i was watching BIS and noticed the pharoh hound was on loose lead i thought the dog moved beautifully well this way but you dont always see it. Is it better or as i noticed harder to keep control wiv larger dog your opinions please

I think a loose lead looks lovely but the dog has to be in total tune with the handler so they move as one

Loose lead, also most of the time we have our dogs stand on a loose lead too rather than being stacked.

Not pulled tight, but so that the string is taught, I think it looks neater, but still no discomfort for the dogs

Thanks guys for your opinions i will be doing loose lead wen i go to shows it defiantly shows the dog off to the best like u say as one with your dogs thanks again

Its different for each breed though. So check with your breed, in some its the norm

Tanya's right see what the others do in your breed, id also practice before you go to a show as the dog might feel its looser and try to play a little game of can you catch me or at least thats what Sophie would do.

I prefer loose leads on all breeds in reality, some of the toys, terriers etc. are that strung up that their front feet hardly touch the ground and makes the movement look extremely strange.

Though saying that my dog was enjoying all the smells on the green carpet yesterday that I had to string her up a bit as her nose was to the floor all the way!

We always showed on a loose lead but the dog ran beside us not way out in front the way that the Pharoah Hound was - that just looked a bit odd to me but maybe that is the way they are shown? (I have to say we may have looked like we were being dragged round at times though ). I hate to see a dog strung up with what looks like cheesewire ( I know its a show lead but it does seem to cut in on some breeds) round their necks.

My boy moves/looks better on a loose lead, which we do practice
But being a youngster he does get distracted and keeps putting his head down to sniff! LOL...so i do use a shorter lead on him at the moment.

If there is nothing in the rules to say a dog can't be shown like the Pharaoh was, then why not? I loved the way you really saw him striding out, you could see his muscles working, the ribs showing (which is normal for sighthounds) and the fact he was so incredibly fit, but not fat. I also noticed that he was very obedient... He stretched out to run on a slight command, but also came back to the handler instantly on request and was perfectly collected. PHs are not famous for their trainability, but this one knew exactly what was required of him and didn't put a foot wrong. It all looked so easy, maybe it might escape some people that to get a dog to do that, takes a lot of work, and wouldn't be possible in some breeds... just as HTM looks dead easy to some until you try it... *grin*

I agree with you dakkobear iv noticed on the tight lead which i dont think they look like they are moving naturally im getting a sbt and hoping 2 have ago at showing so was intrigued 2 try the loose lead with sbt thanks for your reply lots of fun n bonding as well as gud training and practise will c wat happens thanks again

All depends on the breed and the expertize of the handler..I also think its more the thing on the continent  with certain breeds.

If you have a long striding  fast moving breed, then it looks amazing (as long as the handler is up to it), but not sure it would look the same with smaller slower breeds...  some breeds paces would not be up to the speed  we saw with the pharaoh hound, so the exersice would be pointless.

Although , I do agree some of the toy breeds  front feet don't look like they touch the ground , because they are strung up so much.

A happy medium, could be better.