No products in the basket.
To choose the best dog lead for your dog is extremely important for many reasons. There are some key aspects to think about when choosing a dog lead. You might be looking for your new puppy or want to try something for an older dog. Personal choice always comes into play but with so much variety it can be a bit of a minefield.
Read on for our top tips on how to choose the best dog lead.
The needs of a puppy can be very different to an older dog. Firstly, you need to choose a lead that is not too heavy and that is the right length. You will want it to hang nicely and not pull on your puppy’s neck.
The choice of material is also important, as there are pros and cons to material choice.
Rope leads are lightweight and strong so might suit a boisterous puppy. However they can sometimes be uncomfortable for the owner hands.
Nylon webbing dog leads are very strong and lightweight but again can be very abrasive on your hands.
Chain leads can be heavy but nonetheless work well with a puppy that likes to chew the lead. You will be grateful of this once you have gone through a few leads in quick succession! Once you pass the chewing phase, you can upgrade to a more aesthetically pleasing dog lead.
Fabric leads can be a good choice especially those with a strong nylon inner material. They are strong, lightweight and soft on the hands (dependant on which fabric is used, our ultra-soft signature range is one example).
However, they require care and are not as water friendly like some other materials. Leather can weaken over time if exposed to moisture too often.
Retractable leads are an option, but for us they are a big no-no for a puppy.
Whilst training, your puppy should always have a bit of slack in the lead. You want them to understand the importance of heeling and walking properly on the lead. Retractable leads, which allow a lot of freedom, can be a bit confusing for a young puppy.
Our training leads combine the benefits of strong, lightweight material with the ability to adjust the length. Our skinny training leads (1.5cm wide) are the ideal choice for puppies!
There is always the option of using a harness. If you spend the time training your puppy to walk well with a collar and lead, you may never need one. However, harnesses can be a great option for dogs that you feel cannot be controlled easily with a traditional collar and lead.
Harnesses with a double clip work really well with the double ended training lead.Â
There are lots of dog collars and leads that claim to offer quick solutions to training issues. We always recommend patience and time to train your dog properly before moving to a quick fix.
Following our advice for puppies (above) is a good starting place.
As your dog gets older, choosing the best dog lead often comes down to:
When considering all of the above, it will help you choose the best dog lead for your dog.
A standard lead will provide most of what you need. However, if you’re looking for more flexibility, a dog training lead might be the better option.
Training leads offer adjustable lengths, giving you the best of both worlds:
Retractable leads are less suitable for training and provide a better option for a well-trained dog that you aim to give more freedom depending where you are walking.
There are many products that claim to help stop pulling. But as a word of caution, anything that uses negative training techniques (i.e. punishes the dog for pulling) should be avoided.
The only effective long-term solution is positive reinforcement. Always have treats on hand to reward your dog when it walks how you want it to.
Harnesses can be useful to gain more control, especially when combined with a good quality lead. They offer great support around the chest area allowing increased control of the full body of your dog.
However, there are downsides of harnesses:
Be sure to fit your dog’s harness correctly and look for a machine washable harness also.
Head collars, such as the classic Halti, can be useful as they reduce pulling by controlling the head.
When using such a head collar (sometimes referred to as a gentle leader):
By now it should be clear that the overriding take home message is:
Then, choose something that works for you and your dog, both in terms of comfort and aesthetics.
We hope these tips have been useful! For more doggies related facts and tips subscribe to our newsletter.