What is a dog lead? Why do we need it, and what does it do?

What a ridiculous question... We all know what lead is right?!
But do we?…

We can use lead just as a link to our dog. Something that keeps us attached when we are being dragged after our dog sees a squirrel.
But what if we do it in a smart way?

✅ Lead is a safety measure

Leads come in multiple shapes and sizes. We have short walking leads, flexi leads, long leads and even super long leads! All of them serve the purpose of keeping your dog under control. You can have a long lead to train recall and help your dog make the right decisions. You can keep them out of trouble with it. Short walking leads can be used to train loose lead walking and a lead tracing on the ground behind the dog can be your safety net to test your dog and your training!

✅ Lead is a training tool

Lead is one of the most useful training tools! Not to train your dog with it, but to set your dog up for success! By keeping your dog on a lead, you can manage their behaviour and achieve success training them much faster. Lead is simply helping them to make a good decision and avoiding a bad decision to be practiced and self reinforced. How are you going to teach your dog to come back to you reliably when they know that there are always funky smelling things in the hedge? 💩

No lead ❎

You call your dog but they didn't react and got to sniff (if only!) a fox poo... Fox poo here is a reinforcement! Your dog got a reward from somewhere else for ignoring your recall!

Lead on ✅

You recall your dog but they are going towards the bush. You can control the situation and slowly manage them to come back to you (always avoid yanking). When they are next to you, you give them a treat and play for a bit! Can you see it? You provided the reinforcement, therefore coming back to you is being conditioned as a good thing! The more you repeat this, the better your recall will get!

Try to walk your dog and treat the lead more life a safety belt than a steering wheel.