blaue_augen
New member
You probably already know this but our trainer taught us to hold the leash as follows:I would not recommend a waist belt attachment or skijoring belt for anyone with a bad back. Actually I would not recommend it for anyone that does not already have reasonable control over their dog. Newfs are far too strong and they could seriously injure an inexperienced handler using a leash tethered to their waist.
Put you thumb through the loop of the leash and let the leash fall over your palm. Wrap you 4 fingers around the leash. With your second hand, grasp the leash just below your first hand. So basically, the leash is running through both hands (stacked on top of each other) and the tip of the leash comes out at the top with your thumb through the loop. Your thumb is the only part through the loop and the leash is not wrapped around you in any way.
Bend your elbows and hold your hands against your midsection. This uses all of your core muscles when the dog pulls. If your arms are extended out you lose a lot of control and strength.
The benefit to this over a waist belt is that that if you need to let go, you can quickly. An average dog can easily pull 10 times his own weight, so a small 100 lb newf can easily pull 1000 pounds. (If the dog is fit and trained to pull, they can pull 15 times their own weight). So if our dogs really wanted they could pull any of us down the street. I have terrible visions of your powerful and determined dog pulling you head over heals across the road.
I hope you can get this figure out! We don't want you getting hurt!