Show leads

[Dainerra]

anyone have a favorite style/vendor/material?

I'm looking around, but google isn't being my friend today. My local club doesn't have any german shepherds, so I've been borrowing one from a Welshie

[Xeph]

I love my buffalo leather leads. I think they're a zillion times better than cow leather.

[dogfaeries]

Do you recommend a vendor, or a link online to order them?

[Xeph]

The 3c's Dog Show and Grooming Supplies

If I'm at a show that's a big cluster, I'll find a vendor with buffalo hide leads and I'll custom order a lead for 8-10 feet long. I'll admit if I want a lead longer than 10 feet (12 is my personal max) I'll go with cow hide leather. I prefer FLAT leads to round. I find round leather leads to be too slippery and hard to manipulate.

I also do not knot my leashes

[Dainerra]

thanks for the tips! as I said, I am the only GSD in my local club, so they had no advice. All I could find online was that GSD show leads are "different" than other breeds. I'd read all this info on how to choose one and then the last line would say "unless you are shopping for a GSD, which is completely different"

I will check those out.

[Xeph]

I use various lead lengths depending on the dog and depending on the venue I'm showing in. If I'm at an all breed show and the ring isn't huge, I'll use one of the shorter, finer leads that I've used on the English Cockers I showed. Those are generally 4-5' long, and yes, they have pretty beading xD

If I'm at an all breed show and we're outdoors/have a bigger ring, I'll use my 8' buffalo hide lead (that's my "go to" lead). I use it on dogs that I know will move out, but won't haul butt (aka, drag me), or on smaller dogs, like Mirada (50 lbs vs a 90 pound freight train). Mirada is relegated to the 8 ft lead usually, as she can use the whole lead and continue doing her job. If I give her the 12 ft lead, she decides she can just gallop with the extra four feet (we're working on that, and the issue should be taken care of before nationals).

[Stosh]

The flat leather lead I use is rather narrow, I think it's a 3/8", so I can coil it in my hand easily. And no stitching

[Xeph]

I have one stitched lead...it's really hard to get longer leads that are braided, though I definitely prefer the braiding

[Dainerra]

thanks for all the advice... it's rather hard to get advice about GSDs from anyone who doesn't show GSDs
but I already knew that GSDs were one of a kind

[Andaka]

Leash, Leather Leashes, Collar, Leather Collars, Martingale, Fur Saver, Choke Chain | Alpha 1 - Leather Leash Store This is where i like to get my leather leads and collars. They show GSD's at specialty shows so know what it take to hold one and make the leather comfortable in your hand. I have a 12 ft. lead for Nationals, and mostly 6 ft leads for all-breed shows. /t'hey also sell a really nice martingale collar in leather and chain.