Had to admit defeat and buy Halti collar

[Biker John]

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I have often thought how hard it must be for most dogs to walk at our speed, I notice when off lead my Whippet, when she is just walking along must be about twice my walking speed. Obviously when she runs she is way faster than even Usain Bolt could manage but I am talking about just her standard walk. So for her and I assume most dogs she must be really trying hard to slow down to my speed when she is on lead.

 

[eingana]

Oh yes, they have to learn to slow down for us strange bipeds who don't take advantage of the speed and stability of moving on 4 legs, and that takes time and effort from them.  I used to walk Molly on quite a short lead (by lead standards) but she learned to be very aware of the sensation of getting to the end of her lead because as long as the lead was loose she was allowed to be anywhere she wanted to be next to me, slightly behind or slightly in front.  As soon as she reached the end of the lead, however, I just stopped dead She learned very quickly that although reverse is a quite hard gear to find in a dog, she would shuffle backwards, looking at me as she did it, and sit to wait for me to start off again so that we could get to our destination.

Sadly, her days of lead walking are now over and although she loves the idea of a walk, if she even tries to stretch her legs properly when we get out of the car, she won't be able to get back into the car or get up the stairs when we get home again.  She makes do with a little potter and reading the peemails around the park, then a good roll in her favourite patches of sweet grass instead.  It's not much fun being an 11 year old GSD who is going both blind and deaf

 

[arealhuman]

Thanks for the pics Peegee, the custom lead we have is very similar, although without the clips beneath the chin.  Oh, and your dog is very cute!

@leashedForLife - I have no worries, thanks, I was only asking as my dog initially tries to get his 'over the head' lead off just as we go for a walk!