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Chapter 4: Leashes

Leashes

Just like the multitude of collar types and styles that exist, leashes are offered in a similar variety. Pet owners, more specifically dog owners, will want to take a look at the different types of leashes available. Depending on your locale and size of your dog and also the training habits you wish to impose upon you pet will determine what kind of leash is going to work best for you. Here are a few different sub groups of pet leashes and some of the benefits of each.

Leather

Leather Leashes are extremely tough and durable, and they won't burn or cut your hand, causing you to drop your leash if your dog pulls or darts off. This can be advantageous with new dogs that are still forming their walking habits and may be a little less predictable depending on the traffic near your home.

Synthetic Leashes

Synthetic leashes are extremely advantageous in different stages of your dog's training or development because they are inexpensive and are offered in a variety of sizes and lengths. Though nylon or other synthetics may burn if your dog pulls, many trainers use lengthy leashes from 25-50 feet for command training and separation training. Oftentimes synthetics are the best purchase for this length because they are less expensive, which is great because the leash will likely only get temporary use.

Retractable or Walkabout Leashes

These leashes usually have a winding mechanism and lock that allows your pet to roam freely. These can be quickly retracted when necessary by use of a built in locking mechanism similar to that of a tape measure. You can retract the leash quickly in case you need to pull your pet in from traffic or other dangers. The pros of these leashes are enhanced distance and freedom for your pet to sniff around or play. The cons, however, are that they encourage pulling away from the owner and may go against stricter forms of pet training. So depending on what kind of owner you are, these can be either ideal, or detrimental to your training.

Control Leashes

Control leases are short and thick leashes, usually with a large rubber-gripped handle. These are ideal for walking very large dogs and ensuring that you can control their weight and keep them close to you. This may help you avoid run-ins with other pets or walkers, or if your dog has an aggressive response to anything and pulls the leash. These offer great control of your pet, but do not work well for small dogs or walking situations when you want your pet to be able to roam freely.