Guys I went to a new obedience class this week, as I wanted to get more opportunities to work with Welly in environments with other dogs. I like the class and the instructor he seemed pretty good and competes to a high standard, however he asked me to use a normal lead and flat collar rather than the slip lead I'd taken. I didn't get chance to ask him why he had this view but I wondered what the rationale was for using slip leads...so when I do get to ask him I've got a retort . I also want to be able to make up my own mind about lead I train with so I may persist esp as I've been teaching Welly to walk to heel on his slip lead. L
Re: Slip leads I'm sure he has good reasons for a collar and lead but I tend to feel that it your choice as the owner a to the type of lead you use. If you change now it may be a bit confusing for Welly with the heel work. I use a slip lead for Juno when we pop out for early morning and late night wees (my garden isn't 100% secure). The rest of the time for walks, training, playing she has a collar and lead. I picked up the sliplead habit from her breeder who only uses slip leads no collars and leads
Re: Slip leads This is very normal requirement in a pet dog/obedience class - one class I used to go to insisted on back fastening harnesses, not even flat collars. This is because slip leads have a choke action. So unless your dog is 100% proofed against all distractions while walking on his lead, a slip lead inflicts a punishment if the dog pulls. A trained gundog, who walks to heel, will not be punished by a slip lead, of course (unless he was punished by a slip lead while learning to walk to heel, in which case, the slip lead acts as a "threat" around his neck). It is your choice to use a slip lead, but all obedience classes I go to frown on them. Even in my gundog class, for dogs who don't have perfect lead walking, you can only use slip leads that are limited. There is no disadvantage in using a limited slip lead, so why not do that as see whether it's ok with your instructor?
Re: Slip leads When I went to puppy class with Penny it was the kennel club good citizen one and there was a man there who had his spaniel puppy on a slip lead. The trainer explained that he needed to come back next week with the pup on a lead and collar or a harness. He said he personally had no problem with slip leads if used correctly however it was the rules of the course that people didn't use slip leads or choke chains in class.
Re: Slip leads Thanks all and Julie this is a good point as much as I've begun training him to walk to heel he is far from proofed.
Re: Slip leads My favourite slip lead is from a company called Tuffstuff. It is a limited slip lead made from quite wide webbing material. It looks just like a normal collar and matching clip lead and is no more punishing than a conventional collar and lead.
Re: Slip leads [quote author=heidrun link=topic=10294.msg151560#msg151560 date=1427146404] My favourite slip lead is from a company called Tuffstuff. It is a limited slip lead made from quite wide webbing material. It looks just like a normal collar and matching clip lead and is no more punishing than a conventional collar and lead. [/quote] Really pleased with mine too obi has been called a girl in his lilac one though
Re: Slip leads Charlie wears his purple one with pride...OH thinks it's dead girly though... Recently saw 6 dogs going beating with every last one of them in red tuffstuff limited slip leads. I reckon they are the new green rope....
Re: Slip leads [quote author=JulieT link=topic=10294.msg151563#msg151563 date=1427146924] Charlie wears his purple one with pride...OH thinks it's dead girly though... Recently saw 6 dogs going beating with every last one of them in red tuffstuff limited slip leads. I reckon they are the new green rope.... [/quote] Riley's is purple! I needed to make sure I picked up the right one for the right dog though so went lilac for Obi pup. They coordinate nicely and shows they're in touch with their feminine side.
Re: Slip leads Silly question ... would the limited slip lead be suitable for my puppy? It sometimes takes me such a long time twiddling about to get her lead clipped on to her collar/harness!
Re: Slip leads [quote author=bbrown link=topic=10294.msg151574#msg151574 date=1427148369] They coordinate nicely and shows they're in touch with their feminine side. [/quote] Exactly. I tell my OH that Charlie is man enough for a purple lead.
