Lead advice

Ben H · 12-20-2011, 04:06 PM

Hi all

Not posted here for sometime. Just after some general advice please on leads. My two male dogs are now 16 months old and love their walks. At first I could manage the two of them, but now they are just too strong for me, and I am not a weed! When two of us take them they literally drag us round, almost racing one another to be at the front. Walking them is really not fun. We currently have strong collars and strong chains as one of them managed to snap his last lead. Luckily we were away from the main road when this happened.

I have been given conflicting advice reagrding leads. I was told to get them a body harness or holty, but the breader told us not to. I'm thinking of a slip lead, but worried that they might hurt their necks as they pull hard and wont be used to this type of lead.

I think the main issue is that there are two of them and they are in constant competition, but I have tried to take them out individually and they wont go, to the point of shrugging out of their collars - they can't stand to be away from one another.

I'd be grateful for any advice, and to hear if any of you have had similar experiences.

Many thanks

Ben

loopylou · 12-20-2011, 04:34 PM

Lol, I feel your pain! I have a Basset and a Labrador who do exactly the same thing. Luckily we can put a halti on the Lab which stops some of the "game". Our breeder told us not to use a harness as it would throw out Monty's shoulders and a halti doesn't work due to all the skin. I would love to hear suggestions as there's nothing worse than the dog slipping his collar/lead near a main road. We did use a slip collar to start with but I didn't like the fact he started to physically choke, I thought he was going to be sick. If anyone can think of something it might stop our arms becoming so long they trail on the ground!

Mikey T · 12-20-2011, 05:02 PM

you are look for control and a device to reduce their pulling?

the only real long term solution is loose leash walking training.

1. a tradition harness, Keep in mind the traditional harness is a take off of a design used by sled dog racer's and cart puller to increase the desire of the dog to pull. So not a good design if you want to discourage pulling. The strap across the sturnum produces presure and a dog natural reaction to pressure is to repel it that is to push even harder against it hence even more pulling.

2. halti genetle leader and other head halter. can work well with a few caveate it can take some time, train and desenitivation to get dog use to them. They can have an effect on personality, and they can be dangerious if used in concert with a retractable or long leash.
The Problems With Head Halters

A Case for GLs

I have GLs in the past and would do so again but only in instance where I need to control the dogs head and loose leash walking is not one of those instances.

Choke, prong or martingale collars. Slip lead each work by creating a sensation around the neck. not a pleasant one If a choke collar is actually chocking the dog it is not being used correctly.. However a correction even on adminsiter with a flat back collar can cause thorax and next injuries that owner never even new existed.

Given that the majority of basset seem rather immune to pain about the neck I thing there are better alternatives but have taugh basset to heel with their use that is both on and off lead.

For sens-i-ble harness and othe front clip harness. a design that eliminates the problem witgh a trational harness howver they are very insecure, that is a dog can escape them very easily the makers of sensi-ble harness recommend cilp the lead to both a flat buckle collar and the sensible harness they are simply to insecure for me to recommend

The sporn no pull halter and many imitators with strings that run under the arm pits of the dog when they pull . Basser are rather sensitive in this area and for most it is the most effective deterent to pulling.

Sporn Halter

I do not use the sherpa pads. If you have a problem with creating pain as a deterent for pulling this is not the device for you.

Wworm · 12-20-2011, 05:09 PM

Both the doxy & Worm (me) pull a lots. we both has halters, which yeah, prob encourages the pulling. but didn't want to use just collars as concerned about causing injury to our cervical spines... my person has not mastered Loose Leash Walking yet, but needs to if she wants to see me do anything different!
--Worm

vonny01 · 12-20-2011, 05:17 PM

You actually have to train them not to pull

I have three Bassets and walk all three together all the time I have a dog and a bitch in one hand and the other dog in the other.

My lots combined weight is more than my own but I can manage them OK

Mine are walked on Martingale collars and leads with padded handles.

Soundtrack · 12-20-2011, 05:22 PM

I agree, the best is to "simply" teach them not to pull. Obedience classes are highly recommended - lots of them, not just one session! Even if you find the right device for your dogs (and it can be trial and error to find what works best for a particular owner and dog), there is always the danger of equipment failure, or simply the handler accidentally dropping the lead, tripping, or being pulled over. The safest bet is to have a dog that's NOT trying to drag you around, and will actually respond when called.

vonny01 · 12-20-2011, 05:48 PM

When I first got Dudley and Patience they were both pullers but they soon learnt to walk nicely on the lead.

miss.abbey.road · 12-21-2011, 03:11 AM

Abbey used to pull very bad but when I got her a harness she stoped the first time I put it on her so easy to walk her now

loopylou · 12-21-2011, 12:06 PM

i walk very nice on the lead, just not in the direction I'm supposed to! i even went to puppy school but that bit just didn't work

Ben H · 12-21-2011, 04:47 PM

thanks for the quick responses - seems I'm not the only one. Going to get them new martingale collars for starters and work on the training them to walk properly

Edit - Actually, lots of very useful advice/articles so thanks for these. I think training classes will definitely benefit them

