A good leash is important to make daily dog walking as comfortable as possible while also keeping your dog safe. Some places even require that dogs have a certain type of leash or that your leash is a certain length. Ultimately, you want the leash to be durable enough that it won’t break or get chewed through, and you want it to be easy to use as well.
With all of that being said, it can be hard to choose a leash if you don’t know what you’re looking for, especially when there are so many options available. You also have to decide if you want the leash to be stylish in addition to being functional. That’s why we’ve created this list of reviews to make shopping for a dog leash a little bit easier.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
| Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall
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Chai’s Choice Outdoor Adventure Dog Leash |
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Best Value
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Frisco Patterned Dog Leash |
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Premium Choice
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Flexi Comfort Retractable Dog Leash |
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| Best for Puppies |
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Puppia Polyester Dog Leash |
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Frisco Reflective Padded Dog Leash |
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The 10 Best Dog Leashes
1. Chai’s Choice Outdoor Adventure Dog Leash – Best Overall
| Length | 6 ft, 6.5 ft |
| Material | Polyester |
| Retractable | No |
| Color Options | 9 |
This Chai’s Choice dog leash is the best overall dog leash because of its length, durability, and overall function. It is made from thick polyester, ensuring that your dog is unable to chew through it easily and that it won’t break due to too much tension. It is also reflective, which means that it is great for walking your dog at night as well as in the daytime.
Not only is this leash durable and comfortable for your dog, but to you as well thanks to the padded handle. It also comes in two different lengths, just in case where you’re walking your dog has leash length requirements. The 6.5-foot version of this leash is available in nine different color options, so you can choose your favorite color or one that matches your dog’s collar or harness. The only downside is that this leash may be a bit too big for smaller dog breeds.
2. Frisco Patterned Dog Leash – Best Value
| Length | 4 ft, 6 ft |
| Material | Nylon |
| Retractable | No |
| Color Options | 2 |
The best dog leash for the money is the Frisco Patterned Dog Leash. Not only does this dog leash come in two bright colors with a cute polka dot pattern, but it also comes in two different lengths and four different widths depending on the size of your dog. For example, if you had a dog such as a Chihuahua, you might choose the extra small leash instead of the medium or large leash.
This leash is made from durable nylon, so it should withstand many walks. The closure is easy to attach to your dog’s collar and the handle is just the right size to hold without feeling too tight or being so big that it slips off your wrist. The only downside is that larger dogs or dogs with a strong bite may be able to chew through it more easily.
3. Flexi Comfort Retractable Dog Leash – Premium Choice
| Length | 10 ft-26 ft |
| Material | Nylon |
| Retractable | Yes |
| Color Options | 4 |
If you’re someone who prefers retractable dog leashes, then this Flexi Comfort leash should be a part of your consideration. It is available in three different lengths depending on the size of your dog. The extra small leash is 10 feet in length; the small, medium, and large leashes are 16 feet in length. There is also a leash designed for large dogs that is 26 feet in length. While most retractable leashes only come in one color, this leash is more stylish and is available in four different color options.
Retractable leashes are great for giving you more control over how far your dog can walk away from you. The problem with them is that some places may not allow retractable leashes because the leash can only be a certain length. But you can always have another leash to take with you to those places instead of the retractable one. The leash itself is made from nylon which ensures that it is durable, and since it is retractable, you have more control over your dog chewing on it.
4. Puppia Polyester Dog Leash – Best for Puppies
| Length | 4.6 ft, 8 ft |
| Material | Polyester |
| Retractable | No |
| Color Options | 8 |
When walking a puppy, you want it to stay closer to you due to being smaller. This dog leash is great for puppies because of its shorter length, which also makes leash-training them easier as well. There are three different sizes available for this leash, and the leash gets a little bit longer as you go up in size. If you have a large-breed dog, this leash may be something that you can purchase in all three lengths so that it can grow with your dog. But, it may be too short for some adult dogs.
This leash is also available in eight different colors, so you can choose your favorite. It’s a good idea to attach the leash to a harness when walking a puppy because their neck may still be growing and developing, and the Puppia brand sells harnesses to match the leash. This leash is made from durable polyester, so a teething puppy shouldn’t be able to chew through it. However, the width of this leash is less than 1 inch for all sizes, so an older dog may be able to chew through it if you’re going to use this leash for the rest of your dog’s life.
