Conformation gear

Liesje · 02-27-2009, 11:25 AM

I swear this will be my last thread about this!

I was going to get a braided kangaroo lead b/c I saw one that looked SO cool, but then I decided for a GSD, something understated like all black and no beads would be best. The price for custom braiding something so plain just wasn't worth it.

So I think I'm going with a "regular" leather lead. I found this site: http://www.a1leach.com

I'm looking at the Premium Show Leash. Would a 6' be good? This is for UKC.

Now for collars, I was thinking of getting a black 5/16" rolled leather with the gold colored hardware rather than the hex chain type. I just don't like the chains and I can always use a simple leather slip collar in many other contexts. But I also really like martingales. Is that OK for a GSD in the ring? I would get their black rolled leather 5/16" with the gold colored chain?

Does this stuff look decent? I don't need super top quality, I don't plan on showing my dog every weekend or anything like that. I was drawn to this site b/c they also sell the fake leather (ASAT, biothane, whatever it's called) and I wanted to get a tracking line in that, so it would be nice to get working and show supplies in the same place.

BlackGSD · 02-27-2009, 12:01 PM

They look great to me. Though I would go with an 8 foot leash. Better to be a little longer than you might need than too short.

samralf · 02-27-2009, 12:10 PM

Why do you want a martingale for a gsd? I have one for Charlie because he would get spooked and back out of his collar. He likes to pull and now his throat sounds like crap. He coughs, hacks and gags. Sounds like I damaged his throat real bad. He also has trouble barking as well. I wouldn't use the martingale if I had a choice.

Liesje · 02-27-2009, 12:41 PM

I like how they sit on the head better than the choke. I hate the fine chain chokes (don't care about the looks, I just hate using them). The flat or rolled leather is OK, but I still prefer the martingale b/c it feels more symmetrical. Also for a puppy I'd rather use a martingale than a choke.

samralf · 02-27-2009, 12:57 PM

In my experience with Charlie the martingale is alot better than the choke. I had a choke collar for him that lasted maybe 2 minutes. I don't know if the martingale screwed up his throat or just another problem/illness he has. I just wanted to let you know about the problems I've had with Charlie. I would hate to have something hurt Nikon just simply because I didn't tell you my experience. I guess to answer your question that martingale looks nice to me.

samralf · 02-27-2009, 12:59 PM

What is a kangaroo lead?

Liesje · 02-27-2009, 01:30 PM

It's kangaroo leather instead of regular leather, usually they are braided with 2, 4, 6, or 8 strands so you can have fancy patterns and beads. I'm told that the price and quality of the leather is not much different, so with kanga leads you are paying a premium for custom work. Since I want solid black and no embellishments, it's not really worth it. An 8 strand, 6' kanga lead would cost me around $100.

Many problems with regular use of chokes is that the material is crappy and doesn't release correctly, or the choke is put on backwards and doesn't release. If I use a choke on a puppy like Nikon I would fit it so it's leashed on a dead ring anyway (same way Fursavers are used in the SV ring). I like the Martingale b/c it gives a tighter fit without the choke/release since it can only tighten so far. I've just never seen a show martingale used on a GSD so I don't know if it's kosher, so to speak. The dogs themselves have a lot of ring training so they can gait with or ahead of the handler but aren't actually pulling and choking themselves on their lead.

**Andaka** · 02-27-2009, 04:51 PM

The martingale will be fine. Probably the 6 foot leed also. I use that length in AKC shows.

Liesje · 02-28-2009, 01:12 PM

I talked to some more show/handler people last night and I've decided to get a 4' lead, rolled leather choke, hex chain snake choke (gold), and the rolled leather martingale. I showed them a thin leather lead I already have that's 6' and they said it would be fine if I needed a longer lead, and reminded me that the UKC rings are typically very small, especially for most of the shows I'll be attending. They didn't seem to like the martingale idea, but these were not GSD people and I think they were thinking I mean those shoelace martingale leads like this:

So I'm still going to buy one and see if I like it. We're heading off to the pet store in a bit so I can figure out Nikon's size.

**Lauri & The Gang** · 03-03-2009, 06:54 PM

Lies,

So - what did you end up getting?

02-27-2009, 11:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,971	Conformation gear I swear this will be my last thread about this! I was going to get a braided kangaroo lead b/c I saw one that looked SO cool, but then I decided for a GSD, something understated like all black and no beads would be best. The price for custom braiding something so plain just wasn't worth it. So I think I'm going with a "regular" leather lead. I found this site: http://www.a1leach.com I'm looking at the Premium Show Leash. Would a 6' be good? This is for UKC. Now for collars, I was thinking of getting a black 5/16" rolled leather with the gold colored hardware rather than the hex chain type. I just don't like the chains and I can always use a simple leather slip collar in many other contexts. But I also really like martingales. Is that OK for a GSD in the ring? I would get their black rolled leather 5/16" with the gold colored chain? Does this stuff look decent? I don't need super top quality, I don't plan on showing my dog every weekend or anything like that. I was drawn to this site b/c they also sell the fake leather (ASAT, biothane, whatever it's called) and I wanted to get a tracking line in that, so it would be nice to get working and show supplies in the same place. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

02-27-2009, 12:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
BlackGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 7,795	Re: Conformation gear They look great to me. Though I would go with an 8 foot leash. Better to be a little longer than you might need than too short. __________________ Tracy Siren vom Banach { Sable female GSD 3-20-08} R.I.P. Wrangler male ACD/Aussie mix. 9-29-99 to8-29-11.

