The importance of a leash

The leash and the collar, are the accessories that must absolutely be part of the initial "kit" of a dog. Leaving the dog free to run, chasing his instinct seems like a very natural and positive thing, but it can be dangerous.

Your four-legged friend may not always respond to your call and be overwhelmed by the instinct to chase a potential prey. Without a leash he could run away, get lost and in the worst case be hit by a car. This is especially true for the puppy, initially unwilling to obey promptly and for those subjects who live in the city.

The leash also plays a fundamental role in training. Thanks to its correct use the dog will be accustomed not to pull during the walk and to perceive through the connection the direction in which to move. 

Choosing a leash is therefore a very important task, it is necessary to evaluate the different characteristics to decide which is the most suitable. 

How to choose the best product

Choosing a leash might seem less important than choosing a collar, but do not be fooled. There are some precautions that you must follow in order to ensure an appropriate and comfortable choice for you and your pet. Remember that a comfortable leash will be as important to him as it is to you.

Main types

There are different types of leash on the market, which can be classified according to the model such as: 

• Standard model: it is the leash that everyone typically imagines, can be whole or intertwined, of different thicknesses and lengths. They can also consist of materials that reflect light especially for those who take the dog in the evening in the dark.
• Roll-up model: despite having little control over the dog, it is among the most popular. The retractable leash adapts to different lengths and is especially suitable for dogs that are already trained or well-behaved.
• Adjustable model:  this type of leash can vary the length according to the needs like the roller shutter but allowing you to have a greater control of the animal as with the standard one.

There are also particular features that can simplify the owner's daily life, such as the case of:

• Double leash.. Those who own two dogs may find it more useful to have a double leash that forks into two towards the end so you can hook them both.
• Hands-free leash.  This type of leash allows you to have your hands free thanks to a belt that attaches him to the life of the owner.

The most used materials

• Leather: it is considered a high quality, very resistant material. It may initially be a bit stiff, but over time it naturally softens.
• Rope: usually the string leashes are braided to be more resistant to dog bites.
• Nylon: is the most popular material among dog lovers mainly due to its low cost and its good resistance. The nylon leashes can be of all sizes and colors.
• Chain: metal leashes may look beautiful, but they are not always the best choice for the pet. It is always necessary to evaluate the weight of the metal, as if the leash will be too heavy it will be detrimental to the health of the dog. Always evaluate this factor before buying it.

Length

There are leashes of different lengths.

Usually the longer ones are used for walking and short training, but everything depends on the comfort of the dog and the owner. It is also necessary to check the country in which you live, which does not have particular leash's regulations.

In general, consider that for puppies and small dogs are preferable soft leash rope, leather or nylon, if you prefer the chain, try to choose a very light.

For large dogs, instead, choose a very strong and resistant leash that will not be easily damaged.

If you still have doubts, ask for advice to your vet or your dealer. Surely, they will help you out. 

The importance of collar

Collar is an essential accessory for the safety of the dog, especially for those who live in the city. When a pet becomes part of our life, he immediately becomes part of our family, especially emotionally. Therefore our first concern is to defend him and protect him from any unpleasant situation. It will be necessary to  accustom the pet to wear the collar since he's a puppy, so you will avoid walking with a dog who is annoyed and refuse to walk.

The 3 main functions of collar

First of all a collar attached to a leash allows you to walk with your dog, preventing him to run away when chasing something or going too far away from you. Our friends react instinctively and may not notice the dangers around them, so the owner must secure them, especially in a city.

Collars are also useful as a support to which the ID tag with owner's name and number can be attached. In case of loss, this tag will represent the best and easiest way to find quickly the owner.

Visit "MyFamily" official site or contact licensed dealers: you can buy a tag, choosing it among a wide range of collections and customize it for free in a few minutes. Each MyFamily collar has a useful Tag Holder, easing the use of this important accessory. Moreover, each MyFamily collar comes with the Always Ready D-ring that comes back into position by itself, easing the anchoring of the leash.

Collar is also an essential accessory for training, especially for puppies. There are collars specifically created with this function, while others are for daily use and guarantee, along with leash, the right guidance of the puppy still in a learning phase. It is clear that buying a collar is an important choice, because the safety of your faithful 4-legged friend will depend on it. To make a good choice, you should make sure that collar is: 

We want to share with you some of the most famous dog's names worldwide, with some curiosity about their story. Get inspired by our suggestions to choose the best name for your four-legged friends.

