A dog leash is an important item that is indispensable throughout the life of a dog. It is used to teach and train puppies and continues to be used for many years after the dog is old and mature. Owners will use a leash to control and train the puppy to learn what is okay and not allowed.
You would be wrong to think that choosing a dog leash is easy, but when you walk into your familiar pet store, you will be overwhelmed with the multitude of options.
Never walk your dog without a leash! Always keep your dog on a leash
In many countries, the law requires dogs to be on a leash at all times. Even if the law in your country doesn’t require owners to wear a leash, you should always have your dog on a leash every time you leave the house for a walk, because of the many benefits:
- A dog leash will prevent your dog from chasing other animals, strangers, or motorcycles.
- A dog leash will give your neighbors peace of mind, especially if they don’t know how obedient your dog is.
- There have been many cases of dogs running away without a leash.
- When used correctly, the dog will get used to wearing a leash, in fact most dogs love to wear it.
- Owners can pull dogs to protect them, when there are dangerous elements on the road.
- A dog leash can sometimes save their life.
Things to keep in mind when choosing to buy a dog leash
Wire is too thin
For small dogs, choose a leash 3/8 inches (1cm) thick (thicker ones will be too heavy); For medium and large dogs, choose a leash that is 3/4 inches (1.9cm) thick or thicker. Therefore, ropes thinner than 3/8 inches would be considered too thin. A leash that is too thin will damage the dog’s skin.
The cord is too short
The cord is considered too short when shorter than 4 feet (1.2m).
The cord is too long
The ideal length is 6 feet (1.8m). A leash longer than 6ft is considered too long for dog walking purposes (unless used for dog training).
Dog leash material
Leashes are usually made from nylon or leather, although there are leashes made from other materials such as fabric and rubber on the market, they are not as durable and popular as nylon and leather.
Both nylon and leather are quite sturdy to hold an adult dog and light enough to use on puppies. Leats made from nylon are more commonly used in countries with hot and humid climates like Vietnam (many believe that high humidity shortens the life of leather dog leashes), while leather leashes are used. more in cold climates.
What length of leash should be used?
The length of the dog leash will depend on the owner’s needs.
6FT (1.8m)
The 6ft leash is the most common and is great for walking your dog around the house or in quiet places. The 6ft leash is just enough for the dog to have free space to explore, and there’s not much excess on the ground or entanglement in your or your dog’s feet.
4 FT (1.2m)
When walking your dog in high-traffic areas, like in a city, a 4ft dog leash is more suitable. This length will help the dog not get in the way of other people or fall into a hole or hit a light pole. This length will also be very useful in cases where the dog was previously taught to always be with the owner and is still confused when learning to walk on a leash.
8-10 FT (2.4 – 3m)
If you need a longer leash to train your dog, you can choose a length of 8-10ft. This length will help you stay in control, and will increase the distance between you and the dog.
EXTREMELY LONG WIRE
These extra-long ropes are used to train dogs to listen to commands from a distance, and are typically 50-150ft (15-45m) long. This length of leash will be suitable for training dogs to sit or lie down, or for teaching dogs to listen to commands. By using a long leash, you can keep your distance from the dog while still keeping the connection between the two of you and controlling the situation.
The difference of dog leash thickness?
Not only the material of the leash, but the thickness of the leash also puts pressure on the dog’s neck.
The following suggestions will help owners choose the right leash thickness:
For medium and large dogs, choose a leash that is 3/4 inches (1.9cm) thick or more. For small dogs, choose a thin leash 3/8 inches (1cm) because thicker will be too heavy.
Should you use an automatic dog leash?
Of course okay. Although an automatic dog leash has many benefits for owners and dogs, it also has some disadvantages.
Benefit
The most obvious benefit is that with an automatic leash, walks are more enjoyable and even untrained dogs will be safe and protected from road hazards or the risk of getting lost. lost.
An automatic dog leash will help owners keep a steady pace while the dog is free to sniff anything they are curious about along the way.
Weakness
The most common is a neck injury, because the dog will be too excited to run away before the owner can lock the leash. In many cases, the dog is so excited before the walk that the owner has not had time to lock the leash, they already have the force of the collar imprinted on their neck.
Other injuries that can occur include fights, injuries caused by dogs walking too far from their owners to pull them back, sometimes leading to car accidents.
Not only is your dog likely to be involved in an accident due to an automatic leash, but owners can also be injured by entanglement and tripping. Many safety incidents when using an automatic leash are because owners do not know how to use them properly.
Many incidents happen because the owner does not put his thumb on the control button, then gets scared and loses control of the dog. They reached out to grab the leash with their bare hands, and the rope cut their skin.
Summary
- A dog leash is an important item that is indispensable throughout the life of a dog. Owners will use a leash to control and train the puppy to learn what is okay and not allowed.
- In many countries, the law requires dogs to be on a leash at all times. Even if the law in your country doesn’t require owners to wear a leash, you should always have your dog on a leash every time you leave the house for a walk, because of the many benefits.
- When choosing a dog leash, avoid using a leash thinner than 3/8 inches, shorter than 4ft, or longer than 6ft.
- The best leash length for walking your dog is between 4 and 6 ft. For normal training, use a rope 8-10 feet long. For remote command training, use a 50-150ft rope.
- For medium and large dogs, choose a leash that is 3/4 inches (1.9cm) thick or more. For small dogs, choose a thin leash 3/8 inches (1cm) because thicker will be too heavy.
- Although an automatic dog leash has many benefits for owners and dogs, it also has some disadvantages.