It doesn’t matter how big or small, or how well trained your dog is, it has to have a lead and a collar for its own safety and for the safety of other people and dogs as well. In many countries, it is even required by law to have a lead on your dog when you are out in public.
But, don’t just think of the lead as way to restrain your dog. It is much more than that. Instead, try to think of dog leads and collars as a way to directly plug into the dog’s brain and constantly exchange information with it. Through a collar your dog can feel your energy and the other way around.
But, with the large variety of different sizes, materials, and designs of dog leads and collars available on the market, how do you know which is the right one for your dog. Here is a list of the basic types of dog leads and collars that will help you gain control over your dog while you are out for a walk.
Lets start with the collars first. There are five basic types of dog collars: the standard collar, back-clip harness, front clip harness, head halter, and the slip collar.
The standard collar is perfect for dogs that don’t have any obedience issues. They come in different sizes and materials and they allow you to keep your dog by your side and safe from harm.
The back clip harness fits on the dogs chest and it has a clip on the back. It is the perfect solution for dogs with short noses or breathing issues, such as pugs, Boston terriers and other small breeds with a sensitive trachea. This harness is not suitable for dogs that haven’t yet mastered the loose-leash walk since it can encourage pulling.
The front clip harness, on the other hand, as you can guess by the name is designed with a clip at the dog’s chest area and it can prevent minor pulling, allowing the owner to steer the dog. It is perfect for dogs that are not aggressive, but still need training on how to behave on a leash.
The head halter features nylon loops that go around the dog’s muzzle, but it shouldn’t be confused with a restrictive muzzle device. What the head halted does is preventing the dog from keeping his nose too close to the ground and enables to owned to easily keep the dogs attention. Once you train the dog to behave on a leash, you can switch to a standard collar.
The slip collar is a great tool for correcting the dog’s misbehavior but you must know the proper way to use it to ensure the dog’s safety. Also some dogs with longer and sensitive necks must never wear a slip collar.
When it comes to leads, the two basic types are the standard and the retractable lead. The standard lead can be made from a variety of materials such as nylon, leather, metal chain, and so on, and it comes in various strengths and lengths. The retractable lead has a plastic grip with a thin cord that can be pulled and retracted very similar to a measuring tape. It s perfect for smaller dogs that are not allowed off the lead because it provides them with greater freedom of movement.