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Original poster

Which collar and lead cocker spaniel pup

24 replies

Aria20 · 05/05/2021 20:19

So puppy came with a little soft collar. I have bought perfect fit harness. What collars and leads do people recommend for 12 week cocker spaniel? What length leads should I go for and do I want thick or thin? I'd like something with a padded handle. I don't want to spend a ridiculous amount but want something safe and comfortable!

OP posts:
thecapitalsunited · 05/05/2021 20:37

Having only just bought one I wish I’d bought the halti training lead that can adjust to three different lengths ages ago. It’s very flexible - goes out to 2m for fun exploring walks but can be used as a short training lead or attached to both sides of my perfect fit harness. It’s padded so it is nice to hold. Only downside is that there is no handle as such.

DiddlyWiddly · 05/05/2021 20:55

I have an essenjay rolled leather collar and lead and would highly recommend.
Not the collar because obviously the pup will grow but the leads definately, and the collars when pup is full grown.
They were really expensive but show absolutely no signs of wear and tear at all, my dog wears her collar 24/7 and she’s worn it for the past 7 odd years

PeckyOwl · 05/05/2021 21:39

Another vote for the halti training lead. It's so versatile, really useful to be able to adjust the length, and very hard wearing.

Original poster
Aria20 · 05/05/2021 21:54

I'm confused about halti training lead, why doesn't it have a handle? How does it adjust to different lengths?

OP posts:
starbrightstarlight8888 · 05/05/2021 21:56

A harness will encourage them to pull on walks. Not ideal.

DiddlyWiddly · 05/05/2021 22:01

A harness will encourage them to pull on walks. Not ideal
It might.
But pulling on a collar can cause gagging and coughing and long term pulling can result in damage to the trachea and spine.
A properly fitted harness stops that.

thecapitalsunited · 05/05/2021 22:15

@Aria20

I'm confused about halti training lead, why doesn't it have a handle? How does it adjust to different lengths?
It has a clip on both ends and three d rings at various points down the length. One clip on the dog and the other clip on one of the d rings (or the front ring of the harness) to create a loop. The shorter the lead the bigger the loop you’ve created. I don’t find it a problem really but my husband prefers to use our old lead with a handle to put his hand through and wrap around his hand so that if the dog spooks and pulls all his fingers will be smashed to pieces .

Don’t worry and pulling on a harness. You can train loose leash walking regardless.

M0rT · 05/05/2021 22:20

I had a high energy pup and the vet recommended a harness.
If they are high energy and determined they won't stop pulling on the collar quick enough to prevent damage.
We have been through a few because she likes to chew them and obviously grows!
Top tip is get one that just pulls up over the shoulders as it's easier to put on when they are wriggly and you can train to sit and put it on when they are sitting.
I think it's called the Norwegian style.

Lazierdays · 05/05/2021 22:21

A harness won’t encourage pulling! It will save their very delicate necks from getting damaged though!
Perfect fits are great OP. I would get one of their 1.5m leads to go with it as it has the double clips so can lengthen and shorten or use attached to both chest and back rings on the harness.
Collar wise I wouldn’t attach a lead to it just choose a soft one you like for attaching the ID tag on.

Sheepareawesome · 05/05/2021 22:22

Front clip harness and yes the padded 2m halti lead is brilliant.

Wolfiefan · 05/05/2021 22:22

Essenjay are awesome! I want a leather training lead from them.
I have a halti one at the moment.

starbrightstarlight8888 · 05/05/2021 22:50

There is a lot of research out there to show harnesses encourage pulling. My vet told me this and I have a very high energy breed who definitely pulls more in a harness.
That dog expert man on TV (can't remember his name) always says this on his shows too.

Wolfiefan · 05/05/2021 22:53

@starbrightstarlight8888 if it’s Dogs Behaving Badly you’re thinking of them he’s little better than Cesar Milan.
Harnesses like perfect fit that have front and back D rings do not encourage pulling.

