Going for walks is an activity you’ll do more than any other with your pooch so finding a long-lasting, high-quality lead is vital for a stress-free experience.
But with so many options available, it can often be difficult to know what’s best for both your dog and yourself.
To help you choose, we’ve scoured the market for the best dog leads, from training leashes to extra-long retractables, ensuring you find the best dog leash for you and your pup!
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Best Paracord
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Best Paracord
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Best Retractable
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Best Retractable
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Best Super Strong
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Best Super Strong
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Check Price |
Some of the strongest and most durable dog leashes on the market are made from paracord, and this beast of a lead from JBYAMUK could probably rein in a tank nevermind a dog.
Crafted from nylon climbing rope, the lead can withstand pulls from dogs of up to 150 pounds and is twice the strength of ordinary rope. With an added high-density, anti-biting braid running through the material, it’s also probably the most durable option out there.
But despite its strength, the lead is just a mere 0.5 pounds in weight making it light and sturdy, with a soft EVA panelled handle that protects your hand from rope burn. So you can feel comfy, yet still in control!
As an added bonus, the leash also uses double reflector threads so that the rope is actually visible at night. That means you’ll have no excuses if your dog fancies a midnight walk!
Dog walks are filled with sudden surprises, and a retractable lead is vital if you find yourself always needing to rein in your over-friendly pooch.
This retractable lead from Flexi allows roaming of up to 5m and comes with a convenient short-stop brake button, providing super-fast response times for when you need to save a passer-by from being licked all over.
A special ergonomic grip means this lead has also been designed with the owner in mind, the handle providing great control and comfort. And if that wasn’t enough, it looks super stylish.
Who says you can’t make a dog walk your catwalk?
If you’re looking for something that’s just a little bit different to the regular dog leads, then the brand Woof Inc is your go-to!
They have a great range of boutique fashion leads designed with quality and comfort in mind. The lead is made from a water-resistant neoprene material, making it handy for British weather, and it prioritises safety with a sturdy fastening clip that won’t come away.
The handle is made from soft neoprene and the lead also has a D-ring for the matching poop bag holder, which is pretty handy as well! Matching items are available too, just in case your pup must look the part when out and about.
Ideal for anyone who’s pooch gets overexcited at the sight of just about anything, the figure of 8 lead is a form of training leash which stop owners from being pulled from pillar to post.
It works by fitting two twisted loops around the dog’s nose and neck, meaning when the lead is pulled too harshly by your pup, it will bring their head downwards, breaking their focus and line of sight.
Many figure of 8 leads can be uncomfortable for canines, but this super soft leash from Dog & Field uses a highly durable nylon rope which is kind and comfortable for your mischievous mutt.
Its braided anti-pulling system is also sure to put an end to your ever stressful dog walks!
What is a biothane dog leash? Well, BioThane is a brand name, and it is a coating material made from polyester webbing with a TPU or PVC cover.
What is so special about it? This combination makes it more durable, waterproof, easy to clean and weldable compared to fabric or chain leads. Perfect if your dog pulls and you need all the help you can get, or if muddy rainy walks are their favourite.
This one also has top-grade solid brass hardware which won’t tarnish or rust and is available in a few different thicknesses and lengths. The black colour will match any combination, and the handle is standard comfortable shaping.
Biothane is super popular in the USA, especially for dogs who go on regular hikes. In the UK, anyone who takes their dog to the beach (where gritty wet sand is the bane of any dog owners life) could really benefit from biothane material too.
While it’s always easiest just to let your little explorer off the leash, trudging around a park for hours calling out your missing dogs name is never how anyone wants to spend their time.
However, this quite frankly unbelievable dog lead from Flexi could help you keep your canine Christopher Columbus in check without totally quashing their freedom.
The Flexi Giant Professional lets pups runoff to the incredible distance of 10m should you require it and is neon coloured so you can still see them from all that way away. A chrome hook provides secure fastening and an ergonomic handle with brake button and permanent stop feature prevent your prized pooch from venturing into a whole other country!
Great for large, bounding breeds, the lead can withstand dogs of up to 50kg and also comes in 3 handle sizes for the small and larger handed owner!
For those with pups who love to chew, you’ll know the average dog lead doesn’t last more than a few weeks thanks to your mutt constantly tearing them up. Chain leads are an effective way to put this to an end as they don’t look like a fun rope toy and are naturally an anti-bite material.
They are also slightly stronger, which is good if you have a heavy breed and are struggling to put in the arm work on walks. Available in small and medium, it is connected to your dog’s collar using the metal spring-loaded clip which makes things nice and easy.
The top which you hold is nylon, so it won’t damage your hand and it is also padded for good measure.
Some people love dogs so much that just having one can never be enough.
But while owning two pups is always double the fun, it’s also double the trouble come walkies time!
