The Best Dog Leashes (Review) in 2021

Fully capable of supporting up to 1,000 pounds of pulling force, the Phydeaux’s Mountain Climbing Dog Leash Rope prides itself of a lightweight yet super durable and sturdy construction that can be used even for extra-large breeds of pooches like Saint Bernards and Great Danes. The Phydeaux is available in 2 lengths of 4 and 6 feet as well as 12 different colors.

Each variant comes with a padded handle that feels soft and gentle on the hand. The mountain climbing cord measures about half an inch thick, giving you excellent durability and optimum control of your pet’s movements. However, since it doesn’t include a secondary handle for safety and traffic purposes, you may want to get both the 4 and 6 foot models. Nevertheless, if you do get 2, you’ll get 15% discount on your purchase. And if you want greater savings you can purchase an optional nylon dog collar to enjoy 20% off on your purchase.

Designed specifically for medium- and large- sized mutts, the Primal Pet Gear Dog Leash is a 6-foot long cord that is made of heavy-duty 1-inch thick nylon material, perfect for controlling really powerful pooches. The Primal comes with 2 padded handles for versatility in your handling. It’s carefully designed to bring optimum comfort even if your pooch will be tugging on the rope at the other end. One handle is positioned about a foot away from its 2-inch heavy duty lobster clip, allowing for optimum control during training and navigation in traffic. The other padded handle is positioned right at the end of the 6-foot dog leash rope, the length of which is ideal for giving your pooch the freedom to roam and explore its surroundings, but with you retaining full control. Now, all you need is an equally tough and sturdy harness or collar and the Primal should be an excellent tool either for training purposes or for safely walking with your pet.

Boasting of a thicker dog leash rope and cushioned neoprene handles located in two distinct positions, the Pet Safe Heavy Duty Dog Leash is one amazing tool for training or even for simply walking with your dog. The dual handles allow for greater control. It comes with reflective stitching to increase the leash’s visibility in the dark as well as dimly lit environments. Should you decide to run or jog in the evening, others will definitely see you and your pooch. The Pet Safe dog leash rope is about 3 millimeters thick and comes in at a width of about an inch. The webbed nylon construction gives it exceptional sturdiness and weather resistance. But the real gem in the Pet Safe is its 7 foot length, affording your mutt greater freedom of movement. A 2-inch heavy duty metal clip is added as well as a D-ring which you can use as an attachment for your training clicker or even poop bag.  

It has a very unique design, drawing inspiration from the cord that people use to jump off bridges and cliffs. That’s the beauty of the Paw Lifestyles Bungee Dog Leash and it’s one of the things that appeal most to people who are on the lookout for more unique ways to train or walk their pooches. The Paw Lifestyles comes with a bungee cord leash that is only 36.5 inches when fully contracted but extends well to 4 feet once fully stretched. This makes it some sort of a retractable dog leash, although it’s manually operated. The 1 inch wide cord is made of 1000 denier nylon and comes with padded handles made with EVA. It is especially designed for medium to large sized dogs such as the Samoyed, Golden Retriever, Tibetan Mastiff, and many more. The Paw Lifestyles is similar to the Primal in that it also features two handles, one near the metal clasp and the other at the end of the bungee cord. It’s a great option for those who dare to be different.

If you prefer the retractable leashes, the TUG Leash is a fantastic choice as it’s simple and stylish yet very durable. The product features a patented 360° tangle-free, strong leash with an anti-slip handle. There is a quick lock and unlock feature too, that you can easily turn on or off by rolling  your thumb. The handle has an ergonomic grip that practically forms to your hand, allowing for super-comfortable handling of your pup. Importantly, the design of the leash allows consistent retraction yet good strength when your pet pulls.

There are three sizes available, with the small one being suitable for dogs under 33 pounds, medium one for pets under 55 pounds, and the large one for dogs weighing under 110 pounds. As for colors, there are three different models main – blue, white and white/orange.

If you have two dogs, walking them on two leashes may not be the most practical solution. U-Pick’s Dual Dog Leash, on the other hand, is perfect as it allows for easy control of both of your pets with only one hand. The leash is made from nylon and bungee, guaranteeing strength and durability, while the handle is softly padded, allowing for comfortable but firm control. The leash also has a unique bungee design which helps absorb shocks of quick pulling by your dog, making it ideal for highly energetic canines. Most conveniently, thanks to a tangle-free  360° swivel leash attachment, you don’t have to worry about the leash getting all twisted – this attachment allows your pets to move freely around you without any sort of leash tangling or twisting. Finally, to make night walks safer, the U-Pick Leash has reflective stitching.

Before purchasing this leash tough, make sure the total weight of your dogs is not over 110 pounds (if it is, the manufacturer suggests purchasing a steel leash).

If your furry companion is quite muscular and strong, you need an equally strong and durable leash for safe walking. This heavy-duty rope leash by SparklyPets is a good choice as it’s braided with tough nylon, and has a metallic hook with leather joints. The leash, which is mostly made of a thick rope, comes with an extra elastic bungee extension, which allows your dog to safely pull on it, no matter how strong they may be. For extra convenience, the leash comes with a storage bag and a practical guide for training, feeding and caring for a puppy.

As an added bonus, the SparklyPets model is one of the most stylish leashes the list – modern and beautiful, this leash manages to blend both style and function into one. There are several colors available too, including teal, blue, red, green and black.

