Leash Logic

If you have a dog, you have a leash. I have many leashes, some I've purchased or been given, some I've found. Some of the leashes I own I never use because the fabric is uncomfortably sharp on the edges. Literally. I have cut my fingers on two of them. Another, a long line someone made for me, is made from a very stiff fabric that does not lay well in my hand. It was great for Bella though. As a puppy, she chewed right through it.

There are leather leashes, retractable leashes, leashes made of chain, from nylon, from soy, even from recycled climbers' rope. Do you want a color or a pattern? What length? Do you want a matching collar? When it gets right down to it, buying a leash is no easy matter; the choices are too plentiful. But perhaps the question to be asked is for what purpose are you using the leash?

Personally I hate retractable leashes. I learned a lot about leashes with Lucy, my lovely, but aggressive pooch. Knowing how to heel and short lines were a must for Lucy. Most of the people walking their dog on retractables, let their dog wander leaving the owner oblivious. I can't tell you how many people I've seen talking on cell phones or chatting with friends while ignoring their dog 30 feet in front of them—or approaching my aggressive old hound. When I'd shout, "My dog is aggressive. Please don't let you dog approach," one woman responded, "That's okay. My dog is friendly." What was she not getting? I have recently conceded that using a retractable in a controlled setting when working on distance training is understandable, but other than that, I have little nice to say about them.

I bought my first leather leash 30 years ago and it has lasted through two dogs and is now being enjoyed by Bella. It started its life as a six-foot line, but over the years, wear and tear, and puppy teeth have shortened it. It's a little over four feet now, but Bella had her way with it as a youngster, so I'll be bringing it back to the shoe repair shop to be shortened again—the latest incarnation will be a three foot leash—which brings me to the purpose of this post. Length.

If you've gone through dog training, the ultimate goal of any owner is to have your dog walk placidly at your side. As a dog owner, you know just how difficult this is to do. (Reality dictates that in some circumstances you want a longer line so your dog can walk in front of you. Hiking is an example; rarely is a trail wide enough for the dog to march along your side. Of course, many people let their dogs off-leash hiking, but that isn't always wise. Ever known a dog to chase a chipmunk—or a deer?)

When you shop for a leash, however, what length do you find? Six foot. Why would you need six feet when you want your dog to heal? If you are an urban walker, a six-foot leash is at least two-feet too long. So you can imagine my delight when I went into a local shop the other day and found a plethora of four-foot lines. Who was the genius who found them and brought them in? I have shopped the big chain dog stores for years and have never seen a four-foot leash there. So hip hip hooray to the local, independent small store who was savvy enough to purchase this length! A six-foot line I can use hiking, but for daily walks, a four-foot leash is much less to hold and makes much more sense.

Leash Update: The shoe repair man said the old leather leash should be retired. A sad day. However I found a killer new one made from leftover climbing rope. The brand is Krebs Recycle which is a little misleading as they state it isn't recycled, but upcycled. None-the-less, the leash is great. It's soft (no deceptively sharp edges), pliant (can comfortably and easily make it shorter by looping it) and four feet long! Additionally, the handle is very comfortable in my smaller hand. Yahoo Krebs!