All responsible dog owners need a leash when taking
your dog for a walk. In many cases a proper leash is used at home
especially if your dog is aggressive towards friends, strangers other family members and or pets.
Several options are available depending on your needs. They should fit correctly and be adjusted for comfort while wearing the leash. Always make them
wear a collar and leash in
public places for safety with the ID and rabies tags, just in case they get loose.
When the collar and leash is new try it inside first, then in the yard if you have one followed by short public strolls and observe behavior carefully for a few days. If your dog
gets loose and injures someone or another animal often law suits follow, NOT GOOD!
That's why the correct collar and leash is critical.
Don't be tempted if their pulling you around, this is a common trap many folks fall into after nearly having their arm yanked out of its socket.
Many leash and collar options are available now using more advanced
technology. The chest leash offers better control, the retractable leashes are popular now but can still be a problem if you let your dog have to much of a lead always use caution
as sudden excitement
can cause trouble. A shorter, maybe 6 foot lead is advisable.
Collar options:
In the old days and even now, dogs were trained primarily with choke chain collars and while this is a tool option it is not considered the best choice nowadays. There are alternative choices we have today for training dogs, like head halter collars and no pull halters each having it's devoted followers as does the simple buckle collar.
Controversy surrounds another type of training collar and it has been deemed by many as being cruel and inhumane. This type collar is better known as the prong collar. It looks like a dungeon torture chamber device, but it is really a kinder, gentler tool for many dogs and helps stop your dog from pulling your arm off. It is not right for all dogs, but it works quite well on anxious, strong or dogs that seem to have a high endurance for pain.
Prong collars are often the most misunderstood of the training options available today. They are not recommended for daily use and are not designed for very aggressive dogs. They are too hard on dogs that act scared or show fear once outside their comfort zone. This collar is not for young pups, however they are often used carefully by expert trainers for older pups.
The pinch or prong collar is made of interlocked metal links, each with two blunt prongs that pinch the dog's neck skin when the collar is tugged on. They pinch similar to you pinching your own skin. They press evenly around the neck and they will not penetrate or break the skin.
Some companies now have rubber tips, in my experience they reduce efficiency. Your dog needs to feel the pointed prongs and the rubber simply acts as padding thereby stopping the prongs from doing their job. Putting rubber tips on the prongs means they are too sharp to begin with (test a metal one before buying with your own finger tips) FYI if the rubber tip comes off you may hurt your dog.
Prong/pinch collars are not for daily use and should only be used a few times for training purposes mostly. Although for more hard headed dogs it often takes a little longer. Remain calm yet assertive, and consistent because typically dogs are just a mirror our own emotions and actions.
Often trainers only use the pinch/prong collar on large dominant breeds, but the choices of course are made by the owner and the dogs personal relationship, show respect and your dog will give respect. Prong collars are not status symbols, or jewelry and should not be used as such.
Always set your dog up for success, this helps build confidence, and the rewards are a calm submissive state which allows you to live in harmony and peace with your best friend.
How to choose a Dog Leash / Collar for Training.