[NAGDU] My magic leash that keeps dog's nose off the ground, hands free

[Peter Wolf]

Hi folks,

I promised that we would get you photos of my leash rig, which allows me to walk with Metukah's head up, free from worry that she might put a curious nose to the ground.  A bit of a project to get this coordinated, so for those of you who contacted me about it, thanks for waiting.

If you or someone else can see the photos, this will help to explain how my rig works so nicely.  

As I’ve written before, the trainer recognized so much good about Metukah and the bond between us, that she blew off their usual rule about not using head halters.  Metukah has always had a curious nose, and so I learned to use it as an indicator and as communcation instead of a hindrance.    With my balance issues, I need to find out she is turning or shifting, not as she does it, but when she is between thinking about doing it and initiating it.  This is why I use a head halter.  I feel when she just begins moving her gaze and snout direction, long before it initiates through the shoulder.  So it works very sensitively.  And with this training the way we did it, the pressure with which I hold her leash is only that of the flexing of joints of one finger, with just a finger pad through a leash loop.  The rig helps us to be that subtly dialed in together.  

So here we go:  It is this simple - - A normal leash, with a few webbing loops sewn on in the right places.   Then all you do is clip a carabiner on the end of the leash, onto your belt, and then pull up and clip one of those sewn loops into the carabiner as well.  This leaves the working length between the belt and the head halter.  There will be a loop of leash hanging down a foot or so as well, which is clipped leash that is leftover from your current working length.

This red one is a backup leash.  It is not as custom as my normal rig, which has more loops.   We  will show the custom rig next, but I wanted to give you something really simple to start with.  This is a plain red leash with two blue loops sewn on.  Here it is, laying on the floor.  Then, held up, hanging, with one of the loops clipped like how we work.  



 



Ok.  Now lets use my normal custom rig.  First photo, it is clipped on my belt, with the longer relaxed length that I control with a finger through a loop which is spaced between me and Metukah.  In this longer working position, she can cruise with her head all over, including the ground.   It is a comfortable all around walking length.  The cool thing is that with us trained together, if I have packages or something occupying my hands, she knows to walk in formation with me, and for brief periods I can simply feel where she is by the sensation of the leash on my belt.  So if I drop the leash, accidentally or on purpose, all I have to do is scoop my hand down and I’ll be right back onto it.  We don’t have to break stride.  



And then, here I have put her on an even shorter loop.  We work longer and more comfortably than this, but this is pulled up a little shorter, so that you can understand what shortening it is like.  My thumb and finger point up and down to show the short distance now from belt to head.  This clip is much too short for her to function comfortably, just showing now to give you a look at shortening.  

Think of being at a taqueria, or the salad bar at whole foods or someplace where people are moving around, scooping and dropping food everywhere.  You meet a friend or neighbor by surprise and become engrossed in conversation…I don’t think any dog on the planet wouldn’t at some point not go, hey, dude, I’m all alone down here wiht nothing to do…oh, say, yum, check out this little delectable here…  This rig prevents that while keeping comfortable working positions when standing or walking.  


Now here is a photo to show you the leash itself, how loops are sewn on.  Nearest to Metukah, there are several finger loops.  That’s the left side in the photo.  These are for closer work, both in tight spaces and when I am using my cane with her at the same time.  These are also the loops I either hold or clip onto my belt when I want her working but unable to get her head on the ground.  For that, I simple clip the one that is anatomically comfortable for her, but just an inch or two shorter than her nose would touch the floor.  

The stretch of leash on the right side of the photo, more distant from her, shows more loops, which I use in the longer, more relaxed walking where head down isn’t an issue or needs to be for her investigations / navigations.

Here is a photo of how just a finger easily controls and receives information through the leash.



Now have a look at this carabiner.  

Why a carabiner?   Because they are strong, have a big mouth gate that will fit over almost any belt to close securely, and they make a fast clip tiedown anywhere.  That might be leash around something, clipped to itself, or click, onto the buttom rung of a chair, or quickly looped around your own leg if you are sitting…or on long full leash length from your own belt in a jiffy.  

Any carabiner will do.  But as an all day, every day use item, this particular one is the nicest.  This is made by Petzel, and it is called, spirit carabiner, bent.  It is a D shaped biner, with the optimal gate function for this purpose.  It is relatively flat in the body, so when you are wearing it, it won’t bug your hipbone inside your belt.  And most of all, it is the only carabiner I have found with the inside securing barb, the spot where the gate locks shut, where this little tooth of a catch does not protrude to hang up on stuff.  It is more streamlined and smoother.  On and off my belt through the day, it makes a nice difference although I own and use many other carabiners.  I love this one.  It will set you back about ten bucks, but it might outlive you. 


OK, last thing.  Loop placement.  This is easy.  Get someone to help you.  Stand in the exact working positions and distances that you want when it is clipped on your belt.  Have someone mark it on the leash, and then sew away.  I use two inches of material per loop.  Before sewing it down, I raise it up to bulge off the leash a bit, like an inchworm.  That way, on the go, I can just find and slip a finger right into it.  

Use nylon upholstry thread.  It won’t degrade and is very strong.  I tack twice at each sewing point, with two separate threads, and triple knot at the end.  And I make at least ten or fifteen passes of the thread to secure, to make sure it is strong enough to withstand massive force.  Two, so that if one ever abraids, strains or lets go, the other is still solid.  

Here’s another idea.  Contact Cetacea.  Ask them to make loops like this, on one of their leashes, and simply space one loop every foot, or  every half foot if you really want to live large.  They will probably charge you a little, but they said they would be willing.  The material of theirs that I use is called two step.  This material is micro woven, soft, pliable and strong.  Unlike store bought leashes, it does not stiffen with age.  


Best O Luck!!

Peter




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