This dog leash rope from Paw Lifestyles is actually similar to the Heavy Duty version, although we really cannot say that it merits the addition of “Extra” to the name. The Extra Heavy Duty Paw Lifestyles measures only 6 feet long and doesn’t come with a dual neoprene handle. This Paw Lifestyles dog leash, nevertheless comes with the reflective stitching, D-ring attachment, heavy duty metal clip, and super thick cord for optimum weather resistance and durability. It’s also designed for medium and large breeds of canines. One thing we couldn’t understand though is that the Extra Heavy Duty is actually cheaper than the Heavy Duty version of the Paw Lifestyles. For one thing, we couldn’t find any “extra” in the Extra Heavy Duty. If at all, it’s the Heavy Duty model that has a lot of “extras”.

The TaoTronics dog leash is one of the best-reviewed retractable leashes around. It’s no wonder why – extremely durable, tangle-free, with a comfortable handle, this leash allows for safe and easy dog handling no matter where you’re going. The leash is made from nylon while the casing is ABS plastic, with an ergonomic grip and anti-slip handle.  The release and break lever allow you to control the leash and prevent your dog from accidentally getting yanked, while the lock feature means you can keep the leash at the length that suits you. Importantly, the core spring is weatherproof, meaning it works equally well in both scorching hot and freezing temperatures.

For extra convenience, this model comes with a free roll of plastic bags which are placed in a bone-shaped cone that you can attach to the handle itself. Because it’s super-strong, the leash is suitable for all dogs under 110 pounds in weight.

Read here our detailed review.

While it provides certain similarities to the OutdoorMaster bungee retractable dog leash, the TaoTronics version comes with dual bungee cord design, further extending its reach to a full 5 feet and 7 inches, unlike the OutdoorMaster’s 4 feet. Another advantage of the TaoTronics is that it comes with double handles to allow for two-handed control of even the most tenacious pooch ever to stay at the other end of the dog leash rope. The TaoTronics also feature a waist strap so you don’t even have to hold the dog leash anymore. This is especially useful if you just want to take some time out on your run by sitting on a bench at the park. The leash will be safely secured to the TaoTronics waist strap. Even while running, you can strap the dog leash onto the waist attachment. As long as your pooch doesn’t weigh more than 150 pounds, the TaoTronics should be able to handle it easily. It also comes with reflective stitching for added safety.

Looking for a simple yet chic and durable dog leash? Definitely check out the Dog Slip Rope Leash by Friends Forever. Made with heavy-duty, waterproof mounting climbing rope, this dog leash is perfect for highly energetic dogs who like to pull and tug as they please. The material has highly reflective threads as well, which will keep both you and your pet visible and safe on late night walks. Interestingly, there is only one size available, but that is because the leash has an adjustable loop that is both lightweight enough to suit small breed dogs, and sturdy enough to withstand the strength of large breed dogs (tested up to 1000 lbs of strength). The leash is 6 foot in length, which should give any dog plenty of freedom.

There are six colors to choose from – black, blue, green, red, olive and white – and the leash is machine washable too.

The Max and Neo Reflective Nylon Dog Leash Rope offers dog owners with a simple training or walking leash that is super comfy on the hands but sturdy and durable enough to withstand the pulling force of large pooches. It has double-sided reflective stitching that improves its visibility making it a lot safer to use in the dark or in low light situations. You also get to choose from 5 different colors, 2 available widths of 5/8 inch and 1 inch, and 2 lengths at 4 and 6 feet. The cord is made of thick nylon for superb toughness and weather resistance. The metal clip comes with a D-ring for attaching any of your favorite dog walking accessories, making for a more convenient activity with your pooch.

Incredibly sturdy yet super-comfortable to use, the leash by tobeDRI features a dual handle design for full control of your pet without leash burns. The main ergonomic foam handle provides a firm and comfortable grip, while the other one with 3mm soft neoprene, further helps protect your hands when extra control is needed. The leash is made of 2-layer nylon, which is quite thicker and stronger than other standard nylon leashes. It’s also reflective for increased visibility at night.

With 6 ft of length, the leash is ideal for medium and large dogs, however, it’s not suitable for smaller breeds dogs who weigh below 30 pounds.

Does your pet like to pull every five minutes while walking? Maybe they chew on their leash the second you stop looking?  Whatever the problem, the Heavy-Duty Leash by Pets Lovers Club may be able to help. Constructed of tough, double-layer nylon, this leash can withstand the strength of pulling even of the most powerful dogs. Equally important, no matter how much your pet tugs, the leash won’t leave friction burns thanks to its padded handle. While pretty simple in design, this durable, 6 ft leash is perfect for all dog breeds, including small, medium and large dogs. This is because you can choose between two sizes, where the 1-layer design is best suited for small and medium dogs, and the 2-layer design for medium and large dogs.

The leash also comes in several colors, including black, blue and red, and our favorite two – reflective black and reflective red.

Simple and stylish, the Classic Leash by Blueberry Pet is a good choice for small to medium sized dogs. Because it’s made of nylon fabric with high density webbing, it’s quite durable, although it’s not suitable for large and powerful dogs. That said, the sturdy spinning snap can withstand a lot of tugging and pulling, as long as they’re coming from smaller/medium pups. The biggest selling point of Blueberry Pet’s leash is its elegant style though– classy and simple, it’s literally made to show off your pooch’s unique style year round. There is a host of colors to choose from, including gray, black, baby pink, violet, royal blue, military green and others, so picking out the right style for your pet should be a piece of cake.

As a bonus, the leash can be machine washed on a gentle cycle.