Types of Leads

Leash Types

1. Standard Leashes / Nylon, Leather .

2. Chain Leashes.

3. Retractable Leashes.

4. Adjustable Leashes.

5. Multiple Dog Leashes.

6. Seatbelt Leashes.

7. Martingale Leashes.

Leash Size
4 foot
5 foot
6 foot

20 Long Leash Lead – off leash training
25 Long Leash Lead– off leash training
30 Long Leash Lead– off leash training

Seems trivial, but a leash is one of the most important tools you will use with your dog throughout his lifetime… Through the teaching and training of puppyhood, to the many happy outings together during your dog’s senior years. How else are you to keep your dog where you want him to be, doing what you want him to do, particularly around others? A leash is imperative for providing control and enforcement as your pup learns what is and is not acceptable. In most states, the leashing of your dog is the law. However, our concern as responsible pet parents is keeping our dog safe and under our supervision.

You would think it would be an easy task, but when you walk into your favorite pet supply store, you may be overwhelmed with the variety of choices you have. Besides keeping your dog safe, what other purpose do you have in selecting a leash? To help train him to walk appropriately? To teach him social manners? To teach him how not to pull or choke himself? Or simply to set the pace for a comfortable walk? Let us help you with that decision.

The most common dog leashes are:

     The Standard Flat Lead
     Bungee And Stretchable Rubber Leashes
     Harness Lead
     Slip Leads
     Martingale Leashes
     Retractable Leashes

The Standard Flat Lead

Everyone is familiar with the standard flat leash, with a clasp at the end. Generally, 4 – 8 feet long, they clip onto your dog’s collar and come in many materials and lengths. Popular nowadays is the round, rope-like material, instead of the flat type. Because of the various thickness and strengths, a good quality standard leash works well with all dogs, providing maximum safety and control when fitted to your particular dog’s size. We recommend starting with a 4-foot leash for more control, adding length as your dog matures. The standard leash is a “staple” item in your dog’s ensemble.

Bungee and Stretchable Rubber Leashes

Bungee or Stretchable rubber leashes reduce the stress on the lead, gently correcting pulling issues. They can work well if your dog is very well trained walking on a loose leash. The constant bouncy back and forth of a stretchable leash teaches the dog nothing and can be hard to manage your dog.

Harness Lead Dog Leashes

Harness leads are a lead and a harness all fashioned from the same rope. Generally used to teach a dog not to jump, the harness lead will tighten around the dog’s body or chest area when he pulls or jumps up. The manufacture claims that this action helps to alleviate pressure on the trachea. Less pressure on the trachea is a great idea, but be sure to read all of the information on the manufacturer’s website to avoid injury or misuse. Unfortunately, as a traditional harness will put pressure directly on the dog’s chest area, it may actually cause a dog to pull harder against the leash.

Slip Leads for Dog

The slip Lead, functions as both a leash and a collar. Often referred to as “training leads”, slip leads look like regular leashes, but they have a small metal ring at the end. We simply pull the leash through the metal ring in order to make a larger loop that slips around the dog’s neck. Easy on, easy off. Placement of slip leads on a dog’s neck is also something to keep in mind… they should sit high on the neck towards the ears to avoid causing the dog to cough or choke. This is also a more sensitive area on a dog’s neck, preventing them from pulling hard on the lead. Groomers use a Slip lead while the dog is on the grooming table or being bathed.

Martingale Leashes

Similar to the slip lead is the martingale leash. It too functions as both a collar and a lead. It literally looks like a collar attached to the lead, but with added adjustability. The martingale leash was designed for dogs that have smaller heads and thick necks (like a greyhound) so that if he were to back out of the collar, it would tighten. The tightening decreases the likelihood of the dog actually being able to back out of the collar. The martingale will tighten around the neck to the degree to which the dog is pulling. Another plus of the martingale leash is a quick on and off, making it a popular choice to hang by the back door for frequent.

Retractable Leashes

Retractable leashes give your dog the ability to wander as far as 30 feet from the small plastic handle you are holding. The handle contains a mechanism that allows you to release and retract the leash as needed. The retractable leash allows your dog to have freedom on a retractable lead, these are good for open areas. However you dog does need to know how to walk while on a loose leash.

Proper use of a leash

Did you know that there is a right way and a wrong way to hold a dog’s leash? One of the very first lessons all Holiday Barn employees learn is proper dog handling, which includes correct leash management. You will find many variations on the proper use of a dog leash online. However, in our experience with handling dogs, we’ve learned that the following is the best way to control the dog as well as allowing him ample space to maneuver as he needs to.

Clip in and hold the leash in front of your torso – Let’s assume you’re using a standard 6-foot leash in our example, and you’re walking your dog on your left side. Attach the clip to your dog’s collar, and then hold your end of the leash in your right hand, directly in front of your torso.

Loop the lead over your thumb – We teach our employees to put the loop of the lead over the thumb for added strength in case the dog on the line decides to bolt forward. We also caution them never to wrap the lead around the wrist because you run the risk of pulling your arm out of socket or being dragged along if the dog bolts after something.

Stabilize and control the leash – Now place your left hand on the leash approximately 2 feet above your dog so you have both hands on the leash. This type of hold stabilizes the leash with your right hand (in this example) so that you are able to guide and control your dog with your left hand. The right hand is steady and “anchored”, while the left-hand guides, provides and shortens slack as needed, thus controlling all aspects of your dog’s movements without him feeling impaired in any way.

Keep dogs guessing by changing directions – Dogs will resist constant pressure, meaning the longer you pull back and have pressure on your dog’s lead, the harder they will pull forward. Changing directions every time your dog pulls forward can be helpful when practicing these leash skills.

Value Dog Training Uses a 6 Foot leash, I use Nylon for Training, Daisy and Hal are on Leather Leashes.

Value Dog Training For more information, contact us at 916-201-7080.

Value Dog Training - Mission is to improve the quality of life for dogs, and the people who love them. 

© Value Dog Training. All Rights Reserved.