Being able to take your dog on a leash is essential so that you can go for a walk comfortably and safely. There are many types of leashes for dogs and it is important that you know how to choose which one is the most suitable for it based on its temperament, physical constitution and what we want it for.
Are you thinking of adopting a dog or have you already welcomed one into your family and don't know what kind of leash will be most suitable for your furry one? In this article on our site, we invite you to read this orientation guide so that you can choose the best leashes for dogs and the one that suits you best.
Dog leashes - functions
There are different types of dog leashes with the most varied lengths, widths, styles, all with the aim of adapting to different breeds, temperaments and for different uses in daily life and training. But essentially all dog leashes serve the same purpose: to keep your furry safe and under control in public areas. This is a legal requirement for the following reasons:
- Avoid accidents: is a simple and effective way to keep your dog under control and allows you to avoid accidents that could harm others how to hurt him.
- Avoid trouble: prevent your dog from chasing and scaring other animals (for example, if it comes across a cat), children or maybe people with a phobia of dogs.
- Control of her needs: prevent your furry friend from doing her business in inappropriate places
- Control your dog: It is also a temporary means of keeping your furry under control, in case you can't pay attention to him for a few minutes.
Apart from their daily use, there are also straps designed for training, such as choke, electric or spiked straps. However, we do not recommend the acquisition of this kind of leashes to those who do not have the necessary training for its use, since its misuse is a clear aggravating factor for the physical and psychological he alth of the dog.
If in addition to looking for a leash, you are also wondering which collar is the most recommended for your dog, we advise you to read: Types of collars for dogs.
Types of leashes for dogs - materials
Dog leashes are available in many different materials and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's see what they are:
Nylon Dog Leashes
Nylon has the advantages of being a relatively cheap material, but at the same time resistant and strong This way, for a price At a reasonable price, we can get a strap that is quite durable, comes in different colors and patterns (if that's what we're looking for), and is easy to wash.
Even so, this material is not recommended for dogs that bite the leash, as it will be easily damaged. And also, if you don't have a good restraint on your dog and it runs away, it could cause burns on your hand due to friction.
If your dog tends to pull a lot on the leash, we advise you to read this other article on Tips to prevent your dog from pulling on the leash.
Leather leashes for dogs
Leather also has the advantage of being strong and durable, although it tends to command higher prices. Now, with the correct maintenance, if we keep it clean and grease it from time to time, it can last us a lifetime (since nylon straps they can end up falling apart over time).
This material resists biting better than nylon, however, it can end up breaking if it is a frequent habit in our dog. Generally more comfortable to grip than nylon and less abrasive to skin.
Dog chain leashes
Leashes made of metal chain are highly recommended for those dogs that always chew their leash Needless to sayThey are heavier than the previous ones, depending on their length, and, therefore, they are not entirely suitable for small dogs or puppies.
Reflective Dog Leashes
There are also straps made with reflective materials, which allow us to be visible in case it gets darkFor this reason, they are suitable for those owners who can only walk their dogs first thing in the morning or at nightfall and walk through dimly lit streets.
Standard Dog Leashes
This is the most common type of leash, usually used for the daily walk and basic education of our dog. Generally, these tend to come in different lengths, although for the daily walk it is recommended that you measure between 1 and 2 meters to ensure that you can control your dog, but, in turn, you can explore your surroundings and move around comfortably. A leash equal to or less than 50 cm is not recommended, since at this distance the dog does not have freedom of movement, thus encouraging it to pull when it wants to sniff or snooping around and, consequently, turning the walk with his master into a rather frustrating and unpleasant activity
Leashes for large strong dogs
If we are looking for a leash for a large and strong dog, it is advisable to look for a wide leash, with a comfortable grip and a resistant material, to ensure that, if you pull hard, it does not end up breaking easily.
