Retractable Dog Leash

Retractable Dog Leash

SE Retractable Pet Leash Medium dogs NEW
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US $4.99

NEW Retractable small Dog Cat Puppy pet leash w light
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NEW $25 Flexi Pink Dog Leash Belt City Retractable S to L up to 77 lbs 6 Ft Long
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PINK 10Ft 60lbs Retractable Dog LEASH Automatic Small Doggie Puppy Pet Girl Lady
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What kind of leash should I get my dogs?

I have just got a new puppy and I was wondering if you could recommend a type of leash or coller/harnis. I own a medium size breed which is one years old and a soon to be large breed but only two months old. My one year old dog is not trained to walk next to me and often does pull the leash, but I am working on that. Should I spend money on getting them trained to walk next to me or should I just get retractable leash's and somehow walk with those?

If you find that the dog has a habit of chewing on the leash, then opt for a thin chain leash. If you want a showier leash, go with a leather one. If your dogs aren't huge leash chewers and if you don't care about how fancy the leash looks, then go with a simple nylon leash. I personally like the kind that have two handles, like this one:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751402&lmdn=Dog+Collars%2C+Tags+%26amp%3B+Leashes

In fact, that's the exact brand that I use to walk my Mastiffs, although I'm partial to the red color instead of black.

No, I do not recommend using a retractable leash. This article lists and explains the reasons why you should avoid retractable leashes:

http://www.professorshouse.com/pets/dogs/reasons-not-to-use-a-retractable-leash.aspx

If your dog has a serious pulling problem, you should use a body harness. This is because a neck collar, like a normal buckle collar, can cause damage to the fragile trachea if the dog is always straining against it. The Easy Walk Harness is an excellent body harness that discourages pulling:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751027

(Note that when I say "body harness," I don't mean any body harness. Normal body harnesses have a D-ring, which is what the leash clips onto, on the dog's back. This makes it easier for the dog to pull. Body harnesses like the Easy Walk Harness have the D-ring on the chest instead.)

If he pulls but isn't a manic puller, you can use a normal, flat buckle collar. There's no need to use a choke chain (which almost always causes damage to the neck!), prong/pinch collar, or head halter.

If you're still training the puppy, you can do so on an Easy Walk, but your goal should be to teach him to walk politely on a normal collar, so train him using that while he's still young.

If you're having trouble teaching your dog not to pull, keep one simple rule in mind: if he's pulling, do not go forward. He pulls because he wants to go forward, so the most effective way to discourage pulling is to teach him that pulling NEVER results in going forward. The second he starts to pull, just stop dead in your tracks and quietly wait for him to stop pulling. It might seem like it takes forever for him to catch on, but be consistent and patient. Do not give in! The instant that the leash goes slack, even if it's just for a moment, praise him and resume walking. He'll probably start pulling again, but just repeat the dead stop and wait for him to quit pulling. Do this every single time, and he'll learn that the only way to go forward is if he does not pull. If you specifically want him to walk beside you, then when the leash slackens for a second, call him back to you by calling him in a sweet voice and patting your legs. Reward him with a small, tasty treat (chicken, hot dog, cheese, etc.) when he's by your side, and then walk. If you want him to walk only by your side, then you have to adjust the rule a little bit to be "if he's pulling and/or isn't by your side, do not go forward."