Dog Leads - the Long and the Short of it!

The best lead for you and your dog is the one that feels most comfortable to hold, gives your dog the space you want them to have, and is appropriate for the activities you are doing together.

Consider length, material, feel/weight, and any special features required …

LENGTH

1.2-1.6m Best for close-in work, crowded areas & main roads, if you are tall and your dog is small we suggest 1.4m+.

We do not think walking to heel is particularly important on most walks, but sometimes you might want your dog close; if you are walking in crowded areas or near main roads for example. A 1.2-1.6m lead is a good choice for this. If you are tall and you have a small dog, 1.2m may be too short so go with at least 1.4m.

Egs Goldpaw 1.5m (below, left), Blue-9 1.2m, Zero DC 1.2m (below, right)

1.8-2m Best for general use as well as double-ended use, a minimum length for most breeds and sizes, our most popular leads.

General use walking length lead. Choose a minimum 1.8m length if you are using double-ended and/or connecting at two points on a harness. This length is appropriate for most dogs. Often ‘multi-function’ (MF, see more info below).

Egs Grossenbacher 2m MF (below, left), Perfect Fit 2m MF (below, right), Zero DC 2m MF, Blue-9 1.8m MF

2m-3m Best for daily sniffing and exploring, double-ended use, a little more room to move.

Gives your dog a good amount of space to sniff and explore, but still not venturing too far from you. Not too weighty that you can’t bundle it up and carry it if your dog is in an off leash area. Also good for using as a double-ended lead connecting at two points. Often ‘multi-function’ (MF). Good length for canicross, bikejoring etc (consider a lead with a bungee section like Zero DC Anapurna).

Egs Haqihana 3m, anny.x 2.5m MF, Woolly Wolf 1.7-3m MF (below)

3m-5m Best for combining freedom and security; great for first stage recall training, space to go well off the path.

Starting to give your dog a fair bit more room now … great for bush/nature walks where your dog can wander off the track and not be too restricted but still be safe. 5m is good for starting recall training for puppies and newly adopted dogs.

Egs anny.x 3m half-padded MF (below, right), Haqihana 5m, Zero DC Anapurna 2.7-3.2m MF (below, left)

5m-8m Second stage recall training, going further afield but still safely connected, mantrailing and scent sports.

Giving more freedom and confidence; more length for recall training as your dog learns; keeps them safe swimming at the beach; 8m length for most mantrailing and search sports.

Egs Grossenbacher Softflex/Mediumflex (5/6/8m) (below, left), Zero DC 8m, Woolly Wolf 6m Rope (below, right)

              

10m-20m+ The more freedom the better! Testing reliable recall with security for the ultimate trial of trust and training; mantrailing and other search sports.

Tracking / long lines – even more length to validate your recall training and reward your dog – length will depend on what space you have to use, the location and your dog’s training level, great for relaxed nature walks so your dog can really have a good explore without feeling pressure at the end of the line.

Egs Grossenbacher Softflex/Mediumflex (10/12/15m), Haqihana (10m, 15m), Zero DC (10/15/20m) (below)

Some leads are “multi-function” (MF) …  most can be used either single-or doubled ended and can vary their length depending on which clip is attached to which d-ring along the shaft of the lead. Mutli-function leads are also often used ‘hands-free’ either across the shoulders or around the waist. Can be useful for tethering your dog when appropriate.

egs anny.x Fun Run 2m, Woolly Wolf Multi-Use 1.7-3m

If you use a lead that is too short your dog can only take a couple of steps away from you and suddenly the lead is pulled to the max. The shorter the lead the quicker it will be ‘pulled’. A lead that is too short can cause frustration at both ends! Consider a longer lead that gives them a little extra space before the lead is taut; perhaps a multi-function lead so you can vary the lengths, or a traffic handle lead so you can hold them close to you if needed. One of our favourites is the anny.x 3m half-padded multi-function lead. We are out and about most of the day so a walk should be your dog’s time – let them explore and sniff!

MATERIALS

Some leads are uniform throughout; some have extra padding on the handle, or an elastic bungee section. Some combine 2 or 3 different materials …

Nylon/polyester flat webbing – very common materials used for leads. Strong and easy to clean. Lightweight and flexible. Some are softer than others depending on the weave. 
Nylon is durable, has slightly more elasticity, but can be more susceptible to UV damage over time. Polyester is highly durable (usually even when wet), more resistant to UV damage, but less elastic.

Egs Haqihana, Sleepypod, annyx 2.5m MF (below)

Rope leads – made of industrial/climbing rope, either nylon or polyester. Strong and durable. The grip of a rope lead may be better than webbing due to the twisted nature of the braid but may be less comfy to hold depending on your preference. Some have padded handles making them nicer to hold. Can be less flexible than flat webbing and can take up more room when stored.

Egs Dog Copenhagen (below, left), Paikka, Twiggy Tags 1.2m (coming soon!),  Woolly Wolf 1.8m & 6m (below, right)

Fleece-lined or fabric-lined – Strong but very soft and comfy to hold. Often reinforced with webbing in the middle. Washes very well but fleece in particular can take longer to dry than some other materials.