5. Frisco Reflective Padded Dog Leash
| Length | 6 ft |
| Material | Nylon |
| Retractable | No |
| Color Options | 4 |
This Frisco dog leash has a couple of great features that can help keep your dog safe. For starters, it is reflective which allows cars to be able to see you and your dog if you go for walks at night. Secondly, it has two handles: one at the end of the leash and one closer to your dog. That way, you can control how far away your dog can get especially in the presence of other people or dogs. This leash also comes in three different sizes, small to large, so it can be used with pretty much any size breed.
As far as durability goes, this leash is made from nylon that is reinforced with threads. This makes it harder for your dog to chew through it. The handle is also padded for your comfort. It also comes in four unique colors, such as Bayou Teal and Boysenberry Purple, so that you don’t have to have a boring leash. The only reason why this leash isn’t ranked higher is that it is pricey, and it only comes in one length. Otherwise, it is an overall great product.
6. Mendota Products Rope Dog Leash
| Length | 4 ft, 6 ft |
| Material | Polypropylene Rope |
| Retractable | No |
| Color Options | 11 |
In terms of durability and color options, this rope dog leash from Mendota Products is one of the best. Let’s talk about durability first. This leash is made from polypropylene rope, so it is really thick and can withstand frequent tugging and pulling. And unlike some of the other leashes on this list, it should be really hard for your dog to chew through, so it is great for larger dogs. Now onto the fun part: color. You can choose from 11 different colors for this leash, including both neutral and bright colors as well.
This leash comes in two different lengths, 4 feet and 6 feet. Both lengths are available in all the color choices, so you should be able to get exactly the leash you want. However, it only comes in one width so this leash might not be ideal for smaller dogs. Plus, it is one of the most expensive leashes on this list. However, if you want durability then the price is worth it.
7. Frisco Nylon Dog Leash
| Length | 4 ft, 6 ft |
| Material | Nylon |
| Retractable | No |
| Color Options | 4 |
If you just want an affordable, basic leash, check out this dog leash from Frisco. There’s nothing that makes this leash stand out, but it does its job effectively and that is all some people want in a product. This leash comes in four different sizes ranging from extra-small to large, so it is great for breeds of all sizes. Plus, all of the sizes come in either 4-foot or 6-foot lengths, so you can choose one based on how far you want your dog to get from you.
Although this is just a basic leash, it does come in four color options. The closure is easy to attach to a collar or harness as well. This leash is made from nylon which is durable enough to last for years and withstand pulling and tugging. Although you shouldn’t have to worry about a small dog being able to chew through it, larger dogs may be able to because it is thin and isn’t that wide. But again, if you want something that gets the job done and don’t care about special features, then this leash is it.
8. Logical Leather Dog Leash
| Length | 6 ft |
| Material | Leather |
| Retractable | No |
| Color Options | 5 |
This leash is unique from other dog leashes because it is made from leather. In addition to being stylish, leather has a great tensile strength which means that it can resist pulling and stretching. However, this leash may not be the most durable as far as your dog is concerned because most dogs, no matter their size, can chew through leather. If your dog is a chewer, you may not want to consider this leash. But, that’s really the only downside performance-wise that this leash has.
The brown leather leash is stylish in its own right, but this leash also comes in four other colors as well. It is 6 feet long, which is an ideal length for most dogs while still being short enough to meet leash requirements in areas that have them. However, it only comes in one length and width so it may not be good if you have a smaller dog or a dog that doesn’t need that much length. Finally, this leash is a little more expensive than leashes made from nylon or polyester, but the price is reasonable considering that it is made from leather.
9. Kong Retractable Reflective Leash
| Length | 16 ft |
| Material | Plastic, Nylon |
| Retractable | Yes |
| Color Options | 1 |
Kong has a good reputation among dog owners for its durable chew toys, and this leash is a great product option as well. For starters, this leash is reflective and retractable which is great for both your and your dog’s safety for nighttime walks. The retractable leash can extend up to 16 feet in length, so it is great for large dogs who may need a little extra room to walk. It is also made from durable nylon which means that it can withstand pulling by even the strongest dogs.
With that being said, this leash is definitely designed with larger dogs in mind. It is not ideal for smaller dogs due to its length and the fact that it only comes in medium and large sizes. If you prefer function over style then this leash will suit your needs, but it does only come in one color. Plus, this leash is expensive, but that’s to be expected considering its length and durability and the fact that it is retractable.
