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| My favorite leash, with poop bag dispenser attacked. Both clasps are attached to the same ring, which is how I always hang it up. If you unclip the clasp by the dispenser it becomes a five and a half foot standard leash. |
The setup is simple: a six and one half foot length of nylon with a clasp at both ends and three rings sewn at different intervals along its length. This combination of clasps and rings (two D-rings and a central O-ring) allows for at least six different setups, all in one leash. It's a regular leash of three different lengths. It's an easy temporary tie-out of several lengths. It's a two dog leash. You can throw it around your body and go hands-free. You can also do such things as clip one end to a collar and the other to a head collar or second collar as a backup. There's also a four inch length near one clasp that is perfect for grasping if you need to keep your dog close (well, at least if they're as tall as Ebon is). My most recent hike/long walk setup with the leash is one clasp attached to the collar, the other to the pack, and the large loop that this makes slung over my shoulder. This is hands-free and keeps him close, preventing him from zig-zagging as he likes to do on long trips. When he zig-zags he sometimes gets one of his paws stepped on.
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| All of the clips and clasps, dinged and tarnished with age. You can see some of the fraying as well. |
Over time, I have ended up using this leash in all of its permutations. I have walked two dogs with it (Charlie and Ebon, Ebon and Siggy), used the hands-free setup, used it as a tie-out while camping, attached it to both his collar and head collar during the early days of working on his excitability, and used it as a regular leash in all its lengths. That control length I mentioned (which you can see above) is also what I use as a traffic handle when Ebon's in the city to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid (like walk in front of a moving vehicle). If I ever do replace it, I'll probably get a leather one since leather doesn't fray so easily. The leash was cheap and it shows. I have had to trim or burn fraying ends on multiple occasions. However, the stitching is quite strong and has never given any hint of giving way. That's despite times where an eighteen-month-old, eighty pound Ebon hauled away on it with all of his might.
Unfortunately, it looks like the actual leash I own is rather difficult to find now (though not impossible, and it even comes in red and blue). However, there are numerous others leashes built on the same system (in numerous different styles and materials, countless ones really), though most are much more expensive than what I payed for mine over six years ago. This style of leash is also sometimes called a training leash, police lead, shutzhund leash, European lead, six-function leash and multi-function leash. Its functionality makes it a great all-purpose leash and, though I have others, I rarely use them.
That leash is pretty cool. I've been looking for one that's not muchos dollars but am probably just going to make one eventually.
ReplyDeleteI did mod Conker's leash so there's a D-ring on it for a poop bag dispenser/flashlight, and when he's off-leash I attach the clasp to that and loop it over my shoulder so it's easily assessable if he's being a dork.
Juneau and Sasha have very basic not-even-leashes as leashes. The local feedstore had a sale on horse leads so I bought some, four for $3 a piece. I tied a knot in the end (since there's no handle) and that works good for a stop or when I tie it to something so it doesn't come loose easily.
Nicer than my leash.. ,but I do like the fact that my leash is adjustable, has a seatbelt clip for car rides- has a padded handle and a zip pocket on a second padded handle - and I bought it at a discount store!
ReplyDeleteLosech, I never would have though to use a horse lead as a leash, but by golly does it make sense. I don't know if I would ever use that for Ebon, though. He's a good boy, but since he's so big if he does get excited he can give me some really good leash burn if I grab mid-leash. He usually stays close to me, and if he does decide to run in a certain direction, there's often a full four feet of slack for him to take up. Thanks to that, sometimes the best thing I can do is let everything go except for the loop and check him that way. So, a knot might not be enough for a dog his size.
ReplyDeleteCarol, that sounds like a pretty nice leash, and discount stores are always nice. I have a short reflective lead that I bought at one.
It’s nice that you found a good leash for your dog. Just make sure that the leash would safely harness your dog even if he gets old and bigger because you said you bought it when he was still a puppy. If your dog is much bigger now, I think you should purchase a leash that would perfectly fit your dog. This way, he’ll be comfortable, especially when you’re taking him for a walk outside.
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