Posted by QuickReadAbout.com Staff in When training your dog, whether it’s a puppy or a dog that’s new to you and your family, you of course are going to need some proper equipment to help you do this effectively and safely. Someone new to the world of dog training can be very surprised and overwhelmed with the many different items available to them, including dog training leads. A novice may assume that these are just fancy leashes but in reality there are different uses for different dog training leads and it’s important that you choose the right one for the training session.
One such example of specialized dog training leads are those that are called traffic leads. These are very short and thick leashes that give you virtually no extra room between you and the dog. The purpose of these types of dog training leads? Simply put, when you’re in a lot of foot traffic you want your dog at the heel position at all times. Any more room on the leash and the dog is likely to start getting into other people’s way, causing a disturbance, jumping on strangers, or even getting into fights with other dogs. This type of lead also gives the dog a greater sense of security because it’s so close to the owner and isn’t caught up in a crowd of strangers and isn’t likely to be hurt by chasing after a car, getting accosted by another dog, and so on. Even though these dog training leads are meant to be very short they still come in a variety of sizes, usually anywhere from six inches for very large breeds to twenty inches for shorter breeds. Be sure that you get one that is long enough; always err on the side of caution and get one longer than what you think you need as you can always loop the extra few inches around your wrist as you walk.
British style or slip dog training leads are a combination of lead and collar in one. They slip over the dog’s neck and work something like a choke collar. Most dog experts will advise against using these unless you’re very skilled with them and even then it should only be in controlled situations. The reason for this is that if they are jerked or pulled too hard this is very painful for the dog. Typically only skilled dog handlers or owners should use these types of dog training leads and they should never be used with children or those who aren’t experienced with training a dog.
Other dog training leads are short and made of a rubber or plastic so that they can be used for hunting. When a dog has a scent the owner can let go and the short lead won’t get caught in anything or trip up the dog; they are also easily washable for after the hunt!
Choosing from all these types of dog training leads isn’t difficult if you realize their different purposes and uses.