Leashes for small dogs
Conversely, if we are looking for a leash for a small dog, we will not be so interested in its resistance, since it will not have as much strength (unless it has the habit of biting it). It is recommended, therefore, that this be light, in order to ensure that the dog does not have to support a lot of weight with its small body. In addition, it is advisable to use a dog harness, since this distributes the force of the leash throughout the body, not just at a single point as in the case of the necklace, which focuses all the tension on the neck area.
For more information, in this other article we also explain Which is better, harness or collar for dogs?
Adjustable Dog Leashes
Adjustable straps are those that have different hooks and can be shortened or lengthened by a fixed distance. These straps tend to be more expensive, however, they are quite advisable, since it allows us to adapt it to different situations For example, we can establish a short distance in circumstances that are It is necessary to keep our dog by our side, such as in the elevator, or we can extend it as much as possible in spaces where we want our dog to have more freedom of movement but we cannot let go.
In case you have to walk several dogs at the same time, we advise you to read this other article on Walking several dogs at the same time on our site.
Anti-pull dog leashes
If your dog tends to pull a lot on the leash, to the point that it could even cause you to fall to the ground, you may have considered purchasing a anti-pull leash and an anti-pulling harness These can be useful to change this habit of our furry, since they have a mechanism that puts pressure on them every time they pull, dissuading them from doing so.
Now then, the use of this type of accessories will seldom be a solution to the problem if we do not work with the dog in a global way. It will be necessary to retrain your dog so that he learns not to pull on the leash and, in turn, try to correct our routineif it is not the most suitable for him. If, for example, the dog does not get enough daily exercise, it is possible that he is so excited at the time of the walk that it is natural that he does not obey us. In these cases, it is even possible that the dog ends up getting used to the anti-pull leash.
For this reason, if you have this behavior problem with your dog, we recommend you read the following article: Teaching an adult dog to walk on a leash.
Extendable dog leashes
This kind of leash has become quite popular, as many owners want to give their dogs maximum freedom. These leashes are characterized by their great reach, some being able to reach measuring up to 10 meters, allowing the dog to move as far as it wants and giving the owner the possibility to stop immediately the dog, thanks to a brake mechanism, when he sees it necessary.
However, contrary to what it may seem, this kind of straps have a series of disadvantages that do not make them fully recommended.
First of all, these belts are always under tensionThis generates constant stress in the animal's body and can end up harming its physical he alth, especially in small dogs that wear a thin collar, since it exerts constant pressure on their neck. This tension is increased when the dog runs in one direction and we slam on the brakes without warning, damaging him as a result.
Next, it is detrimental for the dog to understand what the walk is about, because this is a joint activity in which It is accompanied along with its owner who acts as a guide. When a dog is on a retractable leash, he is constantly pulling where he is interested without being aware of the owner. During the walk, it is very important that we pay attention to what our dog wants to do, since it is his time, but in turn, we must be the one who let us tell you where to go and how
Other types of dog leashes
Apart from those described above, there are other less common types of leashes for dogs that meet very specific purposes:
- Multiple leashes: This type of leash allows more than one dog to be walked at a time. Even so, prior to its use, it is necessary that the dogs have been individually educated to walk without pulling and make sure that they get along with each other. On the contrary, if we decide to walk more than one dog at once without prior training, it could become a confusing and stressful situation, as each one tries to go in different directions and, therefore, they will not enjoy the walk.
- Sports leashes: These leashes are usually designed so that the owner can take their dog for a walk while he is out, for example, running or cycling, as it allows you to tie it to the body and, therefore, it is not necessary to hold it by hand. In the same way, meticulous prior training will be necessary to ensure that the dog is capable of obeying us and that we can carry it with our hands free, otherwise we will run the risk of having an accident.
- 10 m long leash: It is common to see this kind of leash in training sessions, since for daily use it is too long. uncomfortable. It can be used to try to teach our dog to obey when we call from afar, for example. Therefore, it guarantees that it is free and, in turn, allows us to act quickly in case it does not pay attention to us or escapes.
For quiet walks, where the dog does not pull much, another option is to make homemade leashes for dogs, as we show you in the video below.
