I have seen people and animals get excited, but I have never seen anything with the same level of excitement as a dog going for walks and outings. Dogs are descendants of wolves and have a strong desire to explore. But this exploration comes with risks. That's why every dog owner puts the dog on a leash when going out.
There's even a more serious problem. If the dog is not well-trained, it pulls on leash. Most dogs have learned that pulling allows them to move forward. So, walks turn into a tug of war. This is a behavior you need to discourage through positive reinforcement leash training.
Of all the dog training accessories we have tested, we haven't seen anything that discourages the pulling behavior like the slip lead. In this guide, we'll be exploring the whole concept of leash training the dog using slip leads, how to choose the best slip lead for your dog, and, of course, give you our top recommendations.
The Best Slip Leads for Effective Dog Training
Before we dive into slip leads, let's first highlight the reasons you need to leash-train your dog. Statistics show that there's an average of 500,000 dog bites per year in Canada alone, with one to two of the bites being fatal. You can imagine, then, how many dog bites are there in the world.
On average, the dog owner compensates the victim with a settlement of $30,000 to $35,000. Although there's a limit to the maximum compensation a victim can receive for pain and suffering, there's no limit on pecuniary damages. That means there can be way more penalties.
In fact, we have seen some local governments introducing leash laws to try to reduce these cases. For instance, Calgary is an on-leash city, meaning that all dogs must be on leash unless they're in their owner's properties.
The law extends to state that the dog must be under the owner's control at all times. A dog is considered to be off-leash if the lead slips out of hand or the dog manages to pull and escape. This shows the need to keep your furry friend on a leash and under control during walks.
What is a Slip Lead?
Let's get into the order of the day: slip leads. What are they, and why are they so good for leash training? A slip lead is a lead that combines the functionality of a leash and a collar into one accessory. Normally, you wear a collar around the dog's neck and then attach a leash on a D-ring on the collar.
A slip lead eliminates these hassles. The lead goes and runs back through itself, forming a loop. This is the loop that goes around the dog's neck. As the name suggests, a slip lead works like a noose. When you put pressure on the leash, the noose tightens, and there's a little more pressure on the dog's neck.
The reason why slip leads work so well for training is that dogs don't like the pressure they feel on the neck when they pull. Remember, when a dog feels there's pressure working against the chest, it pulls harder due to the opposition reflex.
For giant breeds like the Saint Bernards and the Huskies, their pulling force is enough to drag you on the sidewalks. But with a slip leash, the dog feels uncomfortable when it starts pulling, so it stops.
Features to Look for in a Training Slip Lead
Like any other dog accessory, not all slip leads are built the same. Some are larger than others, some safer, and others more sturdy and durable. That means you need to consider your dog's size and needs before choosing a slip lead. Here are some of the key features to look out for in a training slip lead.
Durability
The sturdiness of the leash is the first thing to check. Keep in mind that the leash is for training a dog that's already pulling on the leash. If the lead is not strong enough, it'll break when the dog pulls. The best option is to go for a rope lead. Ropes are usually sturdy and durable and can serve the dog's entire lifetime.
Ease of use
Dogs are intelligent and know something that limits their movement. That's why many dog owners have problems using no-pull collars and harnesses. Over time, the dog learns that the collar or harness limits its movement or feels uncomfortable when it pulls, so it starts refusing to wear it.
In fact, one of the biggest advantages of slip leads over no-pull collars and harnesses is the ease of use. You just slip the lead over the dog's head when it's least expected. But even the leashes vary in ease of use. So, when buying the leash, make sure it's easy to use.
Go for a leash that you just set the loop limiter, and from there, you'll just be slipping it over the dog's head, and it slides into position. Even if the dog doesn't love wearing it, you can always slip over the dog when the dog least expects it.
Comfort for the Dog
Slip leads sit on the dog's neck like collars. Remember, the neck is one of the most sensitive areas in a dog. If the leash is so thin, it can cut on the neck skin, or press the hairs and cause bald spots.
Excessive pressure on the neck can even cause trachea problems. So, when choosing a lead, make sure it's made of soft and comfortable materials.
Top Slip Leads for Training
Knowing the features to look out for in a slip lead is one thing, and buying the best option for your dog is a different thing. The market is full of these slip leads, and it's challenging to know exactly which one meets your dog's requirements. After trying many of these leashes, here are the ones we found to work best for most dog breeds.
Noir Dog Slip Lead
When you hear the word noose, the first thing that might have crossed your mind is choking—and you're not wrong. A slip lead can slip without limit and choke your dog to death if it's not well designed. But here we have the Noir Dog Slip Lead, one of the slip leads designed with the dog's safety in mind.
