KB Thumb Heel Slip Lead - 60cm - 6mm PPM

KB Thumb Heel Slip Lead - 60cm - 6mm PPM

£6.50 | Handmade in Yorkshire | Personalisation available

This one came from a handler.

She'd been working with the standard Heel Slip Lead and getting good results. But she wanted to go further. She wanted to strip out every last bit of unconscious tension between her hand and the dog - the kind of habitual grip that most handlers don't even know they're doing. She asked for a short gundog slip lead that gave her no option but a single finger. The lightest possible contact. So she'd know, without thinking about it, that she wasn't pulling.

We built it. We've been making it for years.

It works exactly like our standard heeling slip lead - short, 6mm braided PPM rope, no clips, sits high on the neck for precise heel work - but with a finger loop at the handler's end. Just big enough to take one finger through. We call it the thumb loop, though it doesn't have to be your thumb. The point isn't which finger. The point is that one finger is all you've got, so one finger is all you'll use. That's the lightest possible connection between handler and dog on a lead. The dog feels that difference. And so will you.

A stopper keeps the lead on the dog during training and when you're sending for a retrieve - there when you need it, out of the way when you don't.

Hardware choice is ring or thimble. Both are equally good for heel work and gundog training. The thimble costs a fraction more because the part itself costs more - it's not an upgrade, just a different feel in the hand. Try both if you're not sure which suits you.

Built to last - materials:

• Finger loop at the handler's end - one-finger hold, forces the lightest possible touch on the lead
• Stopper - lead stays on during training and retrieves
• Hardware choice: ring (standard) or thimble (+£0.50) - handler preference, not a hierarchy
• 6mm braided PPM rope - no stretch (stopper stays in place), washable, fast drying, stain resistant, non-toxic
• No metal clips - no sharp edges, nothing to catch
• 60cm length - short by design, keeps the dog in the heel position where it belongs

The details:

• Length: 60cm
• Width: 6mm
• Handmade: every single one, in Yorkshire, by us
• Colours: 40+ colourways - see options above
• Hardware: Ring or Thimble (+£0.50)
• Personalisation: add a name, word or phrase - up to 20 characters (+£5)

A word on use: this is a training aid. The finger loop removes the option to over-grip - but it won't do the heel work for you. If you're new to heeling slip leads and not sure how to use one correctly, just ask before you start. We'll point you in the right direction.

For custom sizes, just get in touch. If it's a centimetre or two different from what's listed, add it to your order comments and we'll sort it.