Puppy Supplies
Anyway, my main question is in regard to leashes. What do you do when you're dog weighs 15 pounds the day you bring him home, but 80 lbs when he's fully grown...probably more? I think I'm going to buy the full-sized leash because it's okay if that's too big, but in terms of collars I'm sort of lost. Do I need several collars to accomodate for their growth, or is there something you can buy that covers all the different growth stages? Basically, just looking for a few pointers on how to deal and buy things for a 15lbs puppy and a 90lbs adult!! |
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| We have a collar that we've used since we brought Barkley home. It is an adjustable nylon collar with plastic snap closure. It's 5/8" wide and adjusts from 14"-18" in length. Barkley's 4 months old and we still have room to adjust it larger. It was small enough to fit him at 18 lbs at 8 weeks and he is now 40-45 lbs.
Buying an adult size collar can wait - when your dog starts outgrowing his puppy collar you can bring him into the store to try on collars! We still haven't bought an adult size one but we will within a couple months. So, in total you will only require 2 different sized collars. We have also used the same leash since the day we brought him home. It is nylon, 1" wide and 6 feet long. Check out: http://www.petsupplyhouse.com/catalogue.htm Page 82 has the collar and lead we bought. |
| I love the name! I think Milton fits the personality of a sheepie too!
I bought a collar/leash to accomodate each stage of growth. I might have bought a total of 3 ...could have been 2. How big are the parents of the sheepie you're getting? Just wondering because I'd hate for you to buy something for a 100lb sheepie, but your dog only ends up weighing 60-70lbs. Personally, I would wait to buy the next stage collar until your puppy gets bigger. You'll already have to buy a lot the first month you have your sweetie. ...but that's just if you decide to buy a collar for each stage, and not one that fits all. I'll let someone else tell you if there are one of those because I don't know  |
| We have the same lead too since the day we brought Panda home...it too is nylon, but only 4'0''....All of the trainers recommend leather, as it is easier on your poor hands while trying to train a fast growing pulling puppy....I never liked the longer leads, only because when we walk, we walk. No sniffing, no meandering around...It took a long time to get her to heal...so for me the shorter lead is just less to wrap around my hand... |
| If you want to invest in just one leash, get a nice leather one that you can also use for training. Our trainer would only allow us to use leather leads in class. Mine's about in inch wide but it worked fine when he was 23 pounds (when we brought him home) and we still use it now when he's pushing 100 pounds.
Collars I wouldn't worry too much about now. Just get one that fits your puppy and then you can decide later if you even want to use one. Using a collar really worsens matting in an OES with longer hair-- with Clyde, anything over 3 1/2 inches and the collar comes off. For walks I just use a slip lead and when we go to the park, I use a cheap nylon one just in case I need to hold him. I have cuter ones but, unfortunately, once the hair gets longer, it all gets covered up anyway and takes the fun out of cute collars! |
ButtersStotch wrote: Using a collar really worsens matting in an OES with longer hair--
This is true, but you can combat this by only putting a collar on your dog when it is absolutely necessary. In the house, fenced backyard, etc. -> collar always off. Puppy class, walks, dog park, car rides -> collar is on. Keeping your dog's collar off whenever possible should hopefully avoid matting. Make sure you check your local/city laws on collars - in our city a collar and tags must be worn at ALL times... so we're technically breaking the rules by letting him run around our house without a collar on....  |
| You will probably need a 6 ft lead for school, 4 ft is easier for everyday walks - less lead to hold onto. I would get a 1/2 inch wide one at the max unless you are a guy or just have big hands. A leather one will last best and be the easiest on your hands. My daughter uses a 3/8 or 1/2 inch on Chewie - whichever one she grabs 1st. A thicker lead is harder to hold onto and just makes life more difficult, especially if you are a beginner. It is also overkill - no need for a lead that thick. A web cotton one is a cheap alternative if leather isn't in the budget. Nylon would be my last choice - too hard on the hands. I have a couple fancy decorated nylon ones, but they rarely get used.
Collars - take your puppy to fit one. There are many that are adjustable,so they really last a long time. Wait to get a bigger one. No sense getting too many, because half the fun is picking one out when the time comes. |
| Our trainer never cared about the type of leash we used (as long as it was used correctly). |
| I'm curious why no one mentioned a flexi-leash. That is the kind we use with Callie, and I personally love it b/c I can make it long for training purposes or short for walks. Is there some reason not to use this kind?
