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Original poster

Come and discuss leashes with me, please :-)

36 replies

tulpe · 11/02/2010 17:27

I need to buy a leash & collar for Ruby (our viz puppy). She will be ready to go out in 2.5 weeks and I want to get her used to a leash in the meantime.

I really have no idea where to begin. I am confused by the size guides for a start and there is just so much choice available.

She does have a collar on now but it is rather tatty - it belonged to the breeder who put it on her to distinguish her as ours.

All advice/ideas welcome Thank you

OP posts:
Batteryhuman · 11/02/2010 17:39

I have always used a rope slip lead but you have to be consistent about never letting your pup pull (nothing worse than watching your dog choke!). They are so easy to put on and take off when wearing gloves. My lab walks up and puts his head through the loop to order. Whichever training style you are following (or one of the wonderful gurus on here) will have loads of good advice about preventing dogs from pulling but I always found the "frequently changing direction" method worked for mine.

Collars. I have no opinion. As long as you have a thingy to fix your surname and phone number tag to.

shivster1980 · 11/02/2010 20:26

If you use a traditional collar and lead set up. I like the ezydog range. The cujo lead is fantastic helps protect my shoulder when my dog suddenly jerks as it is shock absorbing.

I can't buy their collar until Monty is fully grown as it doesn't have much room for alteration but not long now as he is 9 months.

Vallhala · 11/02/2010 23:19

Ditto Bella. My boys both have normal leads and generally my bouncy GSD wears a halti when walking but a slip lead is invaluable and used most often on my Lab X (with his collar and tags still on of course). They're easy to get on and off and light to carry as well as aiding in training.

I always carry a spare slip lead in my pocket (even today, wearing smart clothes to go to a meeting ). Many a time I've had to take the belt off my jeans to use as a makeshift lead because one belonging to a dog of mine has broken, or because I've caught a stray in the street, so now the spare slip lead is with me more often than purse or handbag!

Bella32 · 12/02/2010 08:12

Whaddya mean, ditto Bella? Had to double check but last I looked I hadn't answered yet, Val

Personally, I wouldn't use a slip lead, especially not on a puppy. They are useful for rounding up loose dogs, I agree, but basically they are a variation on a choke chain, and can actually be worse as they don't immediately release.

For pups I use a light nylon lead at first (this can double as a house lead in the early days) and then I switch to a long, heavy leather training lead which is adjustable in length - will try to find you a link later.
Ezydog collars are lovely - very strong, soft padded neoprene and if you go to British Dog and enter fetch10 at the checkout you get 10% off

minimu · 12/02/2010 08:18

I would never ever ever ever use a slip lead.

For the puppy buy a small adjustable collar at first as they will grow so quickly. They ususally do up with a buckle and you can slide a plastic thing ti make it larger.

A light lead to start with if they bite the lead in play you could get a small chain lead but light as poss to start with. DOn't spend much money as you will need to get a bigger and stronger one soon.

I always use the training leads as they have adjustable lengths and fit over my body when I am walking the dogs off lead.

Bella32 · 12/02/2010 08:47

Training lead

This is a nylon one - I have a Ferplast leasther one which was harder to track down but I prefer leather as I think it is easier for the dog to feel when the lead is hanging loose and so learn to walk on a loose lead.

HTH

Original poster
tulpe · 12/02/2010 11:36

Thanks for all the advice.

Is this the kind of collar I want for her? If so, how do I know which size to go for?

Or, for now, is it just as good to buy something like this to begin with? For the first few weeks or so, I will only be walking her around the block or a quick once around a local field.

OP posts:
Alambil · 12/02/2010 11:43

yeah that PAH one is fine for a first lead.

We always upgrade to a check chain (needs fitting by someone who knows what they're doing so they aren't too long) when the dogs are old enough (around 14 weeks when they start dog school) and then a leather lead made from saddle leather when they get a bit bigger still....

