My favorite dog walking leashes

I train and walk dogs professionally every day, which gives me a chance to try many different models and brands of leashes.

When choosing a leash, there are a few things I look for: high quality materials that are durable and will last for years, comfort and a good fit for the dog, and gear that is easy to put on and take off. And of course, cute designs that don’t compromise the actual purpose of the gear. By this I mean it’s not just cute, but it has well thought out construction.

Below is a list of my favorite models. I’ve used all of them on many dogs, and if I had to buy all my gear again, I would repurchase these models without a second thought.

Dog leashes

Best leash for everyday use

Ruffwear Flagline dog leash is one of my top choices, I use it with my dog daily. It is very lightweight, super durable (I had mine for 2 years and it is still going strong).

Few features I love about it:

• super lightweight and compact, easy to put it in your pocket
• hands free feature (handle has a construction to make it bigger so you can wear it around your waist)
• strong durable buckle that doesn’t break after years of use
• small pocket for pooping bags (no more of those dangling plastic poop bag holders)
• adjustable size

Downsides: I don’t think it has downsides, but it is a narrow leash, so if you have a large strong pulling dog and your hands are large, this leash may be too narrow. Recommend for medium size and non pulling larger dogs.

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Long leash for everyday use

OllyDog’s Rubber Grip Reflective Leash is a great replacement for a standard 6 feet (2 m) leash when that length is too short for your purposes. Six-foot leashes are good for a quick neighborhood potty break but not enough for a quality exploratory walk with you dog. If your dog doesn’t get daily off-leash walks, a longer leash or a long line is a must to give them enough mental and physical enrichment.

OllyDog’s leash is a longer leash and I use it on regular basis with my dog. Here are my favorite features:

• 10 feet long, very lightweight for a long line
• lightweight carabiner with a swivel (less tangling!)
• non slippery rubber grip
• reflective webbing (great for dark evenings!)

Downsides: same as the leash above it is a very narrow leash, may be not the best to hold in your hand if you dog is large and pulls, carabiner looks lightweight and may not hold to heavy weighted dogs, but the brand claims they have lifetime warranty! This leash I only use for medium and smaller dogs.

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Longline for larger dogs

Redline 3/4 Inch Easy Grip Dog Longlines are great for giving your larger dog some freedom to move around. These products were designed by people who work with larger breeds such as german shepherds, longlines are very simple in terms of design, yet very practical and durable.

My favorite features are:

• rubber grip for better hold and reflective webbing
• heavy duty carabiner that suits stronger pullers
• offered in wide range from 10 to 50 ft

Downsides: carabiner is heavyduty stainless steel, a bit heavier than options above, so may not be suitable for smaller or more gentler dogs. Also, I wish this leash was slightly wider.

If you’re new to longlines and long leads, check out this article with lots of practical information on how to start with them.

Super cheap longline for puppies and small dogs

Hi Kiss Dog/Puppy Obedience Recall Training Agility Lead is a great cheap longline when you are training a puppy or when you are just getting into longline and not sure if you want to invest more. It’s not an actual brand, just an Amazon product, so no quality is garanteed, but I use this lead a lot with dogs who don’t pull but can’t be off leashed due to safety.

Favorite features:

• Affordability, can’t beat a >10$ price when it comes to longlines
• Made out of flat nylon, so super lightweight
• Comes in two width, 0.75 inch (puppies & small dogs) and 1 inch (the latter is for medium/larger dogs)

Downsides: low quality, the carabiner broke after a year of use, and the nylon didn’t handle regular washing and started to fray.

Stylish and practical hands-free leash

Zeedog hands-free leashes are not just a rope leash, they are an accessory on their own. Great color choices, little trinkets you can add to them (think of Crocs), but besides being fashionable, they are actually very practical. They have their own custom hardware; everything looks durable and the construction is very well engineered.

My favorite part about it:

• I love practical things with multi use: leash is adjustable, can be worn on the wait or cross-body, easy to tether your dog if you are in a coffee shop
• not a boring leash!
• great quality and detail
• great leash for city outings
• they offer rope version and rubberized one (easier to clean!)

Downside: price is not cheap, the leash is somewhat bulky if you plan to put it into your pocket

Best all-weather leash: for rainy muddy days and beach hikes

Biothane leashes are my top choice when I hiked with dogs at the beach or when days get rainy. There are many brands that produce waterproof leashes, there are also some no-name cheaper options too. If you look for recommendation, tryt this Redline K-9 Biothane Leash.

Features:

• Waterproof: repels water, mud, odor
• Easy to clean, quick dry material
• Better grip when wet vs nylon leashes
• Biothane is a heavy duty material and doesn’t break even when leash is narrow (unless it is a knock-off and not a real biothane)

Downsides: can be more heavier than regular flat nylon leash.

Double leash for dogs who need more control

2Hounds Design Double Leash is not a leash that every dog needs, but for some dogs it is a crucial gear for urban walks. Double leash is used together with no-pull harness or training harness, so you can connect to the front and the back of the harness simultaneously. This set up helps you to have easier control over your dog movements and works perfect with reactive dogs or dogs who are still in training and tend to bolt from side to side.

Note: this is NOT a leash to walk 2 dogs at the same time. it is a leash for walking one dog with double connection method.

There are two options: flat glossy nylon and rubber grip version, choose the latter for more control. It has padded handle for better control and leash is more grippy.

Features:

• heavy duty strong hardware
• great choice of colors & designs if you want to be a bit more fashionable
• affordable price
• versatile design: can be used is double leash or as single attachment
• offers shorter version (standard – 5 ft leash that becomes 3 ft when doubled) and slightly longer (euro leash – 8 ft leash becomes 6 ft when doubled)

Downside: hardware of this brand is heavy duty hence very heavy, it works great with larger or heavier dogs, but may not be best with frail or smaller dogs.

Notice how I don’t have any slip leads recommendations in here. Slip leads are considered inhumane. Generally, they’re not the best tools, even if they seem to produce quick results in the beginning. They actually include lots of health risks and behavioral risks in the future and are not recommended by animal behavior specialists. If you struggle with your pulling dog, there are other ways and tools to combat it.
If you need help with training your dog not to pull, you can hire me here.

* Links marked with * are affiliate links that earn commission. Regardless of that, all the products in the articles were chosen due to their qualities and not because of any financial incentive.