In early 2005 I went to a day seminar on loose lead walking with a well known clicker trainer. We were instructed to put the loop of the dog's lead over our wrists, rather than holding the lead in our fingers. I have her book, the reason she gives is that, "your finger strength is never going to be stronger than the dog's chest & neck muscles, it will cause you to close your fist, tense your arm and make your shoulder ache!" She gives specific instructions in the book, "Put the handle of the lead over your right wrist, drop your arm to swing by your side and grip join of the handle to prevent it from slipping off". I've done this ever since and have felt very secure with the method. However, at our  current training class, which is excellent, with an APDT trainer, I was told yesterday to never, ever have the loop of the lead over my wrist, as if the dog did a sudden lunge, it could break my arm. So - opinions, please, from all you experienced people out there!

I know someone who broke their wrist whilst having the loop over it but it was because the dog pulled her over.  What kind of resistance do you have in your wrist - you are bound to be pulled forward by a lunge from a large, norty dog.

I find the comment about finger strength a bit confusing because, holding the lead in your hand, you wouldn't have a closed fist and tense arm the whole time: you would either do some intensive training or use a head collar/harness until you could!

However, I expect the original comments were to counteract that kind of lead walking where the person wraps the lead around their hand seven times, grabs it tight and goes for a haul with their dog.

If your dogs are well behaved, then I don't see a problem with your current way of walking. :-)  Each to her/his own.

Well Carene, as Lillleth says if it suits you, and you are happy carry on. :-) Personally, I would never do this, not having perfect dogs, that I can guarantee will never lunge!  When I was four years old, my aunt's, quite small dog pulled me over (saw a cat) and I got an 'egg lump' on my forehead! Never have forgotten it and it was many, many :-) years ago!  I always taught my family to never have a lead over their wrists! In modern society, a four year old probably wouldn't be holding any dog, but there you go, that was in the old days!!

Linda,

It can be painful if the dog lunges suddenly - I've found this when I've had the lead like that with Opi and she's suddenly gone to sniff something (she's the only dog I have that doesn't pull normally).

I do have the leads round my wrist on normal walks - I have the handles isnide-out so that they tighten around my wrist.  BUT I always have hold of the lead further down - I only do it to make sure the lead doesn't slip off during walks, as the handles on mine are quite large and the grip is hopeless (they're made of smooth nyloin webbing).  It also leaves me hands free for poo-picking or rearranging dogs if I need to.

The only time I'd have the lead looped on my wrist without having hold is during a specific lead training session - when I've got the dog's attention.  With a puller, just on a regular walk, it's asking for pain IMO.

ETA: my wrists are pathetically weak, but I've not had a problem doing it this way - as long as I have hold of the lead in my hand.  And my reflexes are quick!

I walk with the lead over the wrist so if the dog does go after something I won't lose the lead.  There is no way a dog would be able to break your arm by pulling unless they pull you over and you break your fall with your arm or you have problems with your bones.

I suspect it doesn't really make much difference how you hold the lead you should do what you are comfortable with.  Breaking a bone on a walk is only going to happen if you fall and I suspect that is just as likely which ever way you hold the lead.

I walk four dogs (20kgs approx each) and have walked up to 6 at a time ,and would have a broken wrist by now If I did it that way.  The only time I do put the leads over my wrist is picking up poo (having got the dogs settled and checked for distractions) so I have hands free.

Normally I would have the handles in one hand (right) and then hold the lead further down the leads with my left.  All the dogs are required to walk on the left.  If space is tight then some will drop back behind the others so I do get some of them trying to come across to the right behind me, but I wave them back with my right hand.

I do a fair amount of lead walking at least an hour each day, as I don't drive.

I only walk with 1 dog so I bow to your superior skills :D.  I still don't think a dog could break your arm simply because you'd be pulled off your feet before the arm broke, I can understand that with more than one dog you may not want to have the leads round your wrist as if they took off you'd be being dragged alone behind

I always walk with the loop around my wrist in 'high risk' situations - ie by roads etc. My dogs are only 18 and 21 kg so never have a problem with a lunge (which is just the situation that you are likely to let go of a lead not held in this way IMO ) :) I'd rather break a wrist than lose them under a lorry :) :)

Daisy

Actually, broken wrists are a fairly common dog walking injury and it's not because people fall over... :-)

I walk three dogs together, one dog at 14kg, one at 21kg and one at 25kg... Sometimes I walk one (on his own) at 60kg... I never have the lead around my wrist, not because of the risk of injury, but because I couldn't let go should I need to (e.g. dog running across road with me in tow). I always hold leads like reigns and have never had one slip...

Vera

I would never let go of the lead, but in my ahdn I can hold onto the leads on my wrist I woudl jsut be yanked.

