Which dog lead do I buy?

misssaucie

Our pup is only 8 1/2 weeks but I want to buy him a lead in the next couple of weeks and I think the ones that extend and retract would be ideal but to add to the confusion there are "cord leads" and "tape leads". I'm a 1st timer and havn't a clue which to get. Also at what age do we put a little collar on him and does it take time for pup to get used to it? Also :rolleyes: we got a spray from the pet shop that is meant to be a repellant from dogs eating stuff ( we are very worried he'll eat through a cable and harm himself ) but it had absolutely no effect what so ever! As I'm writing I'm trying to stop him from chewing the laptop cable which we just sprayed :eek:. Would really appreciate advice please

Scober11

Get one of those illusion dog collars off the net. The dog whisperer guy on the tv designed them and are supposed to be good, well thats according to some users on forums. Google CEASAR MILAN and you will link to the site.

hadook

Scober11 wrote: »

Get one of those illusion dog collars off the net. The dog whisperer guy on the tv designed them and are supposed to be good, well thats according to some users on forums. Google CEASAR MILAN and you will link to the site.

And that's the biggest problem with shows like the Dog Whisperer. :rolleyes: Someone sees it on TV and suddenly it's a good idea and no research is done.

Taken from his website

WARNING: If your dog's neck measures less than 13 inches at the base, or your dog weighs less than 18 lbs, you should NOT use the collar. The Illusion collar is not intended for puppies under one year of age. Dogs with any breathing problems, such as "pushed-in faces" that restrict breathing; dogs with trachea or throat problems, such as Pomeranians; and dogs with elongated, overly slender necks, such as Greyhounds, should NOT use the collar. Consult your local professional or veterinarian for further advice.

OP - get a decent adjustable collar now with room for the puppy to grow into it. If nothing else, it's somewhere to hang the ID tag Personally I'd suggest something like Rogz collars which are incredibly hardwearing, or Lupine collars. Remember, you'll need something that can take rough & tumble while still allowing room to grow with a puppy. A harness is a much better option for walking too btw, something like a SensIble Dog Harness or a Halti.
For a lead, I wouldn't suggest a retractable for a puppy/first time owner. Get a long standard flat lead and once you and your puppy are confident walking on that then think about moving onto extendible leads. You need to build up that rapport with your pup now before allowing him off into the blue yonder on his own. Also, using an extendible lead properly and safely is an art form in itself. I've lost count of the number of dogs I've had wrapped around mine while the owner flusters about with the lead or the times I've nearly been tripped up by an enthusiastic dog on an extending cord lead. I do have one for my own dogs but it's only for walks in the woods. For normal walks on a footpath, in a town, going to the vet etc I use a normal flat lead and find I have better control with it. Your dog doesn't need to be 12 feet away from you on a walk, they'll do just fine by your side. If you are definitely going to go for a retractable lead then please go for the tape one and not the cord. It's nigh on impossible to grab the cord in cases of emergency without skinning yourself and you're more likely to injure someone else if he gets it wrapped around them too.

I'd also suggest some sort of dog training if it's your first puppy as putting in the effort now while they're young will make life infinitely easier when you're dealing with a bolshy teen dog. There are specific puppy socialisation classes too (I don't know where you are, but DTI are great) and these are excellent for getting your dog used to other people, dogs etc. He'll need his vaccinations for those but I'm sure that's already on your list of things to do. If you have friends with dogs you can always just arrange playdates!

Re the chewing - sometimes the bitter sprays work and sometimes you just get a particularly focussed (maybe dizzy might be a better word!) puppy. You can get things for him to chew and these can be swapped out for the things he's not supposed to be at. Eventually he'll learn what he is and isn't allowed to chew. Honestly though, you'll find yourself picking things up to keep them out of his reach a lot over the next while and growing eyes in the back of your head. The good news is that they do grow out of it

hadook

And it's considered bad manners not to post puppy pictures btw. Just sayin.... :P

misssaucie

Thanks so much, your advice is invaluable. X

Sigma Force

You're better off with a good strong old fashioned leather lead..well ok it doesn't have to be old fashioned. Retractable ones don't give you the control you need esp. when training a new pup they are handy for walking in open traffic free areas though.
Check out mollys.ie they have some really nice leather collars and leads.

A regular shortish leather lead will keep the dog close to you when walking, as pups tend to get distracted and will walk onto the road without thinking.
You can get soft harnesses for puppies too as they can pull and bit and end up coughing their heads off.

Don't forget the id tag though a lot of vets and pet shops are doing them now deffo. get an id tag on the dogs collar with your name, number and address before you take the pup out.

They pup is still a baby so no need for anything fancy or complicated just the tried and trusted collar and leather lead and some basic training like sit, stay, heel etc.

sadhbhc15

Anyone know where you can get Cesar's Illusion Collar in either Ireland or England?