Pros and Cons of the Dog Chain Leash

Growing up in the ’80s, dog chain leashes were extremely popular. I’m not sure if it was due to function, but I think it was mostly due to style, as everything had a metallic sheen back then. 🙂 Chain dog leashes are still available 30 years later, and they can be useful in certain situations, but they have downsides as well.

PRO: May Stop Dog Biting & Pulling on Leash

Some dogs get excited and pull on their leashes, which can quickly damage even the most durable leash material. One time, when working with a fearful dog that became frustrated around triggers–he lived in an apartment complex, so triggers were everywhere–the dog grabbed his leash and chewed through it. Understand, this was a huge Rottweiler. He could sever a leash in two pieces with few purposeful chomps. It was frightening. We did have tremendous success changing his behavior though, and his pet owner used a chain-and-cotton dog leash until she learned how to quickly identify and reward different dog behavior.

For the most part, I prefer teaching a dog to do something else instead of pulling or redirecting frustration on a leash, but a dog chain leash will deter behavior as well. Most dogs don’t like the metal taste or feel, so they’ll leave their leash alone. Some dogs will redirect tugging to their pet owner’s pants or another dog’s leash, so it’s not a quick fix for all dogs. In fact, I’ve had pet owners tell me their easily excited leash-tugging dogs fractured their teeth pulling on their leashes, so proceed with caution. If you decide to use a dog chain leash, use it to change behavior. Once the behavior has changed, then switch to a cotton, nylon or leather leash.

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CON: Chain is Heavy and It Hurts, Be Careful

Not only are dog chain leashes heavy, but they hurt too. For smaller dogs and puppies, look for thin and lightweight chain leash options. Remember, chain leashes will hurt your hands. They will definitely pull a layer of skin off when you’re grabbing the chain portion to stop a dog from pulling.

CON: Chain Leashes Are Outdated

With the movement against choke chain collars, which I firmly believe are outdated dog training tools, dog chain leashes have gone out of style as well. Additionally, young punks holding the end of enormous heavy chains wrapped around certain dog breeds’ necks most definitely did not help, as they were associated with status-seeking behavior and dog fighting. Now, you can understand the side stares while walking your dog on a chain leash.

For some reason, some pet owners feel chain dog leashes are sturdier than leather or nylon options, but I would disagree. I have a large dog, and a high quality 1-inch wide nylon leash works just fine. If your large dog pulls against his chain leash during walks, those chain links can crumble apart over time.

Using a Dog Chain Leash

Chain leashes have a tiny place in dog training, but it doesn’t always work for all dogs. If it stops your dog from pulling on the leash instantly, then reward your dog the moment he ignores the leash. Rewarding polite behavior is key, or else your dog will learn to redirect his frustration elsewhere. If your dog still bites at or pulls on the leash, you need to try something else.

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