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 12/02/2010 12:35

We got given the stripey one in the 2nd link but the collar was too small for my dog when she came to us at 4 months. However, I am finding the lead very handy to have around as a sort of house line as it is very light. When she's being a real pain it is left on her so she can be removed easily from a situation.

As I have an extremely bouncy dog I need something substantial and love my training lead, I think ours is the Halti one which I got at the same time as the Halti harness, very comfortable to hold.

Bella32 · 12/02/2010 12:38

tulpe: yes, the PAH one looks fine. No point spending much on a collar that she'll grow out of very quickly

I tend to wait until they're fully grown or nearly fully grown before I get them a 'proper' collar. Until then mine make do with cast offs or cheapies

Please don't use choke or check chains

Choke chains leaflet

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 12/02/2010 12:41

I can't fess up in public to the collar my dog is currently, I'm much too embarrassed about how much I spent. It is leather though and should last forever

Original poster
tulpe · 12/02/2010 12:51

Thanks again.

I had already bought a gorgeous red tartan collar and leash for her from PAH but it is far too chunky and large for her. I got so confused with all the sizing - the pup one didn't seem substantial enough so I ended up with a mid-size breed adult collar . Now she is here, I can see it is totally inappropriate .

Will go to PAH tomorrow morning and will wait until she is a bit bigger before going for the Ezydog version.

OP posts:
Original poster
tulpe · 12/02/2010 12:52

oh and don't worry. I would never use a choke chain. We had a German Shepherd when I was little and she was always on a choke chain. Even back then I thought it seemed unspeakably cruel. I don't mean to offend those of you who chose to use one - each to their own etc etc. However, for me personally, I couldn't do it.

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 12/02/2010 12:59

Daphne has one like this She has the same one now that she got when she was just a couple of months old, but then she has not grown that much and it is now on the last hole.

I think that Blondes should buy Woofa one like that.

MmeLindt · 12/02/2010 13:00

What kind of dog is she?

Romanarama · 12/02/2010 13:23

Sorry for hijack, but I'd like to buy my goldie a collar on the net as can't find one in the pet shop that I like. Could someone with a lab or goldie recommend a size for an adult? They seem to be 50 or 60 cm. He's just growing out of his first nylon puppy collar but is nowhere near full grown yet.

Bella32 · 12/02/2010 13:24

That's lovely, MmeLindt. My lab wants one too - do they do them in a 50cm neck size?

Wynken - fess up, honey. You are among friends. You know we just want to laugh at you admire your taste

Bella32 · 12/02/2010 13:28

x post Romanarma - my lab wore a collar that adjusted from 40 to 50cm for most of his puppyhood. It still almost fits him.

Romanarama · 12/02/2010 13:29

Thanks bella! Was that an Ezy? They look nice. The trainer at puppy class makes us all use a slip nylon lead - it's horrible! If he pulls he coughs and splutters. I might have to stop going to that training class.

Bella32 · 12/02/2010 13:33

No, this was a very old leather collar I have. Almost as old as me

The ezydog ones have quite a bit of adjustment in them - he graduated to that once he was pretty much fully grown. They are nice though, and waterproof and washable, which can be handy

Yup, I'd find a new training class too

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 12/02/2010 14:50

My bank account had a run in with the Holly and Lil site after finding my tax return fees weren't quite as much as I thought last month, which happened to be just the time they had a sale on. That is all I'm saying

Bella32 · 12/02/2010 14:58

It's this one , isn't it?

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 12/02/2010 15:07

Oh no Bella, you've sussed it

All I'll say is that it is pink and I bought it as I was fed up of people calling her a him. This is despite the fact that I mercilessly took the piss out of a friend who did this exact same thing before I got a dog. I hang my head in shame.

Bella32 · 12/02/2010 15:17

It's okay - you are not alone. My pup had a pink collar for a while, for the same reason

The plain leather ones look very nice, tbh Just not sure about the charms...

MmeLindt · 12/02/2010 15:42

Damn you, Bella. Why did you link to that site?

My DH will not thank you.

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