Review on XiaZ Outside Outdoor Camping Training by Vicki Lane

IMPORTANT NOTICE. Two pictures are attached to this review. There are stories behind both images and it is important to put them in context. If you can't/don't want to read this full review, ignore the pictures and just read the title or summary at the end. Many Thanks. At the time of writing this review, I have purchased seven (7) of these leads for two of my dogs who all weigh 250lbs/20ft. One dog is a 55 pound male and the other is a Miniature Australian Shepherd. Both are quite active and stay on the line 24/7. I'll take the guesswork out of how two dogs ran 7 cables by saying that the small dog ran an average of 1 cable every 2 months and the big dog averaged 1 cable every 1.5 months. Some of this is due to wear and tear, but much of it is due to carelessness/self manipulation. Let me share some of the thoughts I've received over the last 4 months. You need a lathe. I can't stress this enough, but if you don't want to tie a veg to the end of this cord, you'll need to add your own swirl. Ideally two. When I first used this leash I didn't add a swivel so my dog spent the night at the base of his posture due to the leash being knotted. Depending on how you connect this cable to the base (more on that below), a rotating dog head connector may be sufficient. The plug is not very practical. It's made of durable, thick metal, but the locking mechanism itself is far from ideal. As with any buckle, if the dog is properly seated on it, he can undo it and free himself (and will at precisely any inconvenient moment). This is partially solved by a clasp lock, but you'll need good pliers and a strong grip to hold this lock securely for any length of time. My local Tractor Supply sells expensive but good quality cattle latches (the ones that open by pulling the latch so the dog can't open it) and I use it as an actual dog connector, as well as the aforementioned pliers and a sturdy handle. hold it tight The underlying relationships are complex. If you're not attaching the main end of the cable directly to a small pole, you're going to have to do something clever. You can see the connector in the product images; it will just open up so wide. I personally prefer to take a short chain, tie off one end and use that as a base. This is not an issue with the product, but is important to consider in your situation. Durability is not a fantasy. This is where the two images come in, and they need some explanation. First, keep in mind that I use this leash on two dogs that are on it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, are fairly or very active, and regularly pull heavily. If you don't need this cable for this or a similar purpose, it could last you years. The picture with the frayed end is largely my fault. You can see it doesn't have a standard connector and that's because I was stupid and sanded it down. You guessed it, this damaged the vinyl (plastic?) coating, putting more stress on the steel cable and rusting it faster. In the end, this flimsy rope had to be replaced as the worn out cord scratched my dog a bit. However, this is a good example of what happens to a cable when the vinyl cover comes loose through normal wear and tear. Another shot taken about halfway down the middle of one of my old cables shows the coating has worn off and the steel cable is exposed to inclement weather. I left the cord like that once too long and my dog managed to pull it in two and break free (uncredited picture as I immediately threw it away without thinking - sorry). This is by far the biggest problem with the link. The steel cable is high quality, the clasps work and the vinyl keeps dogs from getting hurt. right until it disappears. As far as I can tell it's starting to split the cover, possibly because my dog bent it too far while running in circles. I can't say for sure, but that's definitely the most important thing to look for in this line of ties. Summary (TL/DR): Overall, this is a good $15 cable. Keep in mind how you're going to actually connect it to the base, and I highly recommend placing a swivel somewhere along it. In terms of durability, it will likely last 1 to 3 months with continuous use - depending on your dog's size and activity level - otherwise likely significantly longer. Thank you for attending my TED Talk.