Choosing the Right Leash for You and Your Dog

When it comes to choosing a leash for your dog, it is important to select the type of leash that is appropriate for the activity you will be engaged in.

There are two basic types of leashes - one for walking and another type for dog training. The standard leash usually comes in leather or nylon and is generally six feet in length, the regulation length in most municipalities. This leash is the type that is used for walking your dog.

A training leash is usually twenty-five feet long and is used for teaching commands. If your dog or puppy is learning to respond to commands, then this leash is perfect for his training sessions. Most training sessions will take place in the house or in the yard until he has learned the basic commands - come, sit, stay. Sessions should be no longer than fifteen minutes at the most.

It is recommended that dog owners have both a standard leash and a training leash to begin with.

Another type of leash that has become quite popular is the retractable leash. These leashes are not designed for dog training but are fine for dogs that are already leash-trained. This leash provides freedom for the dog but keeps him close enough to his owner should anything unexpected happen. Many owners of small dogs use this type of leash when walking their dogs.

The martingale leash is a leash that is popular with dog handlers for showing their dogs. They are also a good choice for dog owners because they have an all-in-one collar and leash. The collar is specially designed so it won't choke your dog. This is a good choice for someone who likes to jog and exercise the dog at the some time.

Once the dog is able to walk beside you on the walk, then you may want to introduce him to new experiences. If you are a jogger or someone who enjoys roller-blading, then you both may enjoy using this new device. The hands-free Hip Hugger Waist Walker is a belt worn around the dog owner's waist which has a clip for attaching a leash to the belt. Now the dog can run alongside you and experience the joy of moving more quickly while expending more energy. The Hip Hugger is also available in a style that can accommodate two dogs at the same time.

Dogs enjoy running alongside a bicycle ridden by their owner. The bicycle leash has been specially designed for this purpose. To keep the dog safe and away from the moving parts of the bicycle, a special attachment must be fastened to the bicycle, either under the seat or on the axle of the back wheel of the bicycle. The instructions for the positioning of the device will probably come with the attachment. This attachment looks like a pipe and is hollow inside. Springs or a bungee cord are inside the metal pipe. The leash is fastened to this device and it allows the dog to run alongside the bike without getting tangled in the wheels or pedals of the bike. This is another great way to help your dog burn off excess energy and have lots of fun at the same time.

As we stated earlier, there are many types of leashes and, hopefully, this information has helped you decide which ones suit you and your dog. Always remember that you should be exercising your dog every day, the more active the dog the more exercise he needs. Why not make it fun for him while using one of these leashes.
Doris Hermon is owner of the web site "Shop for Your Dog". shopforyourdog.com is a source for dog harnesses, leashes, collars and other dog-related items.

Dog Humor

Dog Tired - A Funny Dog Story

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of. He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and
fell asleep. 

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar, 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar, 'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 and he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?'

This funny dog story was sent in to http://www.guy-sports.com/ by George Hammond

Hey that dog has some moves! You're going down grandma!

For unique and useful dog products, be sure to visit our shopping website "Shop for Your Dog".

Today's Featured Dog Product: No-Pull Harness

Strong dogs such as boxers, pit bulls, and bull dogs often create problems for their owners on the walk. They tend to pull their owners, especially if they haven't been taught to walk beside their owner. This kind of behavior is both dangerous for the owner and the dog. A person subjected to this kind of pulling on a daily basis will soon develop signs of shoulder or wrist strain making the walk an unpleasant experience. On the other hand, pulling is not good for the dog, especially if the leash is attached to a neck collar. Serious damage could be done to the dog's neck if this activity continues on a daily basis.

An effective product which eliminates this problem for both the dog and owner is the no-pull dog harness. This harness goes around the dog's body rather than around his neck, thus eliminating the danger of neck injury for the dog. At shopforyourdog.com we feature the Xtreme no-pull dog harness that works well, especially on dogs over 20 pounds. To check out this harness and view other types of harnesses, just click on the link below:

http://shopforyourdog.com/dog-harnesses/

Introducing Tyson, a Brindle Boxer

Tyson is a handsome Brindle Boxer belonging to Gordie and Karen and their young son, Elijah. For those of you unfamiliar with the breed, you may be interested in the following informaiton excerpted from Boxer-Dogs-Guide.com.

Brindle boxers are one of the most common types of boxers. Within the boxer breed, there are three accepted colours – brindle, fawn and white. 

Brindle Boxers are not as well known as their fawn counterparts but are an extremely interesting variation of the breed purely and simply because of the colour of the coat and the two variations of the colour that exist.

Brindle Boxers are essentially fawn Boxers with black stripes on their coats. In order to be classed as a brindle, the individual Boxer has to have clearly defined stripes on the fur. If several stripes are visible then the dog in question would fit within the breed standard. The stripes can be anywhere on the body but they more often than not cover at least the back and the hips.

To learn more about Brindle Boxers, we recommend you visit

http://www.boxer-dogs-guide.com/brindleboxerdogs.html

Got A Boxer Dog Question? Click here.

Training Your Dog to Listen to You

Preparing Your Dog For The Walk

Walking a dog should be a pleasure but, oftentimes, it is anything but. How many times do you see dog owners struggling as their dogs literally pull them down the street? Another scenario that is very scary is when a dog wants to attack another dog or a strange person as they're passing by. These are both very dangerous situations and should be corrected at all costs. And, by correcting, I don't mean tugging on the leash or screaming your dog's name to get his attention. If you've ever watched the TV show, The Dog Whisperer, you'll know that Cesar Millan teaches other strategies that do work to make your dog a pleasure to take on a walk.

Taking your dog for a walk actually starts before you leave your house. In fact, you need to spend some time long before leaving your house teaching your dog to respond to your actions and commands. Words are not as important when training your dog as your own feeling of confidence and the knowledge that you are the "leader" not your canine friend. Your dog is looking for this leadership and will usually respond well to it. A weak, angry or frustrated owner is bound to bring out the worst in your dog. Examples of bad behavior are jumping up on the furniture, guests, and even you; barking incessantly when someone comes to the door; snapping at people when they come close to him or his owner. (I say "him" but this could just as well be "her'.)

What can we do about this behavior and how does it relate to walking your dog? For one thing, if your dog doesn't respect you or respond to you inside your house, do you think he's going to do any better on the walk? Not a chance.

You should start by not talking so much but quietly setting some boundaries and limitations inside the house and in the yard. Teach him to give people their space, not allowing him to run up to guests and jumping on them. He must learn to wait to be invited close to people. He also needs to be invited on the furniture or on your bed and not allowed to go wherever it pleases him.

When you are satisfied that you are in charge and that your dog is ready to respond to you, then a trial walk is in order. Did you know that the walk begins before you leave your house? His first lesson is to wait patiently beside you at the door until you let him know that you want him to "follow" you. He is not the leader in this exercise but you are. If you keep this in mind as you work to improve the walk, then all should go well.

For a pleasant walk with your dog, It is a good idea to get him a comfortable fitting collar and a suitable leash. There are all kinds of collars and leashes available and you should choose according to the breed of dog and the type of walk you plan to do. Short leashes are great if you want to keep your dog beside you at all times. Some people like to use a longer leash to provide more freedom on the walk. Long leashes provide less control but may be suitable for small dogs.

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Visit "Shop For Your Dog" to select a dog collar and/or leash for your dog.

Doris Hermon is owner of the website "Shop for Your Dog". Shopforyourdog.com is a source for dog harnesses, leashes, collars and other dog-related items.