The lead comes with a rubber stopper and ring that slides the noose to tightness. So, when your furry friend pulls on the leash, and there's pressure, the metal ring slips freely, tightening the loop.
This design offers two advantages. One, the metal ring is significantly larger than the rope. That means it slides freely and can reach the maximum tightness in seconds if not milliseconds. So, the dog stops pulling almost immediately after starting to pull.
That also means even if your furry friend is an escape artist with a narrow head and high speed like the Greyhounds, he can't manage to escape before the loop slides tight. Second, the rubber stopper prevents the loop from becoming too large.
So, your furry friend can't take advantage of the fact that you haven't applied pressure on the leash and wiggle free while the loop isn't tight.
Sofia Dog Slip Lead
The Sofia Dog Slip Lead is another slip lead that prioritizes the safety of your furry friend. This lead shares the same DNA of the rubber stopper as the above, but I want to mention the adjustability. All dogs are not the same size.
Most dog accessory manufacturers group their accessory sizing in terms of extra small, small, medium, large, and giant dog breeds. But you'll find that these are broad categorizations, yet dog collars need precise sizings.
For instance, even if both St Bernards and Newfoundlands are giant breeds, they don't have the same neck sizes. Also, dogs lose and gain weight just like humans. Remember, if the loop of the slip lead doesn't fit perfectly, the dog can easily wiggle free.
The good news is that the Sofia Dog Slip Lead is adjustable. You can move the position of the rubber stopper for setting the lead tightness. Simply slip the lead over your dog's neck, and then adjust the rubber stopper to set how loose the leash can get when no pressure is applied on the leash.
Chocolate Dog Slip Lead
When you're dealing with a small breed dog or brachycephalic dog breed that has breathing problems, the weight and design of the accessory you're putting on the dog's neck are critical. For instance, you don't want to weigh down a Yorkshire Terrier or a Chihuahua with a chain collar made of steel.
In the same way, you don't want to use a choke collar or a prong collar on a brachycephalic dog breed like French Bulldogs or Boston Terriers. These dogs already have breathing problems, and using such designs only worsens the situation. However, the dog still needs leash training.
That's where the Chocolate Dog Slip Lead comes in. This lead weighs only 8 ounces. Remember, the lead combines the functions of a leash and a collar into one. So, it's 8 ounces without additional accessories. This makes the leash a great option for training small breed dogs that might be exhausted by no-pull harnesses.
Olive Dog Slip Lead
When you're discouraging your dog from pulling, it doesn't mean you punish it. After all, dogs are intelligent, and if something causes pain, they refuse to wear it. Another thing is that positive reinforcement training works better than punishment. However, the dog must know it's not doing something good by pulling.
The Olive Dog Slip Lead perfectly balances these two factors. When the dog pulls, the leash tightens, and becomes uncomfortable for the dog. The dog feels like it's tied to a stationary object, such that when it pulls, the leash can't move, but tightens. This makes it seem futile for the dog to pull.
At the same time, this leash is made of a 10mm rope. This width is large enough to not hurt the dog's sensitive neck when it pulls. In fact, the rope design is cylindrical. That means the leash distributes pressure evenly, and your furry friend won't have bald spots and irritations due to excessive pressure on certain areas.
Cobalt Dog Slip Lead
When you're leash training your dog, you want to give it some freedom to smell new scents on the trails. That way, the dog experiences the same level of freedom as it will experience on normal walks after leash training.
At the same time, you want a leash length that gives you control over the dog without a tug of war. The Cobalt Dog Slip Lead perfectly balances these two things. This lead is 4 feet long, a length that gives your furry friend freedom, yet short enough to allow you to control him without much hassle.
Something worth mentioning is that the features of this lead is similar to the above slip leads, only that it comes with a lighter and less intense blue. I just love the cobalt color because it matches so well with different shades of denim pants.
Training Tips with Slip Leads
The first thing to do when using a slip leash is to make sure the sizing is right. The lead tightens around the dog's neck, and an improper fit can cause injuries or total choking. Slip the lead over the dog's head and place the loop high on the dog's neck, close to the head.
Use the lead for gentle corrections, not punishment. A good option is to use quick, firm tugs to redirect your dog's attention. Release the pressure on the slip lead as soon as your dog responds to your correction. Then, reward the dog for good behavior with treats and praise.
During this time, you can teach basic commands like sit, stay, come, down and leave it. Remember, the aim is to teach your dog to walk beside you. Over time, you can start teaching the dog advanced commands like wait, place, and drop it.
Conclusion
However much we love our furry friends, we have to leash-train them. Otherwise, walks will turn into a tug-of-war, and giant breeds can even drag us on the streets. The best way to leash-train a dog is to use slip leads. The above slip leads are high-quality and can serve a dog's lifetime without breaking or fraying.