02/09/2026
People often ask me about the BEST lead for their dog. And the answer is, there’s no simple answer!
I prefer a slightly longer lead - 3 or 4 metres for my dogs - as it allows them plenty of space to sniff, but also lets me have a bit of control and maintain proximity. A short, tight lead feels really restrictive to me, and my dogs don’t like it much.
But of course, there are times when your dog needs to be really close to your side - beside a busy road for example - and some people might not feel comfortable handling a longer lead during those times. In that case, a short lead is totally fine. Pick the lead that works best for the situation! Safety first.
I work with a lot of dogs that struggle with lead frustration, and we often find that the looser the lead, the more control the dog feels they have over interactions with others, and this can really reduce tension. The lead is there for our dogs’ safety, but it can also be used as a tool to communicate, calm and help our dogs in positive ways.
One thing that the lead should NEVER be is a punitive tool - lead jerks and hanging dogs by the neck (yes, I’ve seen someone doing this) are always unacceptable. When dogs are on lead, we should always strive to make it as comfortable and positive an experience as possible.
And then there’s the dreaded flexi lead… not my favourite thing, but they can have their place with dogs that have already been lead trained and don’t pull! Ideally, I’d prefer a static lead, but I won’t go mad at clients who use the flexi 😂
What type of lead do you prefer? 💖🐾
