Go Ahead,Take the Lead

WRITTEN BY: LIZA MARTIN, Contributing Writer

No matter what lead you choose, the key is to always be in control.

That’s the professional advice from Jeff Schettler, a 59-year-old retired police officer and military canine trainer, who, since 1984 has been CEO of Georgia K9 NTC, an international, full-service canine training company with its primary locations on Edisto Island and in Canton, Georgia, as well as others and remote sites within the states and abroad.

“If you can’t handle your dog on a lead, it poses a real risk to your dog, other dogs, and people,” Schettler says, adding there are several different types of leads appropriate for dogs of all sizes, including the most popular: traditional and retractable. Most options can be found at pet stores, local retailers, canine training facilities, and online.

“I did a lot of research before I got Ranger,” Rachel Morath, 41, of West Ashley, says of her four-year-old German boxer that feels most comfortable with a traditional lead.

“I think picking out the best lead for your dog shows them that you are the alpha; who’s in charge. It also teaches them what’s intuitive to their nature,” she says.

Using an appropriate lead for your dog’s size, breed, and temperament is essential to help your dog understand their respective role in a pack, echoes Alyssa Hathorne, 23, a former veterinarian technician and graduate with a BA in Animal Science from Clemson University, as well as a manager of doggy day care Camp Bow Wow, in Charleston.

“Choosing the right lead, especially during training, is important so that you maintain full control of the dog and any situation,” Hathorne says. “Plus, the right lead should keep you in control of your dog’s personal space, which they need identified to feel safe.”

The length, thickness, and comfort of a lead should be commensurate with the size of your dog, Schettler advises. He prefers round, traditional leads with durable hardware, and changing your lead as a puppy grows and your dog changes and ages.

“Find what you like, spend as much as you’d like, but most importantly, (the lead) must be comfortable and sturdy,” he says, adding there are options in traditional lead durability, such as leather, nylon, or biothane — a strong rubber.

“It’s not a one-size fits all,” Hathorne says, adding that other common choices include gentle leads, muzzled ones, those with harnesses, or retractable or electrical collars – these are all also options dog owners can research to understand what’s best for their pet, especially as they age.

“I’ve seen owners use different leads for different dogs or different situations. It differs from caseto-case,” Hathorne says, adding that the breed, size, age, and temperament of the dog, as well as its environment, are all factors that should be considered.

While Schettler, Morath, and Hathorne prefer traditional leads, Schettler says retractable leads really are only appropriate and safe in remote areas where one is unlikely to encounter people or dogs.

“It’s easy to lose control with a retractable lead,” Schettler says. If not handled properly, a retractable lead can make it more difficult than other, safer options to stop your dog from running into the street, running to people or other dogs, or trouble.

“You can step on (to manage your dog’s distance, or to restrain, sit, or stay), a traditional lead, but you can’t do that with a retractable one,” Morath says. “You just can’t react fast enough if something happens.”

No matter the lead you choose, Schettler reminds all dog owners, that “your connection to your dog is the most important part of owning one. It’s a responsibility. And that’s why a good lead is so crucial to your connection with and control over your dog.” ■