Leash for daily use - Page 1

Hi! I see that most people use those 2m long leather leashes for training. People I know use them when taking there dogs for a walk too. But I don't think it will be really comfortable for me to carry the 2m leash while I play with my dog in the dog park. Now I'm using a 1.20m/20mm cheap nylon leash for walks and a long rope leash for training instead of leather leash. Neither leashes feel nice when holding. When my dog is off leash at the park the nylon leash is in my pocket and my hands are free.
Maybe I'll buy one 2m leather leash for training but I would also want to have a new one for daily walks that doesn't hurt my hands.
I really like those high quality leather leashes. I found a 135mm Klin Kassel leash but I don't know how wide should it be? Is 0.8cm ok, or 1.0cm for a (maybe) 32kg dog? Is there such thing as a all weather leather leash. Do they get ruined from salty water? My cheap nylon leash has no problem with it and dries really fast. Or maybe I should buy a high quality nylon leash with some grip technology or sth and it will still be possible to carry in my pocket... or maybe a high quality rope leash http://www.schutzhund-training-info.com/images/leashes/Nylon-Rope-Dog-Leash-Schutzhund-Dog-Training-L20B-Red-big.jpg that unlike leather won't get ruined when it starts to rain. I won't be able to put it in my pocket but it will feel nicer than nylon leash when holding.

Biothene (SPL??).

Or buy gloves if you have soft hands.

Personally I would never buy leather, so many superior synthetics.

I prefer leather, maybe just because I am used to it for decades...
My leashes last for 10 -15 years, wet, salty, dry - doesn´t matter.
For training and walking a 2 meter leash ( and of course a 10 meter nylon rope ), for trialing a 1 meter leash only ( nothing else allowed ).

A 1 or 1,20 meter leash is too short for walks and training. Leather or something else? I wouldn´t care - you have to feel good.

Good leather lasts forever. I still have the collar I bought for my first GSD in the mid-1980's, and it's in very good shape!

Latigo leather, which has been treated so it won't be damaged by getting wet is the best choice. Personally, I'd get something thicker than 1 cm. 2 cm or 34 of an inch is a good width. A wider leash is easier to hang onto if the dog is acting up.

So much I could say on this topic (leatherwork is my hobby!) Check for full grain leather, rather than split or bonded leather. Look for good tight stitching. The leather should feel nice and supple in your hand. Untreated tanned leather has had most of the natural oil taken out of it, and is likely to crack and break unless treated with some sort of leather conditioner. (My personal preference is neatsfoot oil.)

Fancy braided or rolled leashes often conceal that the leash is made from cheap leather that won't last. I'd go with a plain flat leash.

Finally, a good snap is a must. I've seen cheap snaps break when put under stress. Either they pull right through the ring collar of the snap, or sometimes the metal will even snap! I prefer spring snaps, but many people like trigger snaps (the type you squeeze with 2 fingers to open.)

Leather is hard to beat. A great quality well maintained leash will last for years and doesn't have to be massive to hold even a larger dog. Right now, however, I use 1.5 m rubberized leashes or thinner Halti leads.

I really like the rubberized ones for protection work and as a long line (as a back up to a dog I don't know or who doesn't have a good enough recall- for tracking I like when the line is light and slips easily), as it is really easy to grip properly and they are sturdy and great value for money but it will not last a lifetime as the rubber does wear out with constant use. I like that I can get it in a variety of colors so every dog has their own and when walking 4 dogs at a time, I know just by a glance which leash is attached to which dog. They don't slip easily through each other though when they get into a braid and I need to do some detangling :P

Lately I have however gone more on to using the thin Halti leads. They are strong enough that I can trust those to hold my dogs (standard sized American Staffordshires and a small Labrador) but when I let them off leash I can easily clip them across my body. When I have my dogs walk beside me, they are small enough to not be clunky in my hand when doubled up and I can adjust the length to I don't need to constantly roll the leash in and out of my hands when the dog(s) are just sniffing around doing their own thing on the leash(es). When I go to somewhere with multiple dogs and want to train one or just need to attach them to something, it is really easy to do with the clips. I also like the soft texture of it as I find the typical nylon leads to be slippery and uncomfortable to hold.

At the end of the day it really comes down to personal preference. I find 1 m too short for most occasions and 2 m too long but some people find just these lengths to be perfect for them. If you have multiple dogs the considerations are different than with one dog. I am terrible at doing regular maintenance on leashes and prefer to just dunk them into the washing machine so I don't really deserve leather leashes (I still have some and they have served me well for years despite my haphazard cleaning and oiling). The size and temperament of the dog dictates the leash to some degree, as do the activities you will be using it for.

For a dog who doesn't struggle at the end of the leash and needs one to get to and from the park and it should be easily put away while the dog is off leash, I would probably go with a really good quality thinner leather leash or something like the Halti lead.

I used to use All Leather Leads...but I have now replaced them with Bio-thane...it is a All Weather material that is good in All kinds of weather...Wet...Dry...Hot...Cold...It doesn't matter...If it gets wet you just wipe it down with a clothe or towel...I also use a Waist Leasd...One that fits around my waist...It has a Snap (usually Brass or Stainless Steel) and a small Ring in the handle so it connects around your waist... You can get the Bi-thane in all different colors and widths...I like the 3/8" for Obedience and Tracking and everyday use...It's VERY strong and will not break...I also have 15'...and 33' leads...You can get it in widths of 3/8"...5/8"...1/2" and even 3/4"...I also prefer the heavier duty nylon lunge lines for protection work...but I have used them for over 40 years...

 

http://www.allk-9.com/all-weather-biothane-c-22_24/

 

~Bob~

 

 

 

 

I second Biothane! Google this stuff it will work very well for you!

It took me quite a while to get me to even try something other then "Leather"...I'm old fashioned about my dog equipment...but...I eventually tried it and switched over all my equipment to Bio-thane...There's just nothing that you won't like about it...The only thing I'd say is at least try the very nice and thin 3/8" stuff...in whatever length you want...It's very strong...You can even do Protection with it...but I like a thicker feel when doing Protection work...
I have the 3/8" leads in "Waist Lead"...15' and 33'...

~Bob~

The thing i didn't like about Biothane is how freaking stiff it is. It never softens up like real leather. But it's good enough for walking the dog or working in the rain. I still reach for my original leash that's over 25 years old. And i have a bunch of different leashes. So for me it's leather, :D

Have to also say my leather leash.
The older it gets, the softer it is on my hands, and I also have leashes from 20 yrs ago.
I just like them for the dog!

Dawn B.