Gday All.... With our new puppy on the way... what is a suitale lead for a Cairn puppy - and an adult Cairn ?. There is such a variety. Is a harness better than a Collar ? At what age should we begin training to lead ?

Any advice would be appreciated....... Charlie & Joan

I started trianing with a lead as soon as they came home...The earlier the better IMO.

I used a harness up to 3 months then switched over to flat collar to start helping them learn to heel and not to pull.

Have fun with your new one!

One of each?

For quick trips in and out of the vet, to and from the gate at earthdog tests etc., I like a thick British slip lead with a martingale. Orange is my favorite color for that type of lead as it is easily found in a heap of junk. For obedience and practice, a soft and supple leather lead. For beach walks and general horsing around where obedience expectations are nil and a dog is likely to be hitting the end of a flexi at warp speed - a harness.

I clicked the link to the British slip lead with martingale, and I have to admit that I can't figure out how it goes on. Anybody got a picture?

I agree, start getting your puppy used to a lead right away. We didn't get a harness until last year (Packy is 3 1/2) and I really wish we had one sooner. We do lots of walks for fun -- as Brad says, expectations are nil, so a harness is perfect for us. We also have a regular leash for when I want more control.

I clicked the link to the British slip lead with martingale, and I have to admit that I can't figure out how it goes on. Anybody got a picture?

Sure - here's a site with a diagrams and pictures and everything! How a Martingale Collar Works.

When mine were puppies I always used a harness. I still use a harness about 99% of the time. I worry about the trachea thing. I use a 6 foot leash when going to places with people in public. When walking I use a double leash (6 feet), it is easier with both dogs. If I am walking just one dog I use a regular 6 foot leash or my Planet Dog 6 foot zip lead which is the BEST LEASH EVER MADE, I think there is much more control with shorter leashes. When I take Scooter hiking I use a 25foot retractable, so he can explore and he never pulls. He is in the woods so he should be able to run as much as possible. Usually he does about 50mph 25 feet behind me and then 25 right past to feet in front of me. So he gets a good 50 foot sprint.

I use regular collars when going to the vet, or a quick walk down the street and back.

I met someone with a dog that could not breath, turned out it was from pulling with a collar, collapsed the trachea. Since then I use harnesses mainly.

Start young, its never to young to start training heel. Making the puppy stop and sit when you stop. Making the puppy walk by your side and if he/she goes too far ahead bring back to you and have the puppy sit. You will thank yourself later.

These are the 2 harnesses I use:

This one for hiking, I just got it and ABSOLUTELY love it. I recommend it highly. 2 buckles under the belly and they cannot get out of it at all. It is nice for hiking because I can lift him by it.

http://www.ruffwear.com/Web-Master-Harness...p;category=1131

This used to be his hiking one but it is nice to use for walks now so I have one for Scoot and one for Sadie. Nice and padded.

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Dog-Adjustabl...7436&sr=8-7

here is that leash, i love it. I got the large because it is shorter and it is all belt, not that thin rope.

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Dog-Zip-Lead-...7509&sr=1-3

Anyway, thats all I've got for you. I buy harnesses, collars and leashes like some women buy purses. It is kind of an accessory for me...lol.

Edited June 3, 200817 yr by Jessica H

We use harnesses with the leash but we also put a collar on when we use the puppia harnesses since there's not a good place for the tags.

Get them used to a lead as soon as you can!

I've never seen that zip leash before! I'm going to have to look into it. It looks a lot more compact than the flexi-lead.

I've never seen that zip leash before! I'm going to have to look into it. It looks a lot more compact than the flexi-lead.

Its very compact, it basically fits in the palm of your hand, the strap that goes around the wrist is nice too because you don't always have it and you can free up a hand if needed. I love it.

Brad,

With the British slip lead, doesn't that still pull on the trachea area?

I've tried just plain collars, I personally don't like that because when they pull, they really pull. Right now I am using harnesses and leash. I just recently bought a flexi and thought I could walk both of them with a coupler (not so).

Although, come to think of it, your dogs are probably better trained than ours and they probably don't pull as much.

Pretty much any collar around the neck is capable of causing damage in the right (or should I say, wrong) circumstances.

The Martingale is a bit more forgiving than a fixed collar, but does not solve the fundamental problem of pulling. The British slip lead's convenience comes from fitting any dog and being easy to put on and off without fussing with buckles, etc.

As much as it horrifies some, a few sessions with a prong collar almost completely eliminated pulling for our two sled dogs; from that point, we can use a regular collar/leash combo and the heel or "easy" command to walk politely. (They sometimes need to be reminded that they know how to do so.) As I mentioned, if we don't really care if they zoom around, or we are somewhere so high-drive that we don't want to dilute our training by failing to keep them on a loose lead - we know they are going to pull and we are going to let them - we use a harness.