ADOGO’s dog lead splitter takes the stress out of walking two dogs at once, as a smart swivel clasp auto-adjusts your doggy duo’s constant cross-overs meaning no tangling and plenty of free space for your pups to enjoy. With a lead length of 1.4m, you can also ensure they stay relatively close, putting an end to your frequent acrobatics every time they run in opposing directions.
Made of reinforced braided polyester, the leash can also take on a weight of up to 500lbs, meaning it’s perfect for medium and large-sized dog breeds.
For pup owners who need to give their leash a little bit of life, this modern and chic leather lead from Blueberry Pet will make you and your mutt the envy of every dog walker in sight.
Far from your typical all-leather lead, Blueberry Pet uses a combination of high-grade leather and heavy-duty polyester webbing to provide extra flexibility, while maintaining the stylish, and durable quality of leather. And at 180cm length, it’s perfect for small pup breeds such as Havanese, Italian Greyhounds and Pugs.
From Noir Grey & Burgundy to Chocolate and Taupe, there’s also plenty of luxurious vintage colour combinations, so your canine can stay classy all year round!
Walking your dog can be a stressful experience if your pup is prone to sudden jolts and pulls, but a shock-absorbing dog lead should help to alleviate all your problems.
EzyDog’s Zero Shock lead improves control through its use of double density nylon and highly durable soft-touch webbing which make the leash outrageously strong with a soft feel. As well as this, the lead utilises a unique bungee cord technology that helps ease the force of an unexpected pull. A ‘traffic control’ handle also gives a greater command without sacrificing comfort thanks to its padded waterproof neoprene material.
With this lead in your arsenal, you’ll finally be walking your dog again – rather than them always walking you!
Far and away one of the most popular dog leads, retractable leashes allow owners to extend and retract a lead’s length at the push of a button. This allows you to be able to quickly react to situations on walks and gives you that extra bit of control over your pup while still allowing them the freedom to roam.
Doing exactly what they say on the tin, standard leashes feature no retractable movement or special abilities. However their simplicity probably offers the greatest amount of control as your pooch remains at the same distance at all times. This also allows them to be made out of stronger materials such as braided nylon.
Often packaged as training leads, adjustable leads use multiple clips to extend and decrease the length of your cord, much like a belt. This is a good lead for puppies, as it allows you to slowly increase the length of the lead overtime as they become more used to walks.
Leads come in a lot of different materials and it can be confusing to understand what features each one can offer you. The three main materials are nylon, leather and chain. Chains offer the most durability and are great for chewers, however they are also very heavy, so not always the most comfortable. Nylon leads are probably the most popular and are surprisingly strong while also being weather resistant but are conversely very easily chewed. Leather leashes tend to be something of a fashion statement and are the most comfortable to hold, however they require more maintenance to keep them in good condition.
Choosing the correct length of dog lead comes in handy when training your dog and it’s best to choose a lead which can adapt to different situations. Short length leads are important for obedience training and situations where you need more control such as traffic and busy public areas. Longer leads, on the other hand, are used for distance command training and are helpful for letting your pup explore without the owner losing control. It’s best to get a lead which can cater to both lengths, but try and take into account your type of dog. For example, a smaller breed is unlikely to need a 10m length leash, as it’s little legs can only get it so far!
The width of a leash can also be an important factor too, especially if your dog is prone to biting and chewing objects. Thicker, stronger width leads tend to be able to ease the impact of pulls and are also more durable when it comes to withstanding your dogs impromptu biting and tug of war session. Slimmer leads are mostly only suitable for puppies and smaller dog breeds who need their leashes to be slightly more gentle and less restricting.
For those who aren’t hot on their distances, understanding the importance of length can be hard. Do you really need a 10m lead or will a 1m one do just as nicely? Consult our guide to better understand what length you need.
Often used for heel training, a 1.2m lead keeps your pooch very close and is best for public areas and high traffic situations when you need them by your side. Best for maximum control.
These are the lengths for a standard dog lead and are best for walks in the park and leisurely strolls where there is low traffic.
If you like letting your dog have a little more freedom on walks this allows them to trot along ahead at a reasonable distance while still giving you control.
Probably most suitable for quiet parks and fields, these distances are the closest you can get to letting your pup off the leash! A good distance for pooches who love to explore, it makes sure they won’t get lost on their expeditions!
So called because of their two twisting loops, figure of 8 leads provide both a lead to go round the dog’s neck and another to go over the snout. This means when pulled, rather than forcing a dog back by the neck, it pulls down on the nose, breaking their line of sight and focus. This makes it a handy training lead for dogs that are easily distracted and enjoy chasing just about anything in sight.
Yes! Dogs often pull on the lead because us owners can never keep up, but don’t jerk the lead to get them to stop as this can cause long-lasting health problems!
A sudden jerk from an owner can damage the trachea and neck, so if your dog is a puller, try and get a lead which counteracts it without the need for you to jerk them back!
