Best Leather Dog Leