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The
Right Leash and Collar for My Dog
Let’s talk
about choosing the proper leash and collar
for your dog. I want to start off by
saying that I don’t recommend the use of
choke collars – I’ll tell you why in a
moment. It’s not a pretty story, so if you
have a weak stomach you might want to skip
the next paragraph or two.
There are
a broad variety of collars on the market,
from flat nylon to braided leather to
rhinestone-studded glam collars – for the
most part it’s a matter of personal
preference. We’ll take a look at some of
the more popular styles, but first – why I
don’t recommend choke chains.
I have a
friend who is a vet, who of course, given
the nature of his business, sees abused
and neglected animals come through his
practice on a regular basis. I happened
to be in his office one day when an animal
control officer brought in a pit bull that
had been staked out in someone’s yard for
months as a guard dog – never socialized,
never brought into the house, just staked
out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He had
been restrained by a choke chain that had
been hooked to a metal chain on a stake.
As he had grown, the choke chain had
become embedded in this dog’s neck, to the
point where it had to be surgically
removed. It was heart-breaking.
An extreme
case? Absolutely. But I’ve also seen dogs
that have been tied out in other ways
using choke chains, and died of
strangulation because the chain gets
twisted or caught in some way and the dog
can’t get loose. I know choke chains are
intended to be used as training collars,
but too many people use them as everyday
collars, and untold dogs are maimed and
injured or killed every year by owners who
do this. There are too many training
alternatives out there, so please,
don’t use a choke collar.
A flat
buckle collar, either nylon or leather, is
your best bet for everyday use. It should
fit snugly, but leave room enough for you
to slide two fingers between the collar
and your dog’s neck. Any looser than
that, and it may slide off over your dog’s
head. Any tighter and it may cause
chafing and discomfort.
The choice
of nylon or leather is simply a matter of
personal preference – nylon comes in a
variety of bright colors, and is a good
choice for dogs that spend a lot of time
in the water (or mud!) Leather is durable
and will absorb oils from your dog’s coat,
making it more flexible over time.
The width
of the collar should be appropriate to
your dog’s size. For example, a wide,
heavy or thick collar just won’t work on a
Chihuahua, in fact, it would look
ridiculous. By the same token, if you
have a Rottweiler, a diamond- or rhine-stone-studded
poodle collar is going to look pretty
silly. And don’t forget an identification
tag – if your dog is lost or stolen, this
is a quick way for authorities to notify
you when your pet is located.
Another
terrific solution is a harness – a device
that goes around the neck and ribcage,
thus eliminating the possibility of
choking. Harnesses are an excellent
resolution to the problem of having a
large dog that hasn’t been well-trained
and pulls or lunges when out for a walk.
It’s a great way to restrain the pulling
without getting in that choking “tug of
war” that you sometimes see. Harnesses
are also good for small dogs, which can
have serious problems with collars
pressing on their small and fragile
airways.
Now for
the proper leash. As with collars, you
have a choice of flat nylon or leather (or
braided leather is also available), and as
with collars, it’s largely a matter of
personal preference.
I use a 6
foot nylon leash for training my dog. I
find it’s the perfect length for walking,
heeling and virtually all of my training
sessions.
Many dog
owners prefer a retractable leash. These
are nylon leashes that are encased in a
plastic casing, and vary in length up to
about 25 feet or so. The best models of
this type have a one-button “braking”
system that stops your dog from going
beyond a set distance, as well as a spring
mechanism that allows you to adjust just
how far you want to extend the lead.
Retractable leashes are a good idea if you
walk your dog in a variety of settings:
you can “reel” him in if you’re on city
sidewalks or in situations where there are
a lot of people or other dogs around, then
you can expand the distance between you
when you get to the park or an open
space.
Bottom
line – comfort and safety come first when
making your choice – fashion should be a
distant second! |
