Choosing a Dog Leash 2018-2019

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You’ve been asking for an update to our leash recommendation video, and here it is not a moment too soon, as we’re almost done with the year anyways. Our current lineup of leash recommendations and where to get ’em, coming up. Now, the usual disclaimer is necessary. I am not being endorsed or paid for by any of the manufacturers featured in this video. I bought every leash we tried, save for one, and put them on my dogs to test them out.

Some are leashes I’ve been using for years, and some are ones we’ve just recently taken a look at. This time around, we’re gonna do stuff a little differently, too. This post isn’t going to be a “what’s new and awesome” because a leash is one of those things that’s so simple and straightforward that there’s rarely anything new and interesting about it. Most of the new stuff that comes around is unnecessary or gimmicky. And truth be told, recently, we’ve walked back some of our previous recommendations and kind of…simplified things.

So I really intend for this video to have some more longevity and practical usage for you for quite some time. We will link to our faves on Amazon all along the way so you can gear up along with us. Ok, let’s get into it.

A NOTE ABOUT HANDLES

We really recommend a loop over any other kind of handle. Based on our training system, we teach dogs how to walk with a loose lead, and we also teach our students how to handle a leash like a multi-tool. You’d be surprised at all the different ways you could use a standard, no-frills leash once you know how to handle it like a pro. The more add-ons there are the more of a unitasker it tends to be, and so these extra features usually get in the way. Thus, we prefer a leash that can be used in a great variety of potential situations. For this reason, we do not recommend ski-handle leashes.

This kind of leash will only be useful for controlling a bananas dog, but this has to be a short-term solution if you use it. If your goal is to eventually get your dog to walk politely with a loose leash (and you should), then ski-handle leashes won’t really be part of your long-term training plan.

A NOTE ABOUT SNAPS

Also, think about your snaps as you select a leash. A standard bolt snap is adequate for almost all situations, especially if it’s made of steel or brass. This is the most common type of connection you will find. You will encounter other configurations, but we prefer this in most cases. Consider these pros and cons among common connectors:

BOLT SNAPS are best when they’re made of steel or brass (with or without nickel plating).

• These are strong and almost universal.
• OPINION: generally preferred, unless they’re cheaply made.

CLAW SNAPS are easy to operate and clip but are almost always made with cheap materials.

• The swivel tends to loosen up, and then they can come unclipped very easily.
• OPINION: avoid

TRIGGER SNAPS are heavier duty than the claw, and they’re also fast and easy to clip.

• However, these also loosen up over time and come unclipped very easily. I’ve seen these where the gate just starts flapping around because the spring in the hinge has died.
• OPINION: use caution

CARABINERS are easy to operate and very strong but can also be bulky and heavy.

• For ultimate security, make sure it has a locking gate of some kind (see my carabiner post)
• OPINION: choose wisely

Now, onto the leashes themselves.

LEATHER

It’s hard to beat a good leather leash. There’s a reason it’s a staple with trainers of all stripes. Although nylon is technically stronger, leather tends to resist wear better. Leather is also very comfortable and gets softer over time without losing its strength. I’ve really gravitated to leather over the last few years. I’ve always had some in my collection, but it’s only recently that I’ve returned to it and made my leather leashes my “go-to’s” for almost everything.

LEATHER SNAP ATTACHMENTS

There are three main types of attachments for leather leashes to the snap: braided, riveted, and stitched.

• BRAIDED attachments have the leather slit open and then worked back over itself several times to make a one-piece circuit.
• RIVETED attachments use metal rivets to connect pieces back to each other. As you’d suspect, cheap leashes use crappy rivets, and better brands use industrial-strength ones.
• STITCHED attachments use machines to create rows of powerful stitching in the leather.

Generally, the attachment will be one of these three, although you can find some that combine two of them, usually braided and then stitched or braided and riveted. Although these are typically stronger (and more expensive) a good quality brand will stand up even it if’s only one of these main types. Most of our favorites are riveted. I’ve heard of some people having rivets pop out, but as I said, this is mainly on the cheapo leashes.

Some trainers are crazy about braiding because they believe it has a tiny bit of cushioning. To each their own. We’ve never had any problem with rivets or stitching. As usual, your mileage may vary, and your experiences with your dog will be your own. Choose wisely.

LOGICAL LEATHER 6-FOOT LEASH

Our first leather leash is by Logical Leather. The riveted model is currently living in my training load out that I take with me on house calls. This would work for almost any dog, save a giant breed. I think this would be a great leash from a little Bichon to an adult German Shepherd. Well made and dependable, for the money, it doesn’t get much simpler and better than this.

• Attachment: riveted (also available braided or stitched)
• Size: 6′ long, 5/8″ wide, 1/8″ thick
• Colors: brown or black (stitched available in 5 options)
• Cost: ≈$20-$22 USD
• GET IT HERE

MIGHTY PAW SUPER SOFT DISTRESSED LEATHER

Also well-made and soft. Nice, smooth leather. I have the Regular size; it is currently our bulldog Wednesday’s main leash. The Lite version would work well for small to mid-size dogs; the regular is big enough to work with a wide range of larger dogs. My only gripe with this is that they only come in five-foot lengths. I prefer six in most cases, but I’m just splitting hairs. For most of you this will be great.

