The right dog leash is essential for keeping your dog under your control during walks and during training, one that won’t tangle up. So, how do you keep a dog’s leash from tangling up? A dog leash is so important that it is a legal requirement in many parts of the world to own one, if your desire is to walk your dog in public. So, one that tangles up all the time doesn’t measure up.
The recurring problem is that a lot of dog owners don’t know how to keep their leads or leashes from tangling or twisting. Dogs inadvertently get tangled in their leashes often themselves, the result of twists in the leash that have gone days without anyone noticing.
A tangled dog left outdoors unattended will be unable to get to food and water. One tangled while being walked could become impossible to remove from a fight with another dog. So, keeping a dog’s leash from tangling is not a minor inconvenience to avoid.
A key decision to keep a dog’s leash from tangling is to pick out a dog leash made from quality materials that are less prone to kinking and snarling. Then, learn how to carry out tangle-free dog walks.
How Do You Keep a Dog’s Leash From Tangling by Choosing The Right Leash?
There are 3 key factors to consider when picking a dog’s leash. If you fail to take them under consideration, you will be increasing your chances of tangling your dog or yourself and others in a messy web of leashes.
1) Dog Size and Breed
The size and breed of your dog has a direct relationship with the type of leash you should use to avoid twists and tangles. A Chihuahua will be overwhelmed by a big chain with a large clasp while a St. Bernard or a German Shepard will easily snap a thin lead attached to a lightweight clasp. Keep in mind that your dog’s age affects your choice too. An older dog usually is not as animated as younger dogs and won’t need the same type of leash.
2) Object of The Leash
A vital leash is one applied according to the purpose for which it was made. When choosing one out, make sure what the manufacturer made it for. Leashes vary in material, length and width for a reason. A dog leashes come in standard or retractable formats. Standard leashes, for instance, are available in your average pet stores, made of Nylon, leather or chain for standard size dogs.
Leashes may be sold in widths ranging from less than a quarter of an inch to over an inch. So, when you’re dealing with a big dog, you may need a much wider lead to keep from tangles. A wide leash is less likely to tangle because it covers more space when wrapping around objects. So, even when it does wrap around, it is easier to untangle.
The length of a leash determines its use too. A short leash of around 4 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) will keep the dog close to you, especially in busy areas or when your dog is not properly trained.
A longer leash between 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) is great for morning and evening walks in areas with little traffic, while even longer leashes beyond 20 feet (6 meters) is perfect for open fields and beach fronts where there isn’t any obstacle between the dog and its human and also for training. Obviously, long leashes are easier to get tangled or stuck in places along the way. So, to avoid this and keep a dog leash from tangling, use leashes short enough to avoid obstructions or debris.
3) Leash Material and Style
Dirt hardens fabric and leather leads, and grime build-up produces friction on metal leashes, leading to easier entanglements. Consider using washable leads that dry out quickly.
Speaking of materials, if you go on walks when the sun isn’t out, you’d benefit from reflective leash material. But if your dog chews on its leash, you may have to buy several units until you train your dog to stop chewing the leash or outgrows the habit. It may seem like a good idea to get a chain leash which your dog’s teeth can’t chew through. But this could damage your dog’s teeth. So, what’s better is to teach your dog not to chew the leash.
Retractable Leashes and Special Tangle Dangers Worth Knowing About
Retractable leashes are infamous for tangling with enormous ease and pose unique dangers you should be very aware of. They do give your dog great freedom to roam. They’re great if your dog is small, knows how to walk obediently and calmly and is not likely suddenly to run off.
With some of these retractable leashes giving your dog 20 feet (6 meters) or more of leeway, you could run into potential danger if an unexpected event leaves you with no chance to react. This is a cord begging for a tangle!
The cord is flat and thin, designed to reel back automatically to its coil in your grip in such a way that it won’t tangle on its way in. But this means that you cannot grab the leash directly to bring a situation under control, because the thinness of cord is like seizing onto a hot knife.
The rope burn from a retractable leash can cut deep and, wrapped around your hand, the cord may even amputate a finger, if your dog tangled up on your leash pulls one way while the reel pulls in the opposite direction. Passersby are not safe from these dangers either. It can cause injuries when they get caught in these long cords.
The handle of necessity must be bulky and can easily slip out of your hands. You will lose control of your dog usually with a long cord attached to it, ready to tangle anywhere.
With a retractable leash, your dog gets all the freedom it needs and soon it will realize that the more it pulls the more freedom it gets. If it’s a big and undisciplined dog, the pulling may even snap the cord. Therefore, limit retractable leashes, so prone to tangling, to small animals for wide and clear spaces.
How to Prevent Leash Tangles
Leash tangles are common and best prevented. Getting the right type of leash for your dog is the first step to keep a dog leash from tangling. Prevent a tangle by avoiding areas full of debris. And when you take your dog for a walk, use the right length and material for your dog according to size, temperament and age.
Buying the right leash for the kind of dog you have will keep your dog and your hands out of harm’s way.