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New trend of rope leashes are bad for training

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4.8K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  NancyJ  
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#1 ·
I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but there is a trend in the popularity of leashes made out of climbing rope material. I think the one benefit of these leashes is that they are harder to chew up if your dog has a habit of this. My dog has outgrown the chew the leash phase, but I think I am going to switch to leather or biothane since I can't seem to receive or apply the subtle leash pressure as well with the rope leashes in comparison to a nylon leash. I don't have a leather or biothane leash, but am I correct in assuming they would even have better feedback than a nylon leash?

Rope seems to be a poor choice for training or leash work. Anyone else feel the same way?
 
#2 ·
I haven't used bio-thane. From what little I have read some are better than others. When I walk my two dogs together I like my leather leashes, now that they are broken in. I can grab the leash at any point, with a flip over the thumb and under the fingers, and have a good solid grip. I haven't tried a rope leash in a long time. I walked my ridgie mix just fine with a climbing rope leash. After a couple of lessons and she had "heel" down very well without leash pops.
 
#3 ·
Nah, I disagree. Rope is easier to use as a drag lead when you're doing certain types of foundation training (leather would get trashed being drug through dirt and stepped on repeatedly, and biothane doesn't form good knots). I still use wide rope leads for lots of things, including walks in winter when I'm wearing thick mittens.

I have nice leather leads for going out and about and for trials, but the rope leads are the workhorses.

Your choice of collar is what changes your communication with the dog, IMHO.
 
#4 ·
I only started using rope this year for swimming, this is all I use it for and It has become a cue. If I suddenly started using it as a long line for training it would probably confuse my dogs for a bit, but they'll still respond to commands.

There are many different types of rope, some will stretch more than others and this may be undesirable by some for use as a leash. I use whatever I have under the back seat of my truck. I usually have a 15' and 20' long line, a 5' biothane and a rope for swimming, however from time to time my wife, daughter or I will move gear from one vehicle to another and on rare occasions I have found myself at my destination without a leash. In those instances I always have ratchet straps. :grin2:
 
#5 ·
I have pretty much used anything. My workhorses are biothane but they are slippery when wet so if I am tracking with it I wear gloves. A lot of folks use static climbing rope for this or tubular nylon webbing. . I have a knobby biothane for general walking but it does not slide through hands well for general obedience. I also have some leather leads. I like them too.

It all boils down to personal preference
 
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