Fu”, “No” and others, otherwise it will be difficult to control its behavior.
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The leash requires constant attention; you need to watch it so that it does not cling to various obstacles and does not drag along the ground.
Short leash
Gives complete control over the animal's behavior, compared to a standard and long leash.
Necessary if your dog constantly pulls you and is aggressive towards other animals and people around you. It must be used when walking in an urban environment and in crowded places.
Leash - noose
Used for dog training. Use it if your dog constantly pulls at you outside or when you need to control his attention. It should not be on the dog’s throat, it should be placed behind the ears and chin, and you should not tug or pull it too hard, otherwise you can injure the animal. Not intended for walking.
The choke does not have a rigid fixation and the dog can easily slip out of it, run away or get lost, so do not remove the collar from it, which has the owner’s contact information on it.
Standard leash
A standard one and a half to two meter long leash is suitable for everyday walks with most dog breeds. It gives freedom to the animal and the opportunity for the owner to control it. For daily walks, choose it.
Ring leashes
Such a leash should be purchased by owners who are interested in the exhibition career of their pets. Show rings can have different modifications. The design may consist of a chain collar and a leash, which is attached to the collar with an invisible carabiner. It can also be a one-piece leash with a sliding loop or collar. Most models of rings are presented in single, solid designs; they have two loops, one for the hand, the second is fixed with a clip, leather loop or “crocodile clip” on the dog. At exhibitions, such a leash allows you to show off your dog’s advantages as effectively as possible, while remaining almost invisible, so choose the size, design, design, and color of the rings so that they do not distract from the appearance of your pet.
Leashes for walking and training
These types of leashes should be in every owner’s arsenal. To make walking leashes, practical leather, artificial leather, practical tarpaulin (sling), and nylon are used. There are also combined options that consist of different types of material. The length of the leash can be from one to three or three and a half meters or more. It is preferable to choose leashes at least two meters long for training and everyday walks. For training and practicing the commands “Come to me”, “Place”, “Apport” - the length of the leash should be at least five meters.
What types of dog leashes are there?
Standard dog leashes are usually a fixed length of 1.8 meters.
- This is the type of dog leash that you have probably used and seen most often. The standard leash is often flat braided nylon, but it is also usually made of leather or rope material. Standard dog leashes have a comfortable loop for your hand so you can maintain control and hold your dog while you pick him up.
- Short leashes for dogs are 1.2 meters or less. They are sometimes called transport leashes or city leashes. Short leashes are also often used for service dogs.
- Rope type leashes combine a dog collar and leash into one sliding piece and are often used for dog training. If you use a slip leash during training, your dog will still need to wear his regular dog collar with ID tags and contact information in case he runs away.
- Long nylon leashes reach 9 meters or more and are most often used for training dogs.
Do you want to buy a corgi puppy? Royal Pets Kennel is engaged in breeding.
Tips for choosing a dog leash
When choosing a leash for puppies and adult dogs, you need to take into account the quality properties of the material used for their manufacture. The leash must be made of high-quality, reliable materials - genuine leather, substitute leather, synthetic sling. At one end of the leash there should be a reliable carabiner, at the other there should be a convenient loop or an automatic handle that locks the length. For medium and small breeds of dogs, leashes with a reel-length adjuster are very convenient, which is quite enough for a comfortable walk of the pet “under control”. This option is not suitable for large or fighting breeds of dogs, and the thickness of the leash should be at least four to seven centimeters.
As for the choice of material, it is better to give preference to tarpaulin. This material is universal, practical, reliable, can withstand heavy loads, and is less susceptible to negative environmental influences. When the skin gets wet or at sub-zero temperatures, it hardens, becomes deformed, and loses its aesthetic appearance. In order for a leather leash to have a long service life, it is necessary to carefully care for it and treat it with special protective impregnation compounds from time to time.
Synthetic braid, lace or sling in this case are more durable and practical.
When choosing a leather leash, give preference, especially if your pet is a large breed, to wide leashes made of intertwined “braids” or leashes consisting of two or more layers of durable leather stitched together. Thin braided leashes can be used for short walks or for exhibitions. When choosing leather leashes, pay attention to the length. width, quality of workmanship. The connections must be well stitched with strong thread. It is very important to evaluate the quality characteristics and properties of the leash, the reliability of the fastening, and the quality of the carabiner clasps. The carabiner should be made of durable steel and should not come unfastened easily at the slightest movement. When choosing a canvas leash, you should pay attention to its length and width. The optimal width for medium and large breeds should be two to three centimeters.
How to choose?
Before purchasing a leash, please read the following guidelines.
- Consider the size of the animal. The larger and more powerful the dog, the stronger the product will suit him.
- Before purchasing, make sure that the carbine and bolt are of sufficient strength and high quality.
- If you choose a leather leash, then buy a product whose edges are processed, otherwise the material will quickly get wet.
- If a leash is needed for a representative of a large breed, then you should choose a welded ring for a carabiner, and choose a cylindrical shape for the latch itself so that the dog does not unfasten it.
- For short educational measures, a noose leash is suitable. For small dogs, you can construct a noose in a couple of seconds yourself from a classic leash with a loop.
- To hold a medium and large dog, choose a leash 2-4 cm wide. Give preference to wicker or flat products, and flat ones should have a two-layer stitched structure. For miniature dogs, cute thin braided laces or rings are suitable, emphasizing the elegance and sophistication of representatives of elite breeds.
- For daily walks, a leash 2-3 m long is suitable; longer options are inconvenient, as the animal can get entangled in them. If the accessory is needed to practice commands, then give preference to products at least 6-8 m in length.
