Hard to see here but the leash is exiting from the bottom of my hand (the pinky side).
Leash - a chain, strap, etc., for controlling or leading a dog or other animal; lead.
You have a dog or dogs. Then you have a leash or leashes. Even if you live on a farm in the middle of nowhere you probably even have a leash or two. Whether or not you use them for taking your dog for a walk is something entirely different. But let’s just say that “most” people need to use a leash and if you take your dog for a walk several times a week then you are using that leash a lot.
It would seem a very simple thing to use a leash right? Hook it up and go? Nope. You would be amazed at all the WRONG usage I see weekly if not daily. This could actually be a very long blog but I will try to condense as much as possible because the long drawn out explanation covering many different areas of the leash will be in my next book. :) And I will not be be blogging about extension leashes today (don’t even get me started on those suckers.)
As life can be, it is not always perfect but if we focus a bit on what we are doing we can have a more enjoyable walk with our dogs. I want to help save your hands and minimize the chance for you dog bolting away because you dropped or let go of the leash. I know I hate to see someone’s dog bolt out of their hand and straight at us.
The next blog will be about “the other end of the leash.”
People get their fingers mashed from their leashes all the time. I’ve had it happen myself and try to be in the moment and paying attention when I walk Elsa and Riggs. So how should you hold a normal leash? Normal as in - not chain, not extension; but either cotton, nylon or leather. Your leash should be loosely gathered in your hand and wrapped around your thumb once, for safety. But be careful to wrap the thumb loosely and tuck into your hand if possible.
The leash should enter and exit out the pinky end of your closed hand. The thumb wrap is an extra safety precaution if the leash should start to leave your hand. If the leash exits your hand from your thumb side, you have less strength to pull back, control or simply hang on to your dog.
The leash should not be wrapped around your hand or any of your fingers. Fingers are too small, even on a big guy, a strong, pulling dog can do a great deal of damage to them. If the leash is wrapped around your hand, your hand and/or fingers can be crushed. (Much like when a big dummy shakes your hand much too hard.) Along with the crushing effect of wrapping the leash, it also limits your ability to reel in and reel out quickly. And we all know that reeling in and out quickly is a part of walking our dogs, or at least it should be.
So there you have it, how to hold your leash properly.
Questions?