When it comes to taking the best possible care of your precious pup, making sure to choose the right leash for them is one of the most crucial elements of achieving maximum safety, control and comfort when out on your daily walks. It’s no exaggeration to say that the wrong type of leash can lead to everything from accidents to injuries to preventable bad behavior. A leash with a poor design is much more likely to do things like snap under pressure, cause nasty friction burns and encourage pulling.
With all of this in mind, at The Lille Björn we are passionate about providing the highest quality leashes possible that offer perfect combinations of security, comfort and durability. Keep on reading if you want to find out which leashes we think are the best, and which leashes we think you should definitely leave on the pet store shelves!
Leashes to Avoid
The thing to remember is that not all leashes are created equal, even if they do look of a similar quality when next to each other. There are plenty of designs out there that we think are just downright hazardous and dangerous for both dog and owner, destined to both scupper training efforts and cause discomfort for walker and ‘walkee’!
To keep you from making a big mistake, we’ve highlighted some of the worst types of dog leashes that should be avoided at all costs.
Retractable Leashes - The Worst of the Worst!
You will often see retractable leashes being marketed as the most convenient way to give a pup more freedom while out walking, but the reality of this statement is actually that they are one of the most dangerous accessories you can choose.
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Thin Wire Hazards
Retractable leashes usually feature thin cords or wires that can easily cause injuries like cuts, burns and in the worst cases, even amputations. You definitely don’t want a finger or limb caught up with a big strong pup! -
Risk of Snapping
These kinds of leashes are very prone to snapping if an excitable dog suddenly lunges forward. You don’t need us to explain how this can put both you and your furry friend at risk! -
Faulty Locking Mechanism
The core design of a retractable leash is that it has a locking system that, though perhaps initially effective, can definitely fail under continued pressure. This can get you into a lot of trouble if your pup suddenly decides to bolt. -
Encourages Pulling
The nature of the leash allows your dog to move forwards freely (to a point). Though there is some extra freedom, it also has the effect of reinforcing bad walking habits, which is only ever going to make training a much harder task. -
Delayed Reactions
The amount of extra slack that retractable leashes have can make the difference between being safe and being in an accident. For example, if your dog runs out into traffic to chase something, you might not be in the position to react instantly.
The key takeaway here really is that retractable leashes might sound appealing but are just too unreliable and dangerous for us to recommend. They should be avoided in favour of much better, safer options.
Bungee Leashes - Encouraging Pulling
Bungee leashes make big claims of reducing the amounts of strain felt from sudden movement, but again, they are a type of leash that just promote and encourage bad behavior.
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Encourages Pulling
Pups of all sizes love to test boundaries, and the elasticity of a bungee leash gives them the feeling of pulling without instant resistance. This feeling might be nice for them, but it can make your life so much harder when trying to train better habits. -
Sudden Jerks
Once a bungee leash reaches its full extension length, it has the potential to snap back really suddenly. This can cause discomfort for your pup, but also for you. -
Lack of Control
The very nature of a bungee leash means it is arguably the most literally flexible of all the available options, which makes it much harder to have instant control of your dog in busy areas where things like traffic might be a concern.
Bottom line on a bungee leash is that it doesn't really do much except hinder training efforts, and make it much harder for any owner to walk their dog with the assurance of maximum control.
Rope Leashes - Dangerous for the Handler
Some people recommend rope leashes for their extreme durability, but we can’t ignore the numerous drawbacks that come with them, especially for you as the handler.
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Rope Burns and Abrasions
If your dog is prone to suddenly pulling, then a rope leash has the potential to cause painful burns and abrasion marks on your hands. -
Friction Injuries
A strong rope can wrap around limbs and cause any number of injuries, from sudden tightening to painful friction. -
Lack of Flexibility and Grip Comfort
Rope is one of the harder materials you will find leashes made from, and unlike the softer options, it won’t provide as much comfort in its grip. This could make long walks less enjoyable for you as the walker.
Ultimately, we hold the opinion that rope leashes pose some significant risks for the handling dog owner in particular. There are much better options out there if you want to save your hands from harm!
The Best Dog Leashes - Professional Recommendations
To try and make sure that you have the most enjoyable and safest walks possible with your pup, the best advice is to invest in a high quality leash that has been made from a material that is particularly comfortable and durable. On this topic, we think that vegetable tanned leather is the best choice!
Why Choose a Vegetable Tanned Leather Dog Leash from The Lille Bjorn?
The great thing about vegetable tanned leather leashes are that they are designed with both the contentment of the dog and the owner in mind.
Durability
Vegetable tanned leather ages absolutely beautifully, all the while maintaining its original strength over a long period of time. The same cannot be said for lesser synthetic materials that are destined to snap or fray.
Comfort
When compared to retractable and rope leashes, there is no doubt that vegetable tanned leather provides a more comfortable experience in terms of avoiding things like burns and irritation. The grip gets even more comfortable over time thanks to natural softening!
Natural and Safe
A reassuring fact is that vegetable tanned leather is free from all of the harmful chemicals that can be used in synthetic and other tanning processes. It’s a safe and eco-friendly option for your dog.
Timeless Aesthetic
We can’t forget the style element! There’s no arguing that classic leather leashes offer an effortlessly stylish look that will always be in fashion, no matter how many years they last! It makes them the most worthwhile investment out of all the options, in our opinion.
Hands-Free Leather Leash - The Best Choice for Active Dog Owners
If you are the proud owner of a pup who likes to live a super active lifestyle, then there is no better choice than a hands free vegetable tanned leather leash. They offer the perfect combination of control and convenience!
Keeps Hands Free
The clue is in the name! A hands free leash gives you as the walker the opportunity to have your hands free for other activities, everything from coffee carrying to phone checking to shopping holding and more. You still maintain control of your pup without worrying about dropping the leash when multitasking.
Even Pressure Distribution
A leather leash offers better pressure distribution across your pup’s shoulders and your own hands, which makes it easier to manage more energetic dogs from both sides of the partnership!
Ideal for Multi-Tasking
As we have already highlighted, a hands free leash is perfect for doing more than one thing at once, from jogging to hiking to walking with plenty of other tasks on your mind! Maximum control and ease.
Secure and Comfortable
Premium quality vegetable tanned leather is always going to be the most secure and comfortable choice, with the added benefit of the durability to give you peace of mind on your daily walks.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, a happy dog means a happy owner, and getting the right leash is one of the most underrated components in achieving that happiness! As far as we are concerned, the ones to avoid are definitely retractable leashes, bungee leashes and rope leashes. They just present far too many risks to be worth exploring.
Instead, go straight for a high quality vegetable tanned leather leash. It will never let you down in terms of control, comfort, durability and safety! For an even better walking experience, you might want to upgrade to a hands free leather leash, the ultimate accessory for dog walking convenience without sacrificing any crucial practicality.
Head over to The Lille Bjorn store to check out our collection of premium leather leashes. We can guarantee that you will find something that perfectly suits the needs of both you and your precious pup!
