Best Dog Leash – Leash Review and Roundup

Looking for the perfect leash to walk your dog with? Well, today I will rate and review my top three recommendations, plus one honorable mention, PLUS one budget badass. Now, it’s worth mentioning beforehand that one of my biggest beliefs is that technique is always more important than hardware. None of these leashes I recommend here will make your dog walk politely. They’ll give you an edge and some versatility, but in the end, the ultimate responsibility of training your dog to walk nicely lies squarely with YOU. Don’t rely on the hardware to do it for you.

Likewise, you may want to look at my leash handling writeup and video—Leashmaster Vol. 1.

Also, just a quick disclaimer: I am not being paid or endorsed by any manufacturers of the following recommendations. Everything I talk about is stuff I personally use and recommend to my training students.

All right! Now, when I’m selecting leashes, I look for four things:

1. first, I want a loop handle on one end. That’s an easy one because almost every leash in the world has one.
2. Second, I want a traffic handle. That’s a second loop by the clip that keeps the dog close for heeling and keeps them from accelerating. Acceleration is one of the biggest problems with a dog that’s easily distracted.
3. Third I want it to be well-made. I do not have time for crap. I want my dollar to go as far as it can, and I want gear that will stand up to the wear and tear of daily use.
4. And fourth, I like comfort; I’m not ashamed of that.

With those requirements in my mind, here are my picks:

#3: The Kong Traffic Handle Quick Control Leash

This is a great all-around leash. I’ve been using these for years. Durable, versatile and features comfy neoprene padded handles. The Kong Quick Control comes in two sizes. The larger version is 1″ wide and about 4 feet long. The small dog version is thinner at just over 1/2″ wide and is about 6 feet long.

However, the one complaint I have with this is that if your dog is extra short, or you’re tall, you’ll need to throw some kind of extension on it so you can use the traffic loop without choking out your dog. I bought a clip at Lowe’s and used it as an extender. Otherwise, this leash is a champ. I keep a couple of each size at the training facility, and my wife prefers this one when she walks one of our dogs. The Kong Quick Control Traffic Handle retails for about $25-30 bucks, and comes in four different colors.

#2 The EzyDog Vario 6

This is a European-style 6-in-1 leash, and I’m a big fan of 6-in-1s. I keep two in my car load out, plus one at home for unusual circumstances. Basically, it’s a transformer! It’s:

1. a standard 5′ leash,
2. a shorter 3′ leash,
3. a traffic leash (with a traffic loop),
4. a double leash,
5. a short or long tether,
6. and a hands-free, messenger-style leash.

I love that it’s a multitasker, and it’s great to take to the park, hiking, camping, or just out and about running errands together. The EzyDog Vario 6 retails for around $35-40 and is available in eight colors. Like the Kong leash, it comes in two sizes for small and large dogs. It’s also available with a carabiner instead of the clip for just over $50, although personally, I don’t think the carabiner justifies the added cost. That’s up to you, though.

The EzyDog Vario 6 is my favorite 6-in-1 leash, but there are several good ones out there, and I will also link to some other recommendations in the notes below.

#1 Rok Strap Leash

The body of this leash is a great big, industrial-strength strip of polyester-covered, solid-core rubber. The whole length of it is stretchy which helps reduce or even eliminate most of the shock when stopping. The end loop and the traffic handle are non-stretch, and they’re both beefy and padded. Let me tell you, this leash is made to LAST. I carry one in my dog training load out that I take on every single consultation, group or private. I’ve used this to work with dogs of all sizes, running the gamut from shy dogs to dogs that think they’re torpedoes. This leash has been dragged through the mud, around trees, and up and down the countryside, and after cleaning it up and washing it, it still looks practically NEW. I love this leash.

RokStrap leashes come in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and Big & Tall. They’re also available in an impressive assortment of 12 colors. Depending on the size, the RokStrap retails between $25 and $35 dollars.

Our Honorable Mention:

The EzyDog Zero Shock leash. It’s similar to the RokStrap in that it’s springy and built like a tank. This features EzyDog’s patented “Zero-Shock Technology,” and the handle has a neoprene outer. However, the traffic loop has no padding on it, and is just nylon webbing, which could be uncomfortable in the early training stages. On the other hand, the accessory D-ring is a pretty cool feature to clip keys or poo baggies onto. Very well-built and might be a better fit for some of you than the top three. The Zero Shock leash sells for around $30 and is available in 8 colors.

Finally We Get to the Budget Badass…

…a good inexpensive alternative to the other ones that I mentioned. If you’re in a bind and can’t find or afford some of the others on this list, then THIS is the one for you: The Sporn Training Leash. It’s got the Loop, the traffic handle, padding, and sturdy construction. It also features a good claw clamp. It’s a little small, so even though it says for large dogs, I wouldn’t recommend this for a very large dog or a strong puller. For mid to small-size dogs, however, it’s great. And, are you ready for this? It’s only about ten bucks at Walmart!

Seriously I can’t even find this on Amazon. One of my students clued me into this little gem, and I picked it up to take a look. If you need a great leash in a pinch, that’s ten dollars very well spent.

Let’s Recap guys:

• The Kong Quick Control Traffic Handle – Two sizes, four colors, about $30
• The EzyDog Vario 6 – Two sizes, eight colors, 35-50 bucks
• The RokStrap Leash – Four different sizes, up to 12 different colors, and runs 25-35 bucks. One of my favorite leashes.
• Don’t forget the EzyDog ZeroShock as an honorable mention
• and the Sporn Training Leash as our $10 budget badass.

So there you have it, guys, Simpawtico’s leash recommendations. If you have a favorite you use or recommend that I didn’t mention, tell me about it in the comments. Don’t forget to check below for links to all the stuff we talked about, and give the video a thumbs up on YouTube if you got some good info.

Until next time: keep learning, keep practicing, and we’ll see you soon. Thanks for looking!

RESOURCES

The links below are affiliate links. These won’t cost you anything, but the commissions we may earn through them help offset the cost of dog treats. Thanks for your support! Kong Quick Control Traffic Handle EzyDog Vario 6 (and other great 6-in-1 Leashes) RokStrap Leash EzyDog ZeroShock Sporn Training Leash  

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