As for a collar, like everyone has said, you'll definitely need more than one as one size will not cover your new puppy as he grows to an adult. When we went to pick up Callie, I had remembered her neck significantly larger than it really was, so the collar we took was ridiculously large. In fact, it fits her now (78 lbs)... we still laugh about that. |
| We don't wear collars unless we are off our property. We use 6 foot very thin, round nylon braided ones that can easily tie to a belt hook, or car door handle or shopping cart or whatver. They are flexible and strong.
Callie's Mom wrote: I'm curious why no one mentioned a flexi-leash. Is there some reason not to use this kind?
When training a dog to walk on a loose leash you do not want to promote pulling.Wuth a flexi the dog has to pull to go further. This may confuse the dog who will not know when he is "allowed" to pull on the leash and when not to. I also find them clumsey and can never do the stop thing right.OK, I'm thick! I can't figure them out! I hate them!!!!   |
| Are you getting one of Edyn's puppies?
I would get a couple smaller collars for now, the pup will be about 12-15lbs when you bring him home. I think I got the 10" collar to start with and then the 12-14 inch and now they just wear thin rolled nylon 18" chokers. The rolled nylon won't mat the neck coat as much, but I don't think I'd put it on a puppy. Great name too! |
| We have three different collars for Bingley: one that we use everyday whenever we go outside, one that he uses for show training, and one that we bring him to the beach or far away from home with.
The first is awesome - it is only a slip lead, but because it isn't fitted it will work with him as he grows. He does very well on it and has learned to walk nicely when we go on strolls. Here is a link to a similar collar: http://www.carealotpets.com/item-detail/?ItemID=4360B The round collar is supposed to help minimize hair matting in the future. The third one I also like a lot. It was a gift from my grandmother - a matching buckle flat collar/leash with his name and our phone number embroidered on it for ID. The collar is very large, but because it adjusts with a slide we have been able to use it from 8 weeks and we will be able to continue using it for years to come. The lead is 6 feet, which I like because I don't want Bingley running out in front of a car or towards another dog when we leave the house. Good luck and have fun! Oh - we also keep the collars off Bingley unless we go outside in an unfenced area. |
| I actually do find the flexi leads come in handy for early morning pee trips in the rain. Then I can stand at the door, let them have a quick pee, and not get wet. LOL |
| ^^^^^
That's EXACTLY what I DO!!! I stand at the door with a ...what I call retractable leash... and let Yuki go. Gives her enough to wander, but when she's starting to take too long, I start shortening the leash! |
| I don't use my flexi often, but I always take it with on trips. It's easy to use for pottying.
I also use them occasionally with my students transitioning to off lead. We pull out the line and lock it. The cording is so lightweight they hardly notice it. |
| The flexi leads freak me out. There's no control with them and you never know when they might malfunction. I have a friend who had her dog on a flexi lead and he got hit by a car because he was so far out and they don't exactly shoot back in like a winch!
They are great for the back yard and unpopulated area uses. Those early morning/late night raining bathroom breaks are the pits. They are also being banned from most show sites beacuse people were letting their dogs go the whole way to the end of the leads and not paying attention to them. Stupid humans! I'm very anti flexi lead in public because they just lead to trouble since people can't be bothered to actually pay attention to what's going on at the end of the leash. Grrrr |
Maxmm wrote: I'm very anti flexi lead in public because they just lead to trouble since people can't be bothered to actually pay attention to what's going on at the end of the leash. Grrrr
Despite this fact, I love my flexi. I didn't feel very comfortable with Walter off-leash at my old house (no fence) and the flexi gave him the freedom to roam on pee trips and other outside times. When using it on walks, he gets a certain amount of slack to go back and forth, but when need be, he gets reeled in and we walk "correctly." I also like the fact that the handle is more substantial. I wrapped mine with athletic tape, so it's very comfortable and you can get a good grip on it when needed. They also sell little "saddle bags" for the flexi for keys/cleanup bags/treats, whatever... To answer the original question though, i'd just buy as needed. get some different lengths/types and see what you're comfortable with, and what fits the pup. Good luck! |
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