Egs Perfect Fit 2m MF, anny.x 3m MF half/full padding, Zero DC Royal 2m MF

TPU/PVC coated Webbing (eg BioThane) – durable, waterproof and super easy to clean so great for outdoor gear in general and especially great for dogs who really get down and dirty! BioThane is the gold standard brand and we recommend it over other generic options because it’s been tested and proven as the best. Being waterproof it doesn’t get smelly or mouldy. It does have flexibility to a degree but does not ‘fold’ like uncoated webbing or fabric so may not be as easy to gather up if a very long line.

Egs Grossenbacher (special order) (below), plus we recommend Aussie-made suppliers 'Wildhunde' and 'Lead A Stray' who both use authentic BioThane.

Cotton/cotton blend – Lightweight, eco-friendly, but sometimes not as strong as nylon/polyester/biothane. Soft and gentle, and great for sensitive skin or handlers who are allergic to synthetics, but more prone to wear and tear so sometimes not ideal for heavy duty use.

Jute/Hemp – very strong if well-made, eco-friendly, but can be enticing for chewers although it is safe if made from untreated natural fibres (but we don't want it ingested nonetheless!). Perhaps not as long wearing as some other options above and can also be more prone to wear and tear like cotton. Hemp is naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial.

Bungee section – most often used for activities like joring and running sports, it can allow flexibility in the pulling action and also relieve strain on dog/handler. Sometimes described as helping to reduce impact on a dog’s neck/spine and a handler’s shoulder by absorbing some of the pressure from pulling or jolting on the lead. The elastic section may stretch over time so the lead must be inspected regularly for wear in that section especially.

Egs Zero DC Anapurna MF (large bungee section), Goldpaw (mini bungee)

Padded handle – some leads have a padded handle for comfort. Can be fleece, neoprene or other soft/comfy materials. Get the strength of webbing with added padding on the handle only, which can be lighter weight than with full padding along the entire lead.

Egs Dog Copenhagen leads, Paikka (but not their 6mm rope lead), Goldpaw

Clip materials vary. Aluminium clips are usually lighter than stainless steel/zinc coated – large aluminium clips can be lighter than small stainless steel clips.
Stainless steel is highly corrosion resistant (note stainLESS not stainPROOF!) and very strong and durable. Aluminium is lighter weight but has a good strength-to-weight ratio and is naturally corrosion resistant – it is rustproof, but can corrode by forming an oxide layer on top.
Zinc-coated steel has a sacrificial zinc layer on top of the steel to protect it. If taken care of it will last almost as long as stainless steel. It is probably a fraction harder wearing and more resistant to knocks and scratches than aluminium, but is heavier and can corrode more quickly in salty environments. All three options have pros and cons, but the key here is you have options 😊

WEIGHT/FEEL

Clip size – leads often come in 2 or 3 clip sizes for small/medium and medium/large dogs. Eg Perfect Fit, Zero DC, Dog Copenhagen. Some (eg Haqihana) have a universal clip size, which is appropriate for most small to large dogs. Others (eg anny.x) have separate lead designs for different sized dogs, which means some (eg anny.x 2.5m MF lead) are not ideal for tiny and small dogs as the metal clip is quite a hefty size and weight. (for tiny and small dogs look at the anny.x 1.75m MF lead as it has aluminium clips … they are large but very light.)

Strap width – Often different strap widths are available, which may also correspond to the size of the clip. You can choose what strap width is comfortable for you to hold while also taking into consideration the size of your dog. Some adults, as well as children (walking dogs supervised of course), with small hands may feel better holding a slightly slimmer strap and others with larger hands may prefer a wider strap.

egs Paikka (pictured above), Zero DC, Dog Copenhagen all have 2 or 3 different strap widths; Haqihana is very slim at 15mm wide; Sleepypod Power Leash is wide.

Weight – Consider the overall size and weight of the lead for both the handler who holds it and the size of your dog. For long lines, something that is lightweight and easy to gather is a good choice. Also consider the weather and/or conditions – a fleece-lined lead may be heavier when wet. Some leads are designed for specific dog weights and this is mentioned in the description.

eg Zero DC (under 10kg, 10-15kg, over 15kg etc)

EXTRA FEATURES

Adjustable Length

Egs DC Freestyle, Woolly Wolf 1.7-3m, 

Built-in pouches

Egs DC Urban Trail, Paikka (below)

Traffic handle – named for grabbing your dog and keeping them close if at traffic lights or kerb, but may also be useful for helping your dog in/out of the car or over uneven terrain. NB Not designed for lifting your dog; if you need a lifting harness we recommend the “Help ‘em Up” harness available from www.dogsinmotion.com.au

Egs Blue-9 single-ended 1.8m (below), Sleepypod Power Leash, DC Urban Trail, Paikka Visibility Leash

Rubber grip

Egs Grossenbacher Softflex (below) / Mediumflex

Accessories – built-in or add-on

Egs Dog Copenhagen Urban Trail Leash, Flexy™ & Leash Organiser Pouch

There is lots of information available on each product page - please read through it first and you are welcome to contact us if something isn’t covered or if you need more info/help. Harbour City Dog Gear has quite a few different lead options available so please think about your needs around length, material, feel/weight and extra features before you get in touch with us so we can point you in the right direction.

Happy walking!