10. Wigzi Dual Doggie Retractable Dog Leash
| Length | 10 ft |
| Material | Nylon |
| Retractable | Yes |
| Color Options | 1 |
If you have more than one dog of similar size, then this leash is definitely worth checking out because you can walk two dogs at once with it. It also has a built-in untangling system so that you don’t have to worry about your dogs getting tangled during the walk. This dual-colored leash allows you to easily tell which dog is on which lead, and the leads each have their own separate button so you can stop the dogs together or just stop one of them if necessary.
Each lead on this leash is also reflective for safe nighttime walking. It also has 10 feet of length per dog. Again, this is perfect if your dogs are of the same breed or similar in size. But if you have one large and one small dog, it may be difficult to control two separate leads at once. And because there is so much going on with this leash mechanically, it only comes in one size. Plus, it’s pricey, but that’s to be expected considering you can walk two dogs with one leash.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Dog Leash
We’ve thrown a lot of information at you regarding the different characteristics of the leashes that were mentioned. How do you know what to look for in a leash? We’ll break down some of these characteristics in more detail in this Buyer’s Guide to help make your decision easier.
Size of Your Dog
One of the first things you should consider is the size of your dog because that determines how long and strong of a leash you’ll need. Some leashes are effective for dogs only up to a certain weight (for example, 75 pounds). While those leashes will work for most dogs, they may not be strong enough to contain a dog weighing more than the listed weight.
You don’t want your dog to be able to break the leash or be strong enough to pull the leash out of your hand. But if you have a small dog, you don’t want the leash to be too big. Leashes also come in different widths, and small dogs may benefit from a narrower leash (less than ½ inch) while big dogs may need a wider one (greater than ½ inch).
Material
You’ll also want to consider the material that a leash is made of. Most leashes are made from nylon, polyester, and rope because they are more durable and resistant to stretching and breaking. These materials are also generally chew-proof depending on how thick the leash itself is and whether or not it is reinforced.
With that being said, some dogs may chew on the leash if they don’t like it or if they are left unsupervised. Even if your dog doesn’t chew through the leash immediately, chewing on the leash can cause it to weaken over time. The leash could eventually break if your dog pulls too hard and your dog might run off.
Even polyester and nylon can be chewed through if your dog’s bite is strong enough. The thicker the leash is, the harder it will be for your dog to chew through it. But you may also have to keep an eye on your dog and train him not to chew on it if you see him doing so.
Length
Length is very important to consider because it determines how far away from you your dog is allowed to get during a walk. Bigger dogs may need longer leashes, while smaller dogs and puppies may need shorter ones in order to keep them closer to you. Leashes that are 6 feet in length seem to be the standard size. But there are some that are shorter, usually 4-5 feet, and some that may be slightly longer.
Another thing you’ll need to consider is leash rules in areas you’ll be walking your dog (e.g., beaches, city parks, hiking trails, etc.). Most places with leash rules require that the leash be 6 feet or shorter in length in order to keep other dogs, people, and the environment safe. If you choose a leash that is longer than 6 feet, you may want to have a backup leash that is shorter just in case.
Retractability
You will also need to decide whether you want a retractable or non-retractable leash. It’s worth noting that retractable leashes are usually longer than 6 feet, which means they often aren’t allowed at places with leash rules. Even if you keep the leash length at 6 feet, it is capable of being longer than that which is why they aren’t allowed.
Retractable leashes come in many different lengths, ranging from 10 to over 20 feet. The length usually depends on the size of the dog that the leash is intended for. The benefit of retractable leashes is that you can control how far your dog is allowed away from you at any time.
They’re great for dogs who like to wander, or if you like to jog side-by-side with your dog. That way, you won’t have to choke up on a normal leash which can be uncomfortable for both you and your dog. The downside is that retractable leashes often cost more than standard leashes do.
Other Features
Another feature you’ll want to consider is whether the leash is reflective or not. If you can only take your dog for walks at night because you work late, then a reflective leash is probably best. Reflective leashes can keep you and your dog safe because they make you more noticeable by cars when the headlights shine one
Finally, although the color of a leash isn’t a major consideration, some people like variety when choosing a product. Some of the leashes on this list come in 5-10 colors, giving you plenty of options for matching the leash to your dog’s collar or just choosing one that is your favorite color.
Conclusion
We hope you found these dog leash reviews helpful. The best overall dog leash is the Chai’s Choice Outdoor Adventure Dog Leash due to its reflectivity, durability, length, and color choices. The best dog leash for the money is the Frisco Patterned Dog Leash due to it being very affordable, durable, and having a cute polka dot pattern. Whatever leash you choose, we hope it can make walking your dog easier and more comfortable for both you and your dog.
Featured Image Credit: nori jaafer, Pixabay
