Choosing the right dog lead

Dog leads comes in variety of sizes and styles suitable for any type and breed of dog. In choosing the right dog lead, there are certain factors you should consider to make sure that it is suitable and comfortable for your puppy. Also, you should have more than one lead: Even a quality lead can break, be lost, or get chewed up during training. Have a back-up, or two, in case something unexpected happens.

Material

Leads come in many different materials, the most common are nylon, leather and cotton. When choosing a material consider the flexibility of the lead. If the lead is too hard or too stiff it will be uncomfortable for the dog and impractical for you.

Nylon Lead

The most popular lead is the nylon lead. Its low price tag, along with the variety of colors and designs makes it a popular item. They are used in every day situations as well as dog training. the drawback is that nylon can be rough on hands with extended use.

Leather Lead

Leather leads are attractive, strong and generally get softer and better with use. But if your dog will be around water often, a leather dog leash won’t hold up as well as a nylon one.

Cotton Lead

There are also leads made out of cotton, which are easier on the hands than nylon. Cotton training leads can be bought in very long lengths, making them ideal for training outside.

Another variety of cotton leads are the cotton canvas leads. They come in a variety of colors and styles, such as the one pictured - from Puchi designer petwear

Size

Width

The size of the lead depends on the size of your dog and personal preference. The bigger your dog, the wider his leash should be. If you’re choosing a leash for a puppy, buy with his adult size in mind whenever possible.

Length

One good factor to consider is the length of the lead. It is of course important to know how long the dog lead will be so that it won’t throttle your dog, and of course you don’t have to stop to much with a longer lead.