Leash Basics.

I'm a big fan of leashes. Of course it's lovely to see a dog frolicking in a grassy field, and there are some activities that just don't work on a leash -- fetch, anyone? -- but for the most part, if a dog is outside of its home or fenced yard, it should be on a leash. 

My favorite kind of leash is about six feet long and made of leather, with a good strong brass or stainless steel clip. About 3/4" wide works for most dogs, maybe 1/2" one for the smaller pups. Leather is great because it's strong but not stiff, looks good on any dog, and it won't burn you like a nylon leash will if a dog suddenly takes off and zings it through your hand. A good leather leash will easily last the lifetime of your dog, and they usually don't cost more than $20. I've found nice ones at thrift shops for a couple of bucks. 

The perfect leash.

I see a lot of people put their hand through the loop at the end, or wrap it around their hand a couple times, and that's a good way to get your wrist sprained or broken if the dog lunges, stops suddenly, or takes off in an unexpected direction. Here's how I hold a leash:

 Put your thumb through the loop and lay the rest across your palm.

Grip with your fingers and that's all there is to it! Clip the other end to the dog's collar. The dog walks on your left. 

Now take the middle of the leash in your other hand like so...

...and close your fingers around it. If you've ever taken riding lessons you'll recognize this hold, because it's how riders are taught to hold reins. It allows for a strong but flexible hold; the leash's tension is controlled by how tight your fingers are. The leash goes from the loop over your right hand's thumb and through that fist, to your left hand between thumb and forefinger, and coming out the bottom, between your pinky and ring finger, and then to the dog. Which is just a very complicated way of saying this:

And now Josie's mad at me because I put her leash on for a picture and didn't take her for a walk afterwards. Sorry, Josie! 

This is a very secure hold. If you tighten your left hand and pull back from your elbow, you can control even a very large dog quite easily, and if things really go haywire, you can bring your right hand (holding the loop) behind your back and that dog isn't going anywhere. Have you ever seen someone rappelling down a cliff? Often they'll have a hand at or near their back. That's their brake. They close their hand on that rope and bring it to the middle of their back, and they stop moving. If it will stop them falling off a mountain, it will stop your lab from going after that squirrel. Just bend your knees and lean back. 

I think that's enough for today. Next time, I'll discuss different types of leashes and collars, and how to find what works best for your dog.