Instead, if you need detailed suggestions on how to pick the best name for your beloved dog, read this article. 

• Hachiko
  Hachikō was the Akita Inu of Hidesaburō Ueno, a Japanese professor of Tokyo Imperial University, worldwide known for his remarkable loyalty. Often called Hachi, was born in 1923 in Ōdate but lived in Shibuya, Tokyo. Every morning Hachiko walked with his owner to the Shibuya train station and came back in the afternoon to wait for his return. Sadly, Ueno suddenly died during a lesson in 1925, but Hachiko still waited for his return at the station each day until his death. As time passed, his story spread throughout Japan, so much so that many people started gathering every day to the Shibuya station just to cuddle and giving him food. In 1934 a bronze statue was erected on the entrance of Shibuya station, as a sign of admiration for his loyalty, and another one in Ōdate, his birthplace. He waited for nine long years for his owner to return, until his death in 1935. When Hachiko died, the news occupied the main Japanese newspapers' headlines and the government declared a national day of mourning to celebrate his legendary faithfulness as a national symbol of loyalty. Every year on the 8th of March, he's commemorated with a celebration at Shibuya station. In 2015, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary, a new statue was unveiled on University Tokyo ground resembling the rejoicing reunion of Ueno and Hachiko. 

• Laika
  Laika, whose real name was Kudriavka, was a stray mixed-breed dog, famous for being the first living being in history to orbit the Hearth and first animal in space. In 1957 she was selected to embark on board of the Soviet Sputnik 2 spacecraft, but sadly never returned. To commemorate her unforgettable gesture in 1977 a commemorative plaque to her contribution to the space program was installed at the Institute for Aviation and Space Medicine at Star City, just outside Moscow. In the following years, Laika was commemorated in other ways around the world, in stamps, chocolate brand and even music bands, that dedicated to her songs and even used her name for their band.

• Balto
  Balto was a Siberian Husky and sled dog, famous to have been the winner of the most important sleigh rides in Alaska in the early 1900s. They both became heroes around the world after the outbreak of diphtheria in Alaska town of Nome on January 19, 1925. At that time, arose the emergency to deliver the medicine in time, since the small town of Nome couldn't be reached by plane, by boat and neither by train, since the nearest station was 1000km far. For that reason, it was organized a multiple dog sled run, also known as "The serum race", to transport the serum to Nome. The winning team was the one led by Balto. Balto became a celebrity, and a statue was erected in New York City's Central Park on December 17, 1925.
  
• Argo
  Argos is Ulysses's dog, the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. We know little about him but enough to appreciate his unwavering loyalty. Argo waited for 20 long years his beloved owner in Itaca and when old and infirm saw Ulysses for the last time, he passed away happily.

• Rex
  Rex is a German shepherd, the famous character of the Austrian 1994 TV series "Inspector Rex". Rex is the police dog working together with the team of Vienna Kriminalpolizei homicide unit to solve crimes. Intelligent, active and ready to risk his life to save the others. From 1994 to the present, several German shepherds have played this beloved character and many interpretations have been made around the world.

• Lassie
  Lassie is the name of the famous Colli breed dog, leading character of the famous movie "Lassie Come Home", in which acts a teen Elizabeth Taylor. The story of Lassie is based upon the 1940 novel Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight. Lovely long-haired Collie, Lassie lives many adventures to find his way back to his beloved family and Joe, his best friends. The movie was so successful that in the following decades' many versions of the story were filmed all around the world.

• Toto
  He was Dorithy's terrier puppy from the famous movie "The Wizard of Oz". This dog had remarkable success expecially after the movie was out in 1939, so much that as a result it had been created a series of books dedicated to him: Toto in Oz (1986) and Toto of Oz (2006).

• Einstein
  Do you remember Einstein, Emmett Lathrop "Doc" Brown's four-legged friend from "Back to Future" Trilogy? Between Martyn's time travels and the time-traveling DeLorean automobile, there's also Einstein, Emmet Brown's dog, used as "test" for his new invention, sending him to the future for a minute.