Slip lead advice

[MargoisanA1arsehole]

Am looking for recommendations for a reliable slip lead please.
I have two young dogs (a staffy x and a boxer x mastiff so you can imagine both are quite strong) and they both pull on the lead hugely.
At present I’m using BullyBillows slip leads, and when it’s in the correct position, they work brilliantly.
But the stopper keeps working its way down, the lead gets out of position and I’m back to square one.
Please help!!

Slip leads can seriously damage your dogs throat and vertebra- they can stop pulling by causing pain and discomfort yes, but do you want to risk that?

Try a well fitting harness with a front clip (not just a back clip). With a front clip it is much easier to redirect and stop pulling. Using one with my dog (who without it pulled my 6’ husband over) has transformed walks.

I have a 50kg livestock guarding dog breed and I use an Ezydog check mate martingale collar https://ezydog.co.uk/products/checkmate-training-collar It does have a tightening action, but unlike a slip lead, it can be adjusted so it won't tighten or loosen beyond a certain point. It's a much safer option and won't damage the dogs trachea. I would highly recommend it.

I use the checkmate in conjunction with a Haqihana hound harness and a double ended training lead. That is the best combination for me, with a massively strong and heavy dog.

Slip leads are only for dogs and owners who are slip lead trained.

For pulling, don't get one! Get a no pull harness - much kinder to the trachea!
then start working on walking to heal. It takes a long long time, but can be achieved!
(One of mine sometimes pulls, I stop walking and she'll look at me and then placed herself right by my side so we can continue the walk .... DDog is 5....)

Yes, I was jumping on here to say this.

if you’ve not been properly shown how to use one, please do find a good dog trainer to show you and they can also assess if your dogs can be trained.

Also be aware that not all dogs can be slip lead trained! I have used slip leads fine in the past but currently has a very enthusiastic and exuberant Labrador who we tried to slip lead train but once we realised she would continue to pull through anything if something excites her, we stopped. Even if they are walking better, depending on what better looks like, it could still be damaging if they are still pulling to some extent.

we now use vocal commands and food to get her attention and back under control when things are too exciting! But others will have success with a harness (an harness made our girl even more powerful!)

We got the parapet harness for our two dogs that were really bad pullers. From the first time using them I have to say its a complete game changer and the reviews on there are definitely genuine. Its a harness that clips on the chest so if they pull it simply turns them around. Cant recommend it enough.

I've got a slip lead for my sprocker and use it in a figure of 8 over her nose. She really doesn't like it but it completely stops her pulling. She's 20kg and pulled me over more times than I'd ever admit to.

We have tried harnesses (halti, Ezydog) but they just seem to make the pulling worse. I am going to consult a trainer (one dog has had lessons, but got overstimulated by the other dogs-so it ended up counterproductive and the other is a rescue). I really didn’t want to use a slip lead, but had heard such differing reports on their efficacy I thought I’d give it a try. .
We do have a Paropet harness on order, so was interested in your comment @Dartmoorcheffy
Thank you all for your help.

I guarantee the paropet will completely change your life

@Dartmoorcheffy 🤞🤞🤞🤞

If you decide that you want to use a slip lead, get one made with good-quality rope with an antler stopper. The stopper will work whether the lead is wet or dry. Then go to an experienced gundog trainer who will explain exactly how to use it and how to train the dog to understand it.

These are very good:
www.muntjactrading.com/collections/mystique-leads/products/german-field-trial-lead-8mm

I saw a harness on fb with a ring on the chest and it's brilliant, my dog never pulled much, but by having him clipped there if he pulls a bit he spins himslef towards me, took about 10 days and he walks beautifully now.

Watching with interest.

I have tried training our Viz on a slip lead with a professional trainer but couldn’t get the hang of it (and always felt it to be too cruel). We’re using a standard harness now but the pulling continues…

I use a Halti harness but never have it where its attached to a handheld lead - as my dog is strong and it felt like he nearly pulled my arm out of the socket. It was painful. 😫

I use the wraparound lead, that wraps around me (my midriff) so that was if the dog pulls, then I have my core strength to just stand and the halti harness will gently squeeze and he will stop, he cannot go anywhere etc.
🐕

I will try and find a picture to show you what I mean
@MargoisanA1arsehole

Hope this image works 🐕

Yes the key is teaching the dog what it means. The dog is in control of how tight the lead is and the trick to sucessful use is teaching the dog so they know that they are in control of that feeling.

"It slackens when you are near me and it tightens when you move away from me."

A good gundog trainer will know how to teach your dog this. They will also be able to tell if your dog is suitable for safe slip lead training.

Wacking one on fresh out the packet and heading outdoors without learning is cruel, and where they get their bad name from.

Both owner and dog need to be taught how it works and how to work it. This involves indoor use only to begin with.

Anyway, good luck! I used one with mine for a short while before I realised it was like wacking a fly with a sledgehammer; too drastic a solution for my little one and I found a softer way that worked (for her)

To add - slip leads refine heelwork on already-trained dogs rather than fixing severe leash-pulling behavior on their own.

You probably wont find a good gundog trainer who will put a slip lead on a dog who pulls like a steam train. This would be dangerous. And so cruel.

But they might help you get to the point where pulling is made so much better so you can use it to refine.

Gun dog trainers are no nonsense people and I find their training methods to be so much better than most! It is worth going to one for some help.

Agreeing with @TheFinalNotch Slip leads are for dogs that are already trained to walk with loose lead. They are not designed to prevent pulling in large, strong dogs and will only act to encourage them to steam ahead.
A half check or martingale is a much better - and safer - option for teaching a powerful puller how to walk with loose lead.