For the past 3 weeks or so i have been working very hard on puzzle's heel-work and getting her to walk nicely and not pull and charge. She has come on in leaps and bounds and is doing really well. We are getting to the stage that i only have to stop when she gets too far ahead, not pulling just ahead of me, she gets a click and treat for nice loose lead walking close by my side, and this really clicked with her, so did stopping when she pulled which perfected her return to heel, i occasionally turn around just to change things around and get her looking at me. My question is, is it ok to start walking her on a slip lead as she does not pull or charge ahead any more, she just likes to be ahead but still with a slack lead. It is just my preference to use a slip lead as it is softer than her current lead and less bulky. Only me will be using it so i know that it will get used appropriately. My walks with her are training walks, be it working on heel-work or learning her left from right commands and stuff like that, she has a police style leather lead fro SAR work, and a braided lead that we use at the moment and for dog club classes. It is barleys old slip lead that he used to wear but we gave up after his walks turned into drags so it was not fair on him, and we have been suing his halti or harness with him more recently so we use his training lead instead now.
Re: Ok to use slip lead I have very mixed views on slip leads. They are traditional, and look good. That does not mean they are better than the alternatives. And not a good reason to use them. I think it's quite a really, really rubbish reason to use them. They have a choke action. So if your dog makes a mistake, they are corrected with that choke action. You can buy very, very, light choke chains - as light as rope. Would you use a choke chain? Probably not. So why use rope slip leads? Unless you have the need to work your dog - with no ID collar - I do not think there is a logical reason to use a rope slip lead. Get a very, very light lead instead. So why are my views mixed, and not just anti slip leads? Because it is absolutely clear to me that Charlie is never happier than when he is on a slip lead. He loves it compared to anything else. I remain uncertain! Good luck with your decision.
Re: Ok to use slip lead We use a slip lead for close walks - or just to have in our pocket on everyday walks up the road to the field and track. We used a figure 8 lead for pulling early on as advised at training, but rarely do we use it over the nose now as pulling not an issue. I know a lot of the forum users aren't in favour of it, but we had no problems.
Re: Ok to use slip lead [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4082.msg47815#msg47815 date=1389909818] So why use rope slip leads? Unless you have the need to work your dog - with no ID collar - I do not think there is a logical reason to use a rope slip lead. Get a very, very light lead instead. [/quote] Well when she is a fully trained SAR dog she will not be wearing a collar due to the risk of it getting caught, she only wears one now as she is in training and does not have to run through deep undergrowth and we need it to hold on to her before we play the game
Re: Ok to use slip lead I think they look great, a loose slip lead nonchalantly resting on the shoulders of your dog just really floats my boat for some reason. Saw a fab photo on FB of a beautiful goldie with a loose slip lead on and he had the other end in his mouth On a slightly more practical note I find them easier to get on and off the dog than faffing with collar and lead clip, but I'm probably making excuses. I don't let anyone but my OH walk riley in a slip lead as he has a tendency to creep forwards. You and puzzle sound pretty ready to me but it's really up to you to decide when you change over. good luck
Re: Ok to use slip lead I use a slip lead on Hattie because she walks on a lose lead but she ALWAYS wears her collar with ID tag too. I thought slip leads were ok as long as your dog does not pull so as not to cause any injury. Maybe you could ask your trainer Annabelle. x
Re: Ok to use slip lead Well, then, you have a good reason for using it. So I'd say if your lead walking is good enough that you are happy to use a choke device, you should be happy to use the slip lead. Only you know how many times that choke device is likely to correct her - quite a lot, or hardly at all.
