Big girl equipment - stronger lead and collars

[StephyMei1112]

Well Katalin is entering her pre-teens now and is certainly substantial in size. She's outgrown 3 collars already and I'm now going about setting her up with studier/durable walking and training accoutrements. Her flat collars with plastic buckles have popped open more than once so I'm looking into a leather collar/Leerburg fursaver for her now.

So I plan to get (as budget allows) -

Leerburg Fursaver collar
Leerburg Leather agitation harness
Leerburg Herm Sprenger prong
Non slip rubberized lead
Leather lead
Leather buckle collar

I've heard really good things about Ella's Lead but need advice about what lead/collar to order from them for her. She's around 80 pounds or so now and will finish up at about 115 so it'll need to be a heavy duty, leather lead with a strong grip - I've seen a "police lead" on their website - is that something along the lines of what I describe I need?

Sorry will need some guidance here - haven't ordered from them before and will need help with what to get!

 

[ihartgonzo]

Is there any reason that she needs a prong collar? They are not a necessity for powerful breeds, and basic leash training with positive methods should be exhausted before introducing correction collars for training.

Ella's Lead collars are really beautiful and made to be strong. Paco collars are great too!

 

[StephyMei1112]

We've exhausted the positive training - that's why the prong LOL

She's not problematic at all - but the prong serves as abit of a reminder and helps for impulse control (which we REALLY need to work on) and just knowing what the rules are. I'm not trigger happy about it at all and it really helps communication to and with her become much much clearer. She's on a plastic one now and is doing fine on it - we don't even need it as much except if we're walking in crowded areas or during training class.

I'll look up the Paco collars too - thanks!

 

[Emily]

We've exhausted the positive training - that's why the prong LOL

She's not problematic at all - but the prong serves as abit of a reminder and helps for impulse control (which we REALLY need to work on) and just knowing what the rules are. I'm not trigger happy about it at all and it really helps communication to and with her become much much clearer. She's on a plastic one now and is doing fine on it - we don't even need it as much except if we're walking in crowded areas or during training class.

I'll look up the Paco collars too - thanks!

Yeah, don't let anybody make you feel bad about the prong collar. As long as you're also pairing training with it, you're not doing her any harm.

A "police lead" is usually the same a Eurolead, meaning it has o ring and snaps all over so you use it a variety of ways. But it really has nothing to do with sturdiness, and it's not something you need unless you want one. I happen to love them.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

I agree with Emily, used properly there is nothing wrong with prong.

My dogs wear HS fursavers all the time. Be sure to not buy a cheap imitation.

As for leashes I buy from leerburg a lot and have been happy with their products. I prefer Paco for my leather when I can afford it and Denis prefers biothane for his gear.

We used to buy from a pit bull specialty company and I'd love to support and recommend them but their business practices have been shameful for a while so I'll have to ask around for alternatives.

 

[Romy]

I have no recommendations for super strong leather leads. However, if you do need a super strong all-around lead, I started using a horse lead rope for Strider's leash after he snapped a couple of normal webbing leashes in half. Well, one time ripped out the stitching on one leash and the other he broke the clasp in half while lunging at a coyote. Four years with the same rope and we've never had an issue.

ETA: I have a mendota leather leash and really like it a lot. It's never been tested on Strider's power lunges though, but it's done really awesome with Kaia. It might be as strong as you're looking for.

 

[Emily]

Ooohh yeah, horse lead ropes makes awesome heavy duty leashes for big dogs, especially if you want extra length, as they're more like 8'-10' usually.

ETA: also, my friend Kay makes some hardcore leather products, and tests them on her crazy gamebred APBTs. She's super serious about testing things and will repair stuff if it breaks on you. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whiplash-Leatherworks/101646123209620

 

[Fran101]

I really like the tufflex leads/collars from gundogsupply. They are really inexpensive and the collars come with free tags. They are biothane so water proof, odor proof etc... but feel pretty nice.

I like the IDEA of leather but find myself hesitant due to how it is around water/smells/germs lol

 

[Barb04]

Check out www.blockydogs.com for collars. I have them for each of my dogs from 62 lbs. all the way up to 140 lbs. They are strong and last.

