Infindigo Finnish Lapphunds: a leading question

For a long time now I have been meaning to write a post about dog leads. In fact, I meant to do it before all the owners of the Riemu gang had already been out and about with their new puppies. And I certainly intended to do it before they had already bought 4 or 14 new leads. Yes, I said 14. Maybe that's just me, though.

One of the reasons I am only just getting around to it is because the topic of dog leads is a big one. Huge. First there is the choice of material - fabric, nylon, leather, something else. Then there are choices of colour, length, width, round or flat, different types of clasp, or no clasp at all. Some will have matching collars, some will not. The permutations are quite endless, but over time you will likely develop your own personal favorites or, like me, you will find different leads useful for different purposes.

Here are a few from my own personal collection - some are new but most are older or much older than new, as you will see, and they are in varying cosmetic states.

First up, these leads are the sort of thing that work well with a brand new puppy. They are made of woven fabric so they are soft on your hands, not too heavy for the puppy to drag around by its neck, and will last as a puppy lead for many weeks. They come flat, as shown, or round. After the puppy grows out of this sort of lead, it's also very handy as a show lead, if you are so inclined.

Tuuli's puppy lead (left), brand unknown, kindly supplied by her breeder in Sweden.*

Neka's show lead (right), brand unknown, purchased from a stall at a show many years ago.*

Next up is a selection of leads I have acquired over the years. The first 2 are quite short in length, the 3rd is one of my favorite leads and a daily go-to. It's long, soft and extremely versatile and it has a convenient metal ring through the handle that I use to clip the lead around my neck when the dogs are running free. I have also been known to clip two of them together, end-on-end. I bought it at a stall at the Ladies Kennel Club show in 2006 and I have it in 2 colours. I so wish I could remember who supplied it because I would like several more of them.

Lead 1 - provenance unknown

Lead 2 - brand unknown, purchased from Pets Corner pet shop with matching collar

Lead 3 - see above

Do you recognise this lead? If you do, get in touch!

Another of my favorite and most versatile leads is this one, a double-ended "Softex" lead purchased from Mekuti. Let me say, it wasn't cheap as dog leads go. However, it is extremely useful and, as the name implies, it's easy on the hands.

It has a trigger hook clasp on each end and several metal rings along its length for adjusting the style and length you prefer.

Doubled up to its shortest version

Double-ended with one large clasp and one small

Can be used like a traditional straight lead with loop handle.

It's most useful variation, though, and the reason I bought it in the first place, is as a training lead to stop young (or older...) dogs pulling on their lead. Here is baby Tuuli learning to walk nicely on her lead with the Mekuti attached to her collar and body harness. With a very strong and stubborn puller I would attach one end to the body harness and the other to a head collar.

In additon to leads with clasps, you can also get what is known as a slip lead. This is a kind of all-in-one collar and lead where the lead attaches to itself using a ring that it slips easily through (hence the name). When the dog is walking calmly, not pulling, the smooth lead slips through the ring to create a loose collar. When the dog pulls, the leads slips back to pull the collar tight. Some slip leads have a "lock" that will control the amount the collar will open when slack.

As a rule, I don't recommend slip leads for normal use. To operate correctly, the dog needs to walk on only one side of you so that the lead sits on top of the dog's neck with the ring end looping up from under the dog's chin. If worn the wrong way around, the collar can simply choke the dog without the ability to slip back through the ring. Also, there is a danger that a determined, clever dog can actually slip out of the lead altogether. I've known one or two clever Lappies to do just that very thing.

We use this lead just for the convenience of taking the dogs out for a quick comfort break, as they don't normally wear their collars when just hanging around the house. Rather than going through the rigamarole of buckling collars back on and then attaching leads to collars to nip quickly outside, we simply pop the slip lead over their heads and out we go.

Slip ring and "lock".

Have you heard of a training line? Well, this is an example of a training line. It's made by Clix and is a lightweight very long lead used for training recall and other behaviour where you need control while allowing your dog to feel he is free to do whatever he wishes. This one is 10 metres, but they are available in different lengths. It has a trigger hook at one end for attaching to the dog's collar and nothing at the other end, although you can get training lines with a loop handle at the end.

The lead that everyone uses, for better or for worse, is the flexi lead. Flexi is actually a brand name but has come to mean any of a type of spring-loaded, adjustable-length retractable lead. They give freedom to the dog and a minimum of control to the person. I'm both a fan and a detractor of the flexi lead. Yes, I use them, but I'm extremely careful when I do.

This one, my favorite, is a Flexi brand. It has a rubber handle for much better grip (customised by Keskiyo as a puppy, as you can see) and a flat tape lead.

Flexi leads are also available with a round cord lead, as shown here - don't buy that type!

These leads can be convenient, but they can also be dangerous. Especially with a cord instead of a tape. Especially with a strong dog on the end. And especially with a strong herding dog on the end. What do dogs do when they meet? They turn round and round each other. On a flexi lead, that turning motion can actually wrap the lead around a smaller dog's neck and when the bigger, stronger dog then runs or jumps in play, the small dog can be seriously injured or even killed.

And what do herding dogs do when they meet people? Frequently, they circle round them too, thus wrapping the lead around people's legs. Like I said, it can be dangerous. So, whatever you do, don't buy the cord flexi lead! That cord is lethal around necks, legs, fingers, everything it touches. The tape is a much gentler and safer construction altogether.

Finally, here is a lead of gorgeous quality, beautiful colour, appealing material and with a dose of sentimental value thrown in for good measure. It's a rich russet leather lead, hand made with a brass trigger hook and a charming inscription.