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There’s not a whole lot to explain when it comes to the need for a good dog leash. If you have a dog then a decent leash is kind of a must.
These days there are plenty of different designs to suit your preference. Here are my top choices.
- Best Rope – BAAPET 5 FT Strong Dog Leash (Amazon)
Simplicity, strength, and comfort all at an incredibly low price.
- Best Nylon – Max and Neo Reflective Nylon (Amazon)
A great all-around leash at a reasonable price. This company donates a leash to a dog rescue with every leash sold.
- Best Leather – LEATHERBERG Dog Training Leash (Amazon)
Recommended by dog trainers for comfort, control, and durability. Great for obedience training.
- Best Brahma Webb – Pro-Leash Premium (Amazon)
Premium high-quality vegan substitute for leather. Used by K9 search and rescue teams.
- Best Retractable – TUG Patented 360° Tangle-Free (Amazon)
Give your dog 16ft of freedom while you remain in control. Beautifully designed and very well-made.
- Best Double – Prima Pets Premium Reflective Double (Amazon)
2 dogs, 1 leash, 0 tangles, 0 headaches. Great leash, great value.
Best Rope – BAAPET 5 FT Strong Dog Leash (Amazon)
Constructed with strong rock climbing rope and a hardwearing clip this BAAPET leash boasts incredible strength and durability but won’t set you back much at all. This is actually the cheapest leash on my list of recommendations at one-quarter the price of some comparable rope leashes on the market.
The leash has a soft padded handle making it very comfortable to hold and comes in a range of colors with reflective white stripes as standard for extra visibility on nighttime walks. There are 2 sizes available, 1/3″ rope for smaller dogs and 1/2″ for medium or large dogs. Both sizes are 5 feet long.
The popularity of this product speaks for itself and if you’re not completely happy with your purchase there is a 100% moneyback guarantee.
Best Nylon – Max and Neo Reflective Nylon (Amazon)
A simple design that just works. This nylon leash possesses many of the same attributes as my initial recommendation. Strength, simplicity, comfort, style and a reflective thread line for evening walks. While slightly more expensive than the BAAPET, it’s still a low-cost leash. Aside from the fantastic quality and functionality, there is also an added incentive for purchase…
For every leash sold, Max and Neo will donate an identical leash to a dog rescue. This unique offer helps free up resources for other important dog rescue services across the country. It’s also nice to know that somewhere out there a rescue dog has benefited as a result of your purchase. Max and Neo have a range of dog products such as their matching collars (Amazon) that offer the same donation to a dog rescue with every purchase.
The leash comes in different widths and lengths for small to large dogs and there are a number of beautiful colors to choose from. This is a strong leash suitable for pullers. The handle is padded with neoprene for extra comfort and one particular feature which I’m keen on is the D-ring fitted to the handle for attaching a poop bag dispenser. I’ve had similar leashes in the past where I’ve had to attach it to the handle directly which causes unsightly wear and tear over time. All in all a great product from a company that has great values.
Best Leather – LEATHERBERG Dog Training Leash (Amazon)
Sometimes you can’t beat a good old fashioned leather leash. Most people commend leather leashes for their wonderful handling properties. They are extremely comfortable to hold and soften up more over time without any detriment to durability. Leather is extremely durable too especially when treated with a good leather conditioner (here is my recommendation on Amazon). If treated right a leather leash can easily last a dog’s lifetime.
Leather is highly regarded by dog trainers, particularly when it comes to things like obedience training. If you have a puller they allow for better grip and control and are far less likely to slip through your hands. Even if a leather leash was to slip, you won’t get rope burn.
This Leatherberg Dog Training Leash is of fantastic quality and is extremely comfortable to hold. While you can expect to pay more for a leather dog leash compared to nylon or rope, this one is actually relatively affordable as I’ve seen leather leashes of the same quality go for twice the price in the past. It comes in brown or black and has a one-year money-back guarantee if you aren’t fully satisfied.
Best Brahma Webb – Pro-Leash Premium 6 FT (Amazon)
Like the look and feel of a leather leash? Not keen on the smell after it gets wet? Not comfortable using the skin of one animal to restrain your own? This premium dog leash may be just what you are looking for.
Constructed in the USA from a 100% vegan leather substitute. The patented Brahma Webb material is completely waterproof so it also dries off much quicker than leather. It’s also two times the strength according to the manufacturer. This is a high-quality product that has all of the benefits of a real leather leash. The only thing you’ll be missing is that real genuine leather smell, but after a couple of wet walks, you’ll probably be grateful.
Available in three colors and two sizes. One for large and one for small dogs. The product is hardwearing and has been double stitched and double riveted for extra durability too. The manufacturer states that this leash is used by K9 search and rescue teams. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me and my girls.
Best Retractable – TUG Patented 360° Tangle-Free (Amazon)
Retractable dog leashes are great for giving your dog some more freedom while still remaining in control. This one is extremely well made and feels great in your hand. The quick lock and unlock mechanism is very easy to use and feels less clumsy than others I’ve tried.
The leash extends to 16ft which is fairly standard for retractable leashes and has a unique 360° tangle-free opening giving you great control from any angle. It’s available in a few different colors and this model has 3 different size options available depending upon the size of your dog. All in all, this is a well designed and well-made product which I would highly recommend for those who prefer their retractable leashes.
If you have a particularly tiny dog, there is another model that has less tension in the line allowing your dog to run around more freely. It’s called the Tiny TUG (Amazon) and is suitable for dogs below 26lbs. This model is extremely small and lightweight. It can easily be stored in your pocket or purse however, the handle on the Tiny TUG is also particularly small so it may not be comfortable to hold for those with larger hands.
Best Double – Prima Pets Premium Reflective Double (Amazon)
If you have at least two dogs then you’ll understand the need for this type of product. I can personally relate, having multiple dogs of varying ages and speeds I often find myself either tangled up or torn in different directions. I also don’t have a free hand for picking up poop or answering my phone. This is where the Prima Pets Double Dog Leash comes in. One leash for two dogs.
Handling one leash instead of two not only makes your life easier in terms of tangle management. If you have dogs that tend to pull, any sudden movement or lunges from one dog are evenly distributed between yourself and the other dog. This effectively cuts the strain in half and the difference is incredible. The features include a D ring on the handle to latch on a poop bag dispenser or other accessory and reflective stitching for walks in the dark.
It comes with two comfortable padded handles, one so your dogs have more freedom to roam around and another just before the coupler so you can pull them in close when required. There is a swivel joint to prevent tangles and both sides of the coupler are adjustable so you can lengthen or shorten either side to suit your needs. This useful if you have two dogs of different sizes or if you just wanted to adjust the length of the leash overall. If you have 2 dogs this is the leash for you.