 

[houlahoops]

I use horse leads for Mammoth (95 lbs) and even for the curs (including Bailey) who are smaller (50-80 lbs) but strong. Collar-wise, we've always gone with a standard rolled-leather collar for Mammoth and a nylon+"choke" for the curs (just as backup in case they bust the clasp or back out).

 

[RD]

Paco collars makes really nice, but really expensive leather collars and leashes. I like my dog's Ellas Lead collar, it held up to a LOT of abuse and still looks pretty good. Also not cheap, but less expensive than Paco.

My advice and personal opinion - order a double-layer latigo leather collar. No stitching in the leather, no suede lining, none of that fancy stuff because honestly from what I've seen, the regular double layer collars are the toughest. Get brown, tan or black leather that won't be as likely to stain her fur wacky colors.

For leashes I really, really like Northern Blackout. Her leads are made from bridle leather rather than latigo, so they need a little more conditioning to make them buttery soft, but they're extremely strong.

 

[Panzerotti]

I love Leerburg leather gear, it comes already nice and soft, while also thick and tough. I actually just got a package in the mail today, a new leather collar, lead, and harness from Leerburg!

 

[Miakoda]

www.stillwaterkennelsupply.com

Not only are his collars and leads top of the line and super-duty durable, but he does custom orders and will add hardware for you as you desire.

 

[Lizmo]

My Pacos have stood up to some rough pulling, and handled it very well. My Ella's Lead collar did stand up to the pulling, however, it bled when wet. My Pacos don't.

I have not tried another company yet for a lead, but Northern Blackout Leads is incredible. Super strong. My one lead has stood up to pulling, puppies, water, and herding.

 

[StephyMei1112]

Thanks so much everyone! Great suggestions and I definitely will check all of them out!

I think I'll go with a good leather leash and get a spare one as well - but where would I go about getting a horse lead if need be?

I LOVE this collar from Ella's Lead though -

http://www.ellaslead.com/inc/sdetail/5080/5083

I know it's supposed to look western but it looks more Byzantine/Turkish to me almost.

 

[Panzerotti]

You can go to Greenhawk or any horse supply place for a lead, but I find them too big and bulky personally. I would give Leerburg's leads a try. They are very decently priced and if you get their largest size it should be more than enough strength.

 

[yoko]

Thanks so much everyone! Great suggestions and I definitely will check all of them out!

I think I'll go with a good leather leash and get a spare one as well - but where would I go about getting a horse lead if need be?

I LOVE this collar from Ella's Lead though -

http://www.ellaslead.com/inc/sdetail/5080/5083

I know it's supposed to look western but it looks more Byzantine/Turkish to me almost.

I LOVE my Ella's Lead collar I got a 'westerny' one that does look western lol. Yoshi is pretty rough on collars and this collar has held up incredibly well.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

I have a few horse leads and eventually the novelty wore off, they're too big and not needed. I bought mine at a feed store locally though.

 

[monkeys23]

I have mostly EL stuff and we use it everyday. I love stillwater nylon collars and have a leather harness from him too.

Scout's leash is biothane and from dogsportgear.com. I also have a 10ft line from there that I use with my EL rope splitter so they can be "free" when we walk at the cemetary. It holds up to 110lbs of sled dog excited about squirrel, so I think its plenty sturdy LOL.

Definitely get HS for fursavers and prongs, its well worth the investment! My off brand chrome prong is getting some rust... I need to eventually buy a SS one that is actually HS. And if I ever pony up for fursavers I bet they'll wear them most of the time lol.

I really like our thick EL collars for walking, but then they don't really pull unless I give them the verbal okay to be jackasses about squirrels so yeah.

 

[release the hounds]

You can NOT go wrong getting a leather lead from Leerburg. I have had 2 for over 10 years, and I have not treated them well. They still feel as good and with a bit of oil would like like the day i bought them. Excellent quality leather leashes.

HS fur savers are also great quality.

I'm not a fan of the non slip leashes, not because of the quality, but because handlers always have them for long lines it seems and they do grip, my effing ankles after i slip a sleeve or something and I can't step out of it as easily as the others

I don't use a harness either, just wide leather collar, then just fur saver. and I don't buy expensive ones. I go buy a wide calf leather calf collar from a tractor supply store and cut it down. 8 bucks vs 30, call me cheap