• Attachment: riveted
• Sizes:
  • Lite (1-30lbs) 5′ long, 1/2″ wide
  • Regular (30-100lbs) 5′ long, 3/4″ wide
• Colors: black, brown, or light brown
• Cost: ≈$20 USD
• GET IT HERE

TIMBER & TIDE 6-FOOT HEAVY-DUTY LEASH

This one is super stout. You could easily use this to take your 100 lb Rottie on two walks daily. Recently I used it at the shelter to walk this big guy. Very soft and well-made, I almost wish I had more occasions to use it. I showed this to some of my other trainer friends, who remarked it was one of the best leather leashes they’d seen. You need this leash for a large or giant breed dog. This one is also in my training load-out for house calls.

• Attachment: riveted
• Size: 6′ long, 7/8″ wide
• Color: brown
• Cost: ≈$38 USD
• GET IT HERE

LEERBURG AMISH LEATHER

This one is riveted and stitched with Amish-made latigo leather. This is awesome, easily on par, or even better than the timber and tide. Like that one, I wish I had more occasions to use this because it’s such a good leash. Leerburg is a pro-training site, so the average dog owner won’t need many configurations. Still, very good quality stuff, albeit a bit more pricey.

• Attachment:
• Sizes:
• Color: 3 options
• Cost:
• GET IT HERE (Amazon) or HERE (Leerburg.com)

DEAN & TYLER

There’s no doubt this is high-quality stuff. Really soft, too. As you can see, this particular one is a combination of braided and riveted, and the rivet is heavier duty than most. However, Dean and Tyler will cost you an arm and a leg. This leash was almost $50, and it’s not even the most expensive one they sell. Between you and me—it’s good, but not that good. If you want to spend a little bit more on functional luxury, the Leerburg leashes will probably be a better bet for you.

• Size: 4, 6, or 10′ long, 3/4″ wide
• Colors: 3 options
• Cost: ≈ $31 — $47 USD depending on size
• GET IT HERE

OTHER NOTABLE LEATHER RECOMMENDATIONS

• Punk Hollow has lots of options and very good quality.
• Fairwin also manufactures good leashes with straightforward options. They specialize in mostly braided varieties if you’re into that.

NYLON

As we mentioned, nylon is technically stronger than leather. The tensile breaking strength of nylon is way higher than leather, which is why they use nylon for tie-down and recovery straps. Nylon is also lighter than leather, and some people prefer lighter hardware. In fact, for a medium to a small dog, nylon is usually preferred. We usually use one of our nylon leashes when we take our Boston Terrier out.

Nylon also allows you to get reflective stitching integrated into the fabric. This is a pretty nice feature if you’re walking around low visibility or nighttime areas. Nylon, however, does not resist wear and tear as leather does. Sharp corners, nibbles from a puppy, getting shut in a car door…nylon won’t stand up to the world as a leather will. So, there are tradeoffs. In any event, there are countless “good enough” leashes out there for nylon. PetSafe’s $8.00 leash is honestly good enough for most pet dogs. Blueberry Pet makes a couple of good ones that we like too. However, our favorites are…

EZYDOG SOFT TRAINER

This is a great, basic leash with good functionality in the features (without overloading it). The handle has a neoprene lining, making it comfortable to hold in different configurations. The nylon webbing is reflective for low light/nighttime, and there’s a traffic handle at the bottom.

I used to be all about traffic handles, but recently I realized I hardly ever actually use them! They’re good to have in a pinch for certain dogs, but if you’re going to have one, it had better be low-profile, so it doesn’t get in the way. This fits the bill nicely; it completely disappears into the profile when you’re not using it. Finally, I know I said I didn’t like many features, but there is a barrel lock accessory attachment that’s not bad for pick-up bags or a small accessory light. This, also, is low-profile, so it’s out of the way unless I want to use it (like it should be).

• Sizes:
  • Lite (dogs under 26lbs) 6′ long, 1/2″ wide
  • Standard (dogs over 26lbs) 6′ long, 1″ wide
• Colors: 8 options
• Cost: ≈$20-$30 USD, depending on size
• GET IT HERE

NIFTI SAFELATCH

OK, I know I said that a basic bolt snap is the way to go, and this is technically a bolt snap, but it’s been suped up for the 21st century, and we love it. Nifti has added three things to the bolt snap that make it better:

1. The thumb release is bigger and easier to manipulate
2. The bolt has a recessed hole for the tip to slide into, making for a stronger, completed loop
3. There’s a strong magnet inside the snap that pulls the ring from the collar or harness into the loop and keeps it there

This is a really cool design, and the snap is really well-made. Usually, I hate gimmicky stuff, but this is well-designed and works. My only complaint with this leash is that the nylon is a bit thin. It’s plenty strong for almost any dog, but as we discussed, it won’t resist wear and tear as some other leashes will. I really like this, and believe me, if they ever make one with a good quality leather strap, I will be ALL OVER this.