02-27-2009, 12:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
samralf Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 177	Re: Conformation gear Why do you want a martingale for a gsd? I have one for Charlie because he would get spooked and back out of his collar. He likes to pull and now his throat sounds like crap. He coughs, hacks and gags. Sounds like I damaged his throat real bad. He also has trouble barking as well. I wouldn't use the martingale if I had a choice. __________________ Jennifer Charlie, CGC- 4/22/01- Sheltie Wally, CGC- 10/23/08- Sheltie Lily- 07/16/10-GSD

02-27-2009, 12:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,971	Re: Conformation gear I like how they sit on the head better than the choke. I hate the fine chain chokes (don't care about the looks, I just hate using them). The flat or rolled leather is OK, but I still prefer the martingale b/c it feels more symmetrical. Also for a puppy I'd rather use a martingale than a choke. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

02-27-2009, 12:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
samralf Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 177	Re: Conformation gear In my experience with Charlie the martingale is alot better than the choke. I had a choke collar for him that lasted maybe 2 minutes. I don't know if the martingale screwed up his throat or just another problem/illness he has. I just wanted to let you know about the problems I've had with Charlie. I would hate to have something hurt Nikon just simply because I didn't tell you my experience. I guess to answer your question that martingale looks nice to me. __________________ Jennifer Charlie, CGC- 4/22/01- Sheltie Wally, CGC- 10/23/08- Sheltie Lily- 07/16/10-GSD

02-27-2009, 12:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
samralf Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 177	Re: Conformation gear What is a kangaroo lead? __________________ Jennifer Charlie, CGC- 4/22/01- Sheltie Wally, CGC- 10/23/08- Sheltie Lily- 07/16/10-GSD

02-27-2009, 01:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,971	Re: Conformation gear It's kangaroo leather instead of regular leather, usually they are braided with 2, 4, 6, or 8 strands so you can have fancy patterns and beads. I'm told that the price and quality of the leather is not much different, so with kanga leads you are paying a premium for custom work. Since I want solid black and no embellishments, it's not really worth it. An 8 strand, 6' kanga lead would cost me around $100. Many problems with regular use of chokes is that the material is crappy and doesn't release correctly, or the choke is put on backwards and doesn't release. If I use a choke on a puppy like Nikon I would fit it so it's leashed on a dead ring anyway (same way Fursavers are used in the SV ring). I like the Martingale b/c it gives a tighter fit without the choke/release since it can only tighten so far. I've just never seen a show martingale used on a GSD so I don't know if it's kosher, so to speak. The dogs themselves have a lot of ring training so they can gait with or ahead of the handler but aren't actually pulling and choking themselves on their lead. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

02-27-2009, 04:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Andaka "I like Daffy" Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Douglas, IL ( near St. Louis) Posts: 2,435	Re: Conformation gear The martingale will be fine. Probably the 6 foot leed also. I use that length in AKC shows. __________________ Daphne and the Gang at Andaka Where Beauty and Brains Come Together http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/germ...&results_in=10 Home of Ch Natty; Ch Doll; Jag RA (ch ptd); Sara RN (ch ptd); Bella (the new one); and Fisher (Mr. Evil) At the Bridge: Ch Kahla CD; Ch Keno UD HSAs OA; Ch Kizzy HSAs RE; Ch Tag CD RAE2; Ch Pharra; Bee PT; Ch Red the Dachshund

02-28-2009, 01:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,971	Re: Conformation gear I talked to some more show/handler people last night and I've decided to get a 4' lead, rolled leather choke, hex chain snake choke (gold), and the rolled leather martingale. I showed them a thin leather lead I already have that's 6' and they said it would be fine if I needed a longer lead, and reminded me that the UKC rings are typically very small, especially for most of the shows I'll be attending. They didn't seem to like the martingale idea, but these were not GSD people and I think they were thinking I mean those shoelace martingale leads like this: So I'm still going to buy one and see if I like it. We're heading off to the pet store in a bit so I can figure out Nikon's size. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

03-03-2009, 06:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lauri & The Gang Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: SouthEastern WI Posts: 12,525	Re: Conformation gear Lies, So - what did you end up getting? __________________ Lauri & The Raw Fed Gang Raw Dog Ranch Tazer HIC CGC – Cocker Winnie CGC - Corgi Mix Chimanes Spice it Up Piquin (Kaynya) - Chinese Crested Sasha - GSD mix Nator von Triton HIC CGC (Mauser) - LC GSD Piquins Some Like it Hot (Spike) – Chinese Crested Piquins Too Hot To Handle - Fuego (Chinese Crested)

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