Archive for the ‘Dog Leashes’ Category
Be A Responsible Pet Owner On Hikes
1. Train your dog to COME when called the first time NO MATTER WHAT THE DISTRACTION. If he cannot come the FIRST time, he should not be off a leash. This can be a matter of life and death in some situations. A dog that chases game or other people or dogs, is a dog likely to get lost or hurt.
2. Carry a Gentle Leader Harness and leash with you so you can leash your dog if needed. Carry treats and practice “coming” along your hike. Teach your dog that that the command “COME” does not mean the end of a good time and that he gets to return to his hike. He is far more likely to come in an emergency if you practice on every hike.
3. Carry Citronella Spray in a canister to use on dogs that are aggressive with your dog. Protect yourself and your dog from other dogs that do NOT have good manners. If you or your dog are attacked by another dog, be sure to get a description, name if possible and REPORT THEM to the authorities for the area you are in.
4. Call your dog and move OFF the trail when someone approaches. Have your dog do a sit or down stay while the other people/dogs/horses/mountain bikes pass by. Your dog does NOT have to play with every dog that comes along. And besides, many other dogs are NOT in the control of their owners and DO NOT have good manners. Protect your dog from others who are not as responsible as you are.
5. Put a Swiss bell on your dog at all times in the forest. This alarms other animals that your dog is near so they will leave so there are not confrontations with wild animals. This also helps you to hear where your dog is at and also allows others hiking to hear an approaching dog.
6. Put a reflective dog collar on your dog for visibility and a reflective vest in the fall so hunters see you have a dog. Be sure to include a name tag on the reflective dog collar even if your dog is chipped.
7. Carry plastic bags to pick up the poop your dog leaves. This is not only unsightly, but unhealthy for the wildlife and other dogs. Your dog packs it in, you pack it out.
8. Carry water for your dog and a small bag of treats or kibble in the event you are not able to get home and are forced to stay in the woods over night, and especially to reward that perfect recall you practice on your hike!
9. Carry a whistle and teach your dog that a whistle means treat! A whistle will carry much farther than your voice if your dog does run off.
Walking Two Dogs At One Time Made Easier
I use to struggle when I walked both of my dogs at the same time. It seemed as though no matter which side they were on, they would have to cross over and tangle the leashes. Just about the time I got the leashes untangled they would cross over again. I spent the whole time we were walking, trying to keep the leashes untangled.
I finally invested in an inexpensive dog leash coupler. I only need one leash and the dogs walk close enough together that they can’t tangle the coupler and my walks with them are much more enjoyable.
Bungee Dog Leash-The Elastic Dog Leash
I have a friend who swears by retractable dog leashes but I just tried out a bungee dog leash and I love it. This elastic dog leash has a loop on the end of it, just like a traditional dog leash so I can free up my hand to grab something else if necessary. It gives my dog more freedom than a traditional dog leash because it extends from six feet to ten feet with a lot less tangles.
The feature I really like about the bungee leash is that it has a “half-way” handle for when I need more control over my dog. It is my humble opinion that this elastic dog leash is easier and lighter to handle than the clunky retractable dog leash my friend loves so much.
Dog Leash Coupler Makes Walking Two Dogs At a Time A Breeze
I have always had two dogs and walking them was a nightmare. I live on a 
small farm, so for the most part, I just let them run. On occasion, I do like to take them for walks though. As soon as I would put them on leashes they would get excited and before I knew it, the leashes were all tangled up and I would be in the middle of it. Then I got a dog leash coupler. What a difference that made.
The dog leash coupler allowed me to to hook both dogs to one leash because it has two collar clasps and a ring to hook the leash to. I got an adjustable one because I was not sure what size to get. I am glad I did because one of my dogs is about half the size of the other dog. I was able to make one side shorter for the taller dog and the other side a little longer for the smaller dog. It really works great for me.