What leads do people use for training their dogs?  I have always used nylon training leads with adjustable clips but am finding that with the strength of the pup my hands are red raw.

You can't beat a good quality leather lead as far as I am concerned. Costs a fortune to buy but lasts more than one dog's lifetime, and get softer and softer the more they are used. :)

I use halti training leads , I also use them for normal walks as I have good control.

http://pets-express.co.uk/black-leather-craft-training-lead-21m-15mm-p-565.html

You can also get them made of webbing

I have to agree a Bridle leather lead is the way to go... and you can speed up the softening process with saddle soap from time to time.  Not sure if we're allowed to post links, but I see someone else has so here goes

http://pet-needs.co.uk/site/catalogue.php?id=1

these don't cost a fortune, have a metal loop in the handle so you can shorten it when you need to and are just generally nice! 

oops sorry, they are a bit pricey... I take back the cheap comment.  I bought them at Crufts and I think they had special prices.  However, I'd still pay the normal price for them, they are definitely worth it :-D

I too use Halti training leads, they are perfect and come in 3 different sizes, i use the medium size for my boys. That is for general obedience and walking, for show work its a leather lead on a full check chain collar.

Ok, so leather is the way to go but next daft question - is leather strength related to the width?  If I am buying a leather lead for a dog that weighs about 6 stone and will get to approx 10 stone does it need to be a thick heavyweight leather lead or will a 1/2" ro 3/4" lead do?

I have 3/4'' for labs... I  would think that'd do a Rottie too.  They are really strong leads so I can't imagine them snapping.

The only thing i find with leather leads is if the dogs pull it can hurt the hands, not found one which doesn't, as for the Halti one, it is very soft and not had any burns or hurting hands from it yet and i did have one very pully strong Bernese until recently when he decided to grow up and 'heel'.

> so leather is the way to go

I have always pref red rope, but I do walk multiple dogs together and I find leather gets cold and  slippery when wet.

I buy Rope Leads from Outhwaites Rope makers the 48inch Gundog leads with clip.

> If I am buying a leather lead for a dog that weighs about 6 stone and will get to approx 10 stone does it need to be a thick heavyweight leather lead or will a 1/2" ro 3/4" lead do?

I have a 1inch wide 33inch long leather lead for Buster, with a big brass clip on it, he's had it since he was 5 months old. It was £25, unfortunatley the place I got them through doesn't supply them any more, or I would have PM'd you the link :(
A 1 inch lead may sound large, but it shouldn't look out of place on a Rottie. I find the leather lead comfy to use, Buster doesn't care what the lead is made of - as long as he gets his walk :)

There's a member on here called tatty-ead who makes fantastic leather collars and leads at very reasonable prices.

> as for the Halti one, it is very soft and not had any burns or hurting hands from it yet

I really like the halti leads too. I ruin leather leads because I walk in all weathers and leave them in the car, they get wet and then go solid. The halti leads are very soft but strong with 4 (I think) loops for different lead/handle lengths. They're cheap and provided your dog doesn't chew them they last forever :-)

Another vote for Halti lead here ;-)

>> I really like the halti leads too. I ruin leather leads because I walk in all weathers and leave them in the car, they get wet and then go solid.

I was convinced leather was the way to go but I often take the dogs to the beach and leather with salt water left in the car would go brittle.  It might still be an option if I only use it for training though.

Having looked at the link for the halti lead, I see it is made of webbing but this is the material that I find hurts my hands.  I currently use my webbing lead in the same way as the pics on that site so would be looking for an indestructible lead that doesn't hurt my hands.

Thanks for the info about tatty-ead JG, I didn't realise we had a CD member who did this - if the decision is leather I will contact tatty-ead

> I currently use my webbing lead in the same way as the pics on that site so would be looking for an indestructible lead that doesn't hurt my hands.

Normally i agree with you as i've had many webbed leads which hurt and burn the hands, these are very soft on the hands and evn with a pulling dog it doesn't burn or hurt them.

Another vote for the Halti lead :-) They really are soft, almost padded, as well as strong and don't cut into the hand like normal webbing leads, such as the various ones used for Show leads.

Dogmatic make a brilliant non slip  training webbing lead, I walk my girl on one of these and believe me she is strong.
Its a great lead for using in wet weather as it does what it claims and does not slip.

> Having looked at the link for the halti lead, I see it is made of webbing but this is the material that I find hurts my hands.  I currently use my webbing lead in the same way as the pics on that site so would be looking for an indestructible lead that doesn't hurt my hands.

I know what you mean about most webbing/canvas leads but the halti lead is completely different. It is very soft, as someone else said almost it feels padded, and never hurts or burns when the dogs leap around.

I go to the beach a lot with mine, but treat the leather leads with saddle soap after so they don't go brittle.  I do think the Halti leads are good too, but my dogs really like chewing them for some reason!!

I would recommend the halti lead as well. Having a very strong GSD on one, no harm to hands and the variety of ways it can be used is brilliant.

I have ordered a halti lead from ebay for the grand total of £7 so it isn't bank breaking stuff if it hurts my hands.  thanks for the tips everyone and I will be onto an investment leather one if this doesn't do the trick

Really CC, it won't hurt, it is beautifully soft but strong :)  I'm sure you won't be disappointed.