Dog Leads, Collars and Harnesses: The Right Equipment for an Outing
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What can be better than discovering fields, woods and lakes on a long walk with your dog? But before setting off into nature you should think about the right equipment. Is a dog harness really better than a dog collar? How long should the lead be? Question after question…
Dog collar or harness?
Dog collars made out of nylon or leather are put around the dog’s neck. When you pull on the lead, you put pressure on the dog’s neck. A harness spreads the pressure over the whole of the dog’s upper body and so the risk of hurting the dog with a sharp pull is minimal. Many dog owners also report having better control of their four-legged friend by using a harness.
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Changing from a collar to a harness
In order to get your dog used to a harness instead of a collar, you can use a both a collar as well as a harness with a separate lead. Over several walks, slowly increase control of your dog using the harness while decreasing your control via the lead attached to the collar.
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Which dog lead is ideal?
The choice of lead also depends on the intended use and on the temperament of the individual dog.
Retractable leads can extend up to several meters which makes them especially useful for walking lively dogs. These leads are available in different strengths and lengths according to the weight of your dog.
Leather dog leads are tried and tested and are always popular as they are not only fashionable but are also very robust.
On the other hand, dog leads made out of nylon are recommended for sporting activities. They are slightly more elastic than leather leads and very flexible.
Do you need a specific collar for a challenging dog? You can read all about dog training collars in the zooplus dog magazine.
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