i have a 13 week old german shepherd bitch. she has a nylon collar with choke chain links on it?? sorry dont know this collars name. her lead is nylon also?
is this ok or are there more apropriate collars and leads for a gsd.
thanks

Half choke?????????

Also called half check or combination collars.  Adjusted properly they cannot choke the dog, as when pulled taught they are the same circumference as a properly fitted ordinary collar.  What the chain that makes up part of the collar does is allow the collar to be much looser when the dog does not pull, and to chink and tighten it to the snug fit when it does.

It is the best kind of collar for a dog with a lot of hair around the neck, as it is much easier to attach the lead then on a tight collar buried under the coat.

There are some excellent examples on this site http://www.accoladeleathercraft.com/.  the ones I use on my dogs are the round non adjusting half checks, as they do not wear the coat away.

THANKYOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK VERY USEFUL.

It's interesting how fashions go in dogs. A few years ago no self respecting GSD would be seen dead with anything other than a thick leather lead. The retrievers, Labradors and Goldens would be wearing rope gundog slip lead. Border Collies/Working Sheepdogs were always on a length of bailer twine. Boxers seemed invariably to be on a chain lead.

Of course, the advent of the nylon leads changed all that although anyone who had had a thin nylon lead suddenly jerked through their hands knows just how badly they can burn! The thicker webbing leads are better. They are soft, comfortable to hold and even a 6 foot training lead can be bundled up in your hands with ease.

Best wishes, John

which collar and lead would you say is best for a gsd and a gsd handler, my girl is only 13 weeks but will grow into a big lass going by her paw size now.,

Whatever you buy now will only last a few weeks anyway. I would go for a soft light collar and lead to start with. Close one hand round it and pull it through the hand with the other hand. If you get cut by the edge leave well alone! Some thin nylon leads can be really painful!! As she gets older you will need a heavier lead. I'd go for a wide thick webbing one possibly 30mm wide. There are some good 6ft training leads with a "Bulldog Clip" close to the "dog end" and a ring on the handle. By folding the lead and cliping the ring to the bulldog clip you can change it from a 6ft training lead into a 4ft general lead. There are also some "training collars" made out of the same webbing which fasten tightly around the neck for heelwork training. If you are going to Crufts you will find plenty on the trade stands.

Best wishes, John

thanks

>>Border Collies/Working Sheepdogs were always on a length of bailer twine.

John, that brings back memories.  I think I still have some somewhere. :)

Sally

Was never a shortage of money was it Sally. It was the done thing! A friend of mine had a brand new car, a hot air balloon and still used a length of bailer twine! She brought a lamb into the top obedience class one night and walked it up and down while we were doing stays! Great training!!

Oh the things we did in the old days!

Best wishes, John

I use a slip lead for my Older GSD (only by shops as she is always off lead) and halti and lead for pup. But when we first got her we just used a puppy collar and lead pack only lasted for 2 months cause she grew so big. Once the pulling has stopped i will get another slip lead.
But they always wear a coller with ID tags on.

Cordelia

Soften leather lead & leather half check

thanks all

I have a wonderful double ended lead which is so useful. YOu can have it at long length, or shorter.....its just so handy i would never be without it now. Very soft material too....got mine from The Company of Animals trade stand.

Lindsay

If you have long coats the rolled leather collars are best because they do not pull the hair out. I would only ever use a leather lead.