Dogoodfeelgood · 05/05/2021 22:55

Halti training leads are great, you clip to front and you sort of make the handle by clipping the end to one of the rings on the lead. If you want a lovely padded lead - we got ours off Etsy - a shop called Eco Dog Designs. The lead has lasted about 7 months and in great condition still - lovely hand made and matching collars, I don’t recommend the harnesses though, the perfect fit is better. We use those for going out for lunch or nice walks and the halti for standard park walks - halti is not comfortable to hold as not padded, but good for training. Have a cocker spaniel too x

theweebabydonkey · 05/05/2021 22:57

I think it's impossible to say which kind of collar/lead combo you need without seeing a pic of the 12 WEEK OLD PUP?! 😍

DiddlyWiddly · 05/05/2021 23:14

There is a lot of research out there to show harnesses encourage pulling. My vet told me this and I have a very high energy breed who definitely pulls more in a harness
But even if that is true, they are still the better option because a dog pulling in a collar long term can damage their trachea and spine.
That doesn’t happen in a well fitting harness.

A dog that pulls in a harness won’t magically stop if put in a collar, they will still pull and if it’s a choice between pulling in a collar or pulling in a harness, the harness is the safer option.

StillMedusa · 05/05/2021 23:28

Perfect fit Harness with a double ended lead clipped on front and top.
No risk to the trachea and no.. a dog will pull if not trained NOT to pull... a collar or harness does not determine that, your training does!

Training is what prevents pulling. If your dog pulls, turn quickly (holding lead down low.. no pressure on neck) and do this every few paces until they start looking at you rather than charging ahead... simple (and looks daft) but it works for daily walking.,

Mine walks beautifully from doing this.. it only fails if she sees deer/rabbits and then I'd far rather have her under my control in a harness than her pulling on her neck!

thecapitalsunited · 06/05/2021 07:22

You definitely can’t rely on a tool to prevent pulling, it needs to be trained. Then you can use any equipment you want. My dog goes just as well in a collar as in a harness because he knows that if he pulls we just turn around and go the other way so he doesn’t get to see the cat or whatever it was he wanted. It takes time but that’s dog training for you.

Something I haven’t seen anyone else mention is a breakaway collar. We have a crate and because he has access to it unsupervised I keep my dog in a collar that will break open if too much force is put through it. This means I can have his collar with tag on 24/7 in case of escape but I don’t have to worry about the collar or the tags getting caught in the crate and him handing himself. The collar has two d rings either side of the breakaway section so when you walk on a collar you just put the clip through both of them so it doesn’t come open. I’ve been very happy with it

sunflowersandbuttercups · 06/05/2021 07:23

@starbrightstarlight8888

A harness will encourage them to pull on walks. Not ideal.
Only if you don't train them properly.

Walking a dog that pulls on a collar and lead combo is really dangerous as it can cause permanent damage to their bodies - including spinal problems and tracheal collapse.

Original poster
Aria20 · 06/05/2021 09:19

Def using perfect fit harness as don't want to damage her neck if she did pull, I just wanted a decent lead to use with it. I will take a look at some of these suggestions thank you.

Here is pup.Smile

Which collar and lead cocker spaniel pup
OP posts:
Dobbyafreeelf · 06/05/2021 14:31

@starbrightstarlight8888

There is a lot of research out there to show harnesses encourage pulling. My vet told me this and I have a very high energy breed who definitely pulls more in a harness. That dog expert man on TV (can't remember his name) always says this on his shows too.
@starbrightstarlight8888 well I would be changing vets for starters! What an ignorant comment! Harnesses DO NOT encourage pulling. Particularly the perfect fit harness which has a ring on the chest to prevent pulling. You can do huge amounts of damage walking a dog on a collar!
StillMedusa · 06/05/2021 20:11

I use the halti double ended lead with the pefect fit harness..it's great. I also have a longer length amazon brand version which isn't quite long enough to be a long line..but nearly. I use the short lead in town and the longer lead in the countryside when it's not appropriate to let her off lead.

HappyThursdays · 06/05/2021 21:07

Perfect fit do leads too

It is my favourite lead by miles as it is fleece lined and so comfortable to hold when walking. I get sore skin on my hands and have dodgy joints and it's the only lead that doesn't hurt my hands.

www.dog-games-shop.co.uk/dog-leads.html

Original poster
Aria20 · 06/05/2021 21:48

@HappyThursdays wish I'd ordered the lead to match the harness when I ordered it but in the end I've gone for the halti... hopefully we get on ok with it.

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