12-20-2011, 04:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ben H Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 17	Lead advice Hi all Not posted here for sometime. Just after some general advice please on leads. My two male dogs are now 16 months old and love their walks. At first I could manage the two of them, but now they are just too strong for me, and I am not a weed! When two of us take them they literally drag us round, almost racing one another to be at the front. Walking them is really not fun. We currently have strong collars and strong chains as one of them managed to snap his last lead. Luckily we were away from the main road when this happened. I have been given conflicting advice reagrding leads. I was told to get them a body harness or holty, but the breader told us not to. I'm thinking of a slip lead, but worried that they might hurt their necks as they pull hard and wont be used to this type of lead. I think the main issue is that there are two of them and they are in constant competition, but I have tried to take them out individually and they wont go, to the point of shrugging out of their collars - they can't stand to be away from one another. I'd be grateful for any advice, and to hear if any of you have had similar experiences. Many thanks Ben

12-20-2011, 05:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wworm Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Left Coast Posts: 1,972	Both the doxy & Worm (me) pull a lots. we both has halters, which yeah, prob encourages the pulling. but didn't want to use just collars as concerned about causing injury to our cervical spines... my person has not mastered Loose Leash Walking yet, but needs to if she wants to see me do anything different! --Worm __________________ see what the Worm is up to: http://bassetworm.blogspot.com/

12-20-2011, 05:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,582	I agree, the best is to "simply" teach them not to pull. Obedience classes are highly recommended - lots of them, not just one session! Even if you find the right device for your dogs (and it can be trial and error to find what works best for a particular owner and dog), there is always the danger of equipment failure, or simply the handler accidentally dropping the lead, tripping, or being pulled over. The safest bet is to have a dog that's NOT trying to drag you around, and will actually respond when called. __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance

12-21-2011, 03:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
miss.abbey.road Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: centralia washington Posts: 176	Abbey used to pull very bad but when I got her a harness she stoped the first time I put it on her so easy to walk her now __________________ Fetch? Sit? Stay? Those are some weird names for a treat... Can I just have it already?

12-21-2011, 04:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ben H Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 17	thanks for the quick responses - seems I'm not the only one. Going to get them new martingale collars for starters and work on the training them to walk properly Edit - Actually, lots of very useful advice/articles so thanks for these. I think training classes will definitely benefit them Last edited by Ben H; 12-21-2011 at 04:55 PM.

12-20-2011, 04:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
loopylou Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 616	Lol, I feel your pain! I have a Basset and a Labrador who do exactly the same thing. Luckily we can put a halti on the Lab which stops some of the "game". Our breeder told us not to use a harness as it would throw out Monty's shoulders and a halti doesn't work due to all the skin. I would love to hear suggestions as there's nothing worse than the dog slipping his collar/lead near a main road. We did use a slip collar to start with but I didn't like the fact he started to physically choke, I thought he was going to be sick. If anyone can think of something it might stop our arms becoming so long they trail on the ground!

12-20-2011, 05:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mikey T Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Warrwick, RI Posts: 7,729	you are look for control and a device to reduce their pulling? the only real long term solution is loose leash walking training. 1. a tradition harness, Keep in mind the traditional harness is a take off of a design used by sled dog racer's and cart puller to increase the desire of the dog to pull. So not a good design if you want to discourage pulling. The strap across the sturnum produces presure and a dog natural reaction to pressure is to repel it that is to push even harder against it hence even more pulling. 2. halti genetle leader and other head halter. can work well with a few caveate it can take some time, train and desenitivation to get dog use to them. They can have an effect on personality, and they can be dangerious if used in concert with a retractable or long leash. The Problems With Head Halters A Case for GLs I have GLs in the past and would do so again but only in instance where I need to control the dogs head and loose leash walking is not one of those instances. Choke, prong or martingale collars. Slip lead each work by creating a sensation around the neck. not a pleasant one If a choke collar is actually chocking the dog it is not being used correctly.. However a correction even on adminsiter with a flat back collar can cause thorax and next injuries that owner never even new existed. Given that the majority of basset seem rather immune to pain about the neck I thing there are better alternatives but have taugh basset to heel with their use that is both on and off lead. For sens-i-ble harness and othe front clip harness. a design that eliminates the problem witgh a trational harness howver they are very insecure, that is a dog can escape them very easily the makers of sensi-ble harness recommend cilp the lead to both a flat buckle collar and the sensible harness they are simply to insecure for me to recommend The sporn no pull halter and many imitators with strings that run under the arm pits of the dog when they pull . Basser are rather sensitive in this area and for most it is the most effective deterent to pulling. Sporn Halter I do not use the sherpa pads. If you have a problem with creating pain as a deterent for pulling this is not the device for you.

12-20-2011, 05:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
vonny01 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 108	You actually have to train them not to pull I have three Bassets and walk all three together all the time I have a dog and a bitch in one hand and the other dog in the other. My lots combined weight is more than my own but I can manage them OK Mine are walked on Martingale collars and leads with padded handles.

12-20-2011, 05:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
vonny01 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 108	When I first got Dudley and Patience they were both pullers but they soon learnt to walk nicely on the lead.

12-21-2011, 12:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
loopylou Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 616	i walk very nice on the lead, just not in the direction I'm supposed to! i even went to puppy school but that bit just didn't work

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