Re: Ok to use slip lead I use a slip lead, mainly because that is what is expected at training, because gun dogs don't wear collars while working. When out on walks, we use the slip lead but keep her collar with ID on too. When the slip lead AND collar come off, she knows training / working is about to start! If we go into town, or anywhere else where there is traffic, for instance during stops at rest stations when we took Poppy in the car to England with us, I wouldn't dream of using the slip lead; I'd be too afraid she might back out of it. At those times, we always use a clip on lead with her collar. We also use that if we take her to a restaurant with us. It's just common sense, I think. I would never use a slip lead if there is a danger of hurting the dog's neck, so not for a dog that pulls, and not in a situation where it might be dangerous. But I agree with Barbara, it just looks great! I've posted this photo before, but here is Poppy with her Moxon slip lead:
Re: Ok to use slip lead I think that would be because a slip lead is probably much more comfortable for a fully trained dog (ie one that does not pull) than a flat collar
Re: Ok to use slip lead I LOVE this photo from Steve Magennis, it's on his facebook page ;D https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=723895607628727&set=a.463038707047753.107101.135606926457601&type=1&theater
Re: Ok to use slip lead Just got back from walking her. She was sooooo happy rto be let off lead after 2 weeks of on lead walks only. She got very muddy and tired herself out , peace for a few hours now while she sleeps. Walked to the park with normal lead, only had to stop twice as she was getting inpatient. Walked back from the park on slip lead, no pulling, lovely loose lead walking, mainly because she was tired but it was a start. Going to try this a few more times before using slip for the whole walk as i need to get her seeing that going to the park is not exciting as it will happen more often now. Had to wipe the muddy labrador go faster strips off of the wall when she came, well it was her tail making the mud lines
Re: Ok to use slip lead [quote author=editor link=topic=4082.msg47905#msg47905 date=1389951654] I think that would be because a slip lead is probably much more comfortable for a fully trained dog (ie one that does not pull) than a flat collar [/quote] Yes, I think this must be true - when the slip lead is loose. It is probably less constraining than a flat collar. I think I notice this dramatically with Charlie because he has this strange hatred of collars and harnesses. I still have to give him chicken to get him to leave the house in a flat collar. Not so on a slip lead.
Re: Ok to use slip lead hi there, my pup oscar is only seven months and we had so many lead issues with oscar, we put him on a slip lead because for kept biting and managing to unclip his lead. And we found the slip lead was so much better he walked brilliantly on it- we only stopped using it as it is illegal for dogs in my country to be out wihtout a collar on, plus we couldn't put his tags anywhere. If anything i think everything with a puppy is trial and error until yoou find what works best for you and your pup. Hope this helps.
Re: Ok to use slip lead When I was showing my working GWPs about 15 years ago the trend was to stack (stand) your dog with the lead just behind the ears pulling upwards. Am sure the show dogs got used to it but I stuck to a thin leather slip lead draped over the shoulders for a more natural look even though I was warned it might cost me placings. Am happy to say that by the time of my accident and giving up showing several other exhibitors in the breed started using loose slip leads too.
Re: Ok to use slip lead I think I should stop reading choke action lead threads - I genuinely get distressed by the thought of a choke action on puppies that might pull or lunge, and choke leads high up under the ears, where the action could be incredibly painful on the ends of the jaw joints.
Re: Ok to use slip lead as far as pain for the puppy goes oscar was never in any pain, maybe it was the type that we were using but i felt it was quite loose and not very secure. I feel personally that with oscar and my previous dog the best type for safety is always a lead and collar.
Re: Ok to use slip lead [quote author=JulieT link=topic=4082.msg47936#msg47936 date=1389957252] I think I should stop reading choke action lead threads - I genuinely get distressed by the thought of a choke action on puppies that might pull or lunge, and choke leads high up under the ears, where the action could be incredibly painful on the ends of the jaw joints. [/quote] Puzzle's slip was sitting in front of her collar loose, not tight behind her ears. If i see a distraction coming i get her focused on me and food so she does not have a chance to pull or lunge towards the person or dog, even if she is on her normal lead i still do this. With barley we only used it because he has issues with collars and could back out of them, he was a master at this, so a slip lead was safer than him running into the road because something spooked him
Re: Ok to use slip lead I use a rope slip lead on Lady. It has an adjustable metal ring on it that prevents it closing tight on her neck. The ring is in addition to the adjuster to control the maximum size of the loop. Can't recall the make now but I like it much more than the traditional slip lead but it has all the advantages of easy removal and application.
Re: Ok to use slip lead That's an excellent way to diminish the behaviour of pulling/lunging, keep at it and soon you will have a very well behaved pup on a slip lead I used a dummy instead of food as that was more motivational to keep the 'focus'. I have attached my dog tags to my slip leads thus eliminating the need for a collar.
Re: Ok to use slip lead [quote author=David link=topic=4082.msg47950#msg47950 date=1389958392] I use a rope slip lead on Lady. It has an adjustable metal ring on it that prevents it closing tight on her neck. The ring is in addition to the adjuster to control the maximum size of the loop. Can't recall the make now but I like it much more than the traditional slip lead but it has all the advantages of easy removal and application. [/quote] I keep meaning to get one like that......must try harder!