• Size: 6′ long
• Colors: 5 options
• Cost: ≈$25 USD
• GET IT HERE

FOR EXPERIENCED WALKERS

Honestly, I could stick with the tried leather leash forever. But it’s also interesting to explore other options once you’re to the point where you’re worrying less about training and more about DOING stuff. Then, some of these leashes may be fun to add to your arsenal.

EZYDOG VARIO 6

This is a European-style 6-in-1 leash, and I’m I really dig 6-in-1s. I keep two in my car load out and two more in my training backpack for unusual circumstances. They’re ridiculously versatile multitaskers, and I think one of these would be indispensable for camping, hiking, or road-tripping.

Basically, it’s a transformer! It can quickly become a standard long leash, a short leash, a dual-handle leash with a traffic loop, a double leash for two dogs, a tether, and a hands-free, messenger-style leash. It’s also available with a carabiner instead of the bolt snap for just over $50, although I don’t think the carabiner justifies the added cost. Your call, though. The EzyDog Vario 6 is my favorite 6-in-1 leash. The stitching is heavy-duty, the material is durable, and the construction is high-quality. Although Leerburg also makes an old-school, leather 6-in-1 if you’re into kicking it with cowhide.

• Sizes:
  • Lite (under 26 lbs)
  • Regular (26 lbs and over)
• Colors: 8 options
• Cost: $35-$40 USD, depending on the size
• GET IT HERE

ROK STRAP LEASHES

These are comprised of a great big, industrial-strength strip of polyester-covered, solid-core rubber. The whole length of it is stretchy, which helps reduce or even eliminate most of the motion when moving about. It’s also really tough. The end loop and the traffic handle are non-stretch and both beefy and padded. As I mentioned earlier, the traffic handle disappears completely into the profile when not in use.

I’m really completely over traffic handles that stick out and flop around. This leash is made to last. I used to carry one in my dog training load out that I took on every single consultation. I’ve used this to work with dogs of all sizes, ranging from shy dogs to dogs that think they’re a torpedo. This leash has been dragged through the mud, around trees, and up and down the countryside.

• Sizes:
  • Lite (10-30 lbs)
  • Medium (30-60 lbs)
  • Large (60 lbs and over)
  • Giant/Traffic (60 lbs and over, but on 3′ long)
• Colors: 12 options
• Cost: ≈ $25-$35 USD, depending on size
• GET IT HERE

EZYDOG ZERO SHOCK

This one is kinda like the Rok Strap in that it’s springy and built pretty solid. I keep one at home for myself and one at the Simpawtico training studio. Due to that springy cush, this is really for an experienced walker. Dynamic leashes like this are great when you can give your dog a bit more freedom, but static leashes are much better for training. The Zero Shock features EzyDog’s patented “Zero-Shock Technology,” which features a short and tight bungee.

All I want is just a little “cush,” and many other bungee leashes out there are too loose and too permissive, I feel. This one and the Rok Strap have a nice balance between that give and take. The main loop handle has a neoprene lining. There’s a nice, low-profile traffic handle near the snap. And there’s an accessory D-ring near the handle that I’ve used many times. Also, these come in either 4-foot or 6-foot, and if I’m not going to use a 6-footer, then I do like a 4-footer on occasion.

I don’t know what it is, but I do like using this one around the studio. Typically I don’t want a dog I’m working with to have that much room to move around when we’re working inside anyways, and I do end up picking this one up a lot. Actually, my main use for this is at the studio when I use it to tether one of my dogs when they’re being a decoy for a reactive dog I’m working with. The D-Ring on the handle goes onto one of the carabiners on the wall, and the springy leash helps absorb any movement while they’re hanging out. Naturally, we attach to a body harness for this.

• Sizes:
  • Lite 6′ long,
  • Regular 4′ long, ;
• Colors: 10 options
• Cost: $20-$30 USD, depending on size
• GET IT HERE

RECAP

We prefer leather leashes, and our favorite picks in order of cost are:

• Logical Leather
• Mighty Paw
• Timber & Tide
• Leerburg
• Dean & Tyler

If you’re going to go with nylon, or want some diversity in your gear, we recommend:

• The Ezy Dog Soft Trainer
• The Nifti SafeLatch

For more experienced dogs and owners, we like:

• The EzyDog Vario 6 as our multitasker.
• We also like the Rok Strap or the EzyDog Zero Shock as our leashes with a little dynamic movement.

Now questions for you: what are some of your favorites? What do you like, and what do you recommend? Also, what other gear videos would you like to see from us? More reviews? More how-tos? Let’s connect in the comments!

HANDLING SECRETS

Getting the right gear is only the beginning. And, like I always say, the technique is more important than the hardware! Take a look at my leash handling post to learn some pro techniques for solid, safe, and sensible leash handling:

• Anchors
• Body positioning
• Communication
• The works!

GET OUR BUYER’S GUIDE!

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As always, keep learning, keep practicing, and we’ll see you again soon. Thanks for taking a look!

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