> I always hold leads like reigns and have never had one slip...

Depends how your dogs walk on lead :) My dogs don't pull when on the lead (well, not usually) - they walk to heel. The lead is usually fairly slack, so if they suddenly lunge then there is a danger of letting go of the lead. If dogs are allowed to pull in front, then a sudden lunge is probably less likely to cause the lead to be dropped :) :)

Daisy

I always have the loop of the lead round my wrist, I'd rather risk being pulled over (and I have small dogs so although they're strong it's not very likely) than risk them pulling the lead out of my hand and running off! :rolleyes:

I always hold leads like reins too - as lightly as possible but trying always to be aware of what is going on at the other end ...

And I've never let go of the horse! :-D

Snap.  I walk my 5 all together and hold the leads like horses reins.  I've never let go of a lead yet!

Nope would not let go of a lead for anything, would throw myself on the ground if there was danger of them bolting into a road, but won't loop them around my wrist as have seen how hard wrists are to get right when broken.

Depends how your dogs walk on lead  My dogs don't pull when on the lead (well, not usually) - they walk to heel. The lead is usually fairly slack, so if they suddenly lunge then there is a danger of letting go of the lead. If dogs are allowed to pull in front, then a sudden lunge is probably less likely to cause the lead to be dropped 

Ours generally walk nicely too, but I've got lurchers... and trust me, when they suddenly lunge after a fox or cat at 30 mph, you'll know about it... and they do from time to time. You'll also know about it if a 60 kg dog lunges at another dog... Still haven't had a lead slip through my hands though! Vera

with big dogs that may lunge or with slight owners-- surely its better not to have you and the dog under the sugar beet lorry when it pulls you off balance. at least if the dog does lunge and get away you are still in one undamaged piece to sort out the concequences?

with big dogs that may lunge or with slight owners-- surely its better not to have you and the dog under the sugar beet lorry when it pulls you off balance. at least if the dog does lunge and get away you are still in one undamaged piece to sort out the concequences?

My point exactely! :-) Hence holding the leads in a way that I can let go of them instantly if I need to. Another scenario is when they get attacked by other dogs when on lead... which has happened before. I'd rather my dogs can run off (if safe to do so) than being restricted by a lead.

me too, If i have mutiple leads i hold like a double bridle!!!

i never put a loop around my wrist! loops are for hanging things up!
If people can hold a horse by a lead rope surely they can hold a dog!

I use my leads like reins as well and my girls both weigh 35 kilo.
I,d rather be able to let go if I had to. My freind got a broken collarbone when her dog lunged after a cat that jumped from the hedge as they were walking in the dark.

I think the key thing to remember is that this seminar was on LOOSE LEAD WALKING training. 

So the advice was sound.

I do loop the borzoi leads round my wrist, They are very well behaved on their leads, they never pull except when they see something they consider prey, then they will lunge..this could be someones beloved cat. In those cases I'd rather have a broken wrist than let go of the lead and have a dead cat. In 20 years of walking the zois like this I've never had a broken wrist so it's an acceptable risk to be safe imo :) I did break my finger though at the racing last year as I stupidly had the lead over my finger while Tchi was waiting his turn and the 'rabbit' started up :rolleyes:

I hold the lead in my hand when walking my newfie. He's a lazy chap and always walks behind me :)
He does pull but not often and I can hold him but boy he is strong. Still he's pretty good, just wish he had some big friends to play with as he's a little large for most round my parts.

just wish he had some big friends to play with as he's a little large for most round my parts.

That's a shame that others find him too big to play :(

We have a GR weighing 33kg and a terrier weighing 8kg and they play all the time. The terrier holds his own with our Retriever who seems to match his play with the size of the dog. With bigger dogs Harley will play as boisterously as they want but with Cooper he tones it down a bit. They love to play tuggy and the GR could easily pull Cooper off his feet but never does.

I used to have the same problem finding play mates for my newfie so ended up getting another one (well the excuse of she has no one to play with worked wonders on the hubby ), I've found its not that other dogs dont want to play but their owners see my two approaching and immediatly put theirs on a lead so of course I then put mine on their leads just in case their dogs dont like other dogs. I am lucky in that my second girls breeder holds regular newfie get togethers so they can romp with dogs their own size. The last one was at Mablethorpe beach and there was 5 newfies and 3 wolfies all running and playing together - it was definately a sight to see.:)

I know just what you mean Izzy about other owners being a bit worried. He's fine with older dogs and just walks with them but with labs or retrievers he really gets excited.
He can at times be a little macho towards male dogs but in the whole he is pretty good and does like a good chase and well they never designed them for speed but it always pays to take cover from a fast approaching Newfie :)
Would liked to have seen all the dogs playing on the beach, lucky boys and girls.