Choosing a Leash for your Dog

I just got off the phone with a client I've known for years.  She was feeling frustrated with her new puppy.  Her previous dog lived to be 15 years old and it's hard work going from a senior dog to a puppy!  Right now, she's feeling most stressed out and aggravated with leash walking.  She had been so looking forward to taking her new pup for his daily walks until she snapped on her old dog's leash and the trouble started.

She used to walk her senior dog on a cute, 6 foot, polka-dotted leash that matched her collar.  There was never any leash tension as her sweet old girl sniffed and explored, always within about 2-3 feet of my client.  Bliss, right?  Well, the new puppy immediately started chewing on the leash, yanking it right out of her hand!  And he took off like a rocket to the end of that 6 foot leash, before gasping and then darting in a different direction.  He also ran around her legs, wrapping the leash as he went.  She is at her wit's end and she says they didn't even made it a block!

First of all, she needs to get a new leash.  That cute polka-dotted leash has too many memories for her.  And if her new pup tears it up (which he probably will!), then, I know, she will be devastated.  Retiring that leash is the first step.  I do like using a 6 foot leash on puppies because it does give them some room to explore; I always feel that a 4 foot leash gets taut really fast with a puppy.  And she needs to start working on leash walking in her house and around her yard first, before heading back out again into the big world beyond.

Puppies do need to sniff and explore safely on leash.  They need to learn how to be called off of things they should avoid.  They also need to learn to walk WITH their owners.  Not necessarily in a strict heel, per se, but more like a nice stroll with a friend.  All of this can be taught to a puppy.  What you don't want to do is make leash walking negative by constantly yanking on your puppy's neck.  You also don't want to be too lax and put your puppy on a retractable leash. Those leashes are dangerous and they most certainly do not teach nice leash walking skills.  Puppies need more room to explore than a 2 foot street lead provides, and again, for example, while a 4 foot leash is great for pet assisted therapy visits and other tight spaces, they aren't great for casual walks.  And those 20 foot, 30 foot, and 40 foot lunge lines? Those aren't for teaching leash walking at all; those are best used for teaching recall.

I suggested my client consider an older puppies class as she'd get to work on the leash walking there.  I think it would help her to see that she's not alone AND it would help her work on leash walking in a structured environment.  From my point of view, leash walking classes, whether for puppies or dogs of any age really, are so valuable.  Most of us have forgotten that walking our dogs is a relationship.  The goal is not the destination but enjoying the journey.  Put away your phone.  Watch your dog.  See his nose in the air and down on the ground?  He's enjoying himself. And honestly, you should too.

As always, if you have questions about your dog's behavior, you know where to find me.

Ozzie, as a puppy, walking Desi on too short of a leash!