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ANIMAL TRAINING & COMMUNITY CENTER
LEASH WALKING EQUIPMENT
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A leash and collar are important tools that a city dog owner encounters every day, and taking
them for granted might mean that you’re not using the best equipment for you and your dog.
Let us help you break it down.
Basic Leash
FONTS
A basic 6-foot leash made of nylon, leather or rope
material is a standard tool for every dog owner. A basic
leash offers some distance for a dog to explore his
surroundings while allowing the owner to maintain a safe
level of control while walking the busy New York streets.
ASSETS
Long Leash
Long leashes are recommended for hiking or for other
wide open spaces like the park as they offer a dog the
freedom to explore a wider distance. Long leashes are a
great way to practice distance recalls with your dog and
for your dog to have “off-leash” freedom time safely.
Flat/Buckle Collar
A flat or buckle collar lays flat around the neck of a dog
and is best for providing a way to hang ID tags. If your dog
has the potential to pull on leash, the use of the flat collar
will cause undue pressure on the trachea so would not be
appropriate for leash walk training.
Martingale Collar
A martingale collar is similar to a flat collar but has an additional loop where the leash is attached enabling the collar to tighten uniformly around the dog’s neck when he
pulls, distributing the weight more evenly. A martingale
also provides extra security as they are impossible to back
out of when properly fitted.
Front Clip Harness
A front clip harness can be helpful for a dog learning how
to walk politely on a leash as it removes pressure from the
neck area and offers the owner more control. Note that
back clip harnesses will allow a dog to pull harder and
engage their oppositional reflex (“putting on the brakes”)
so should only be used for pulling weight or Mushing.
Head Halter
A head halter is a useful tool for a seasoned or strong
leash puller or for dogs who are reactive on leash. It goes
around the snout of a dog and offers the most amount of
control without pinching or hurting the dog. A dog will
need to be trained to enjoy wearing one and the human
will need to be trained on how to use it appropriately.
Treat Pouch
A treat pouch might not be the most fabulous accessory
but it provides easy access to food rewards or toys on a
walk and ensures that the reward delivery is smooth. You
can also store your keys and ID card in one.
Hands-Free Leash
A hands-free leash paired with a front-clip harness or
martingale collar is a great way to leash train a dog as it allows the owner to have both hands free and sense when
the dog has started to pull more effectively. They are also
great for jogging or for walking multiple dogs. Tip: you
can make your treat pouch into a hands-free leash by putting the loop of your leash through it.
Retractable Leash
Retractable leashes do not provide adequate and safe
control over a dog on a walk, especially in New York City.
Not only do they encourage pulling (as the dog rewards
itself with more freedom whenever he wants) but they
often get tangled up and have caused serious injury to
humans including rope burns, cuts and even amputation
of fingers.
Prong Collar
A prong collar (also sometimes referred to as pinch collar)
works by tightening and casuing pain with the spikes
when the dog pulls on leash. Most dogs find this feeling
uncomfortable and avoid pulling on leash so they don’t
feel the pain. However, some dogs habituate to the pain
and pull anyway. Using pain to teach a dog (especially a
dog who is not socially mature yet - under 3 years of age)
can have serious behavioral side effects and often creates
or exacerbates aggressive behaivor.
Choke Chain
A choke chain tightens around the dogs neck when
he pulls. Often owners use leash corrections with this
piece of equipment and again, this intense pain may
exacerbate behavioral problems. Choke collar use has
been associated with spinal cord injuries, crushing of
the trachea, crushing and/or fracture of the bones in the
larynx, dislocated neck bones, bruising of the esophagus,
bruising and damage to the skin and tissues in the neck
among other injuries.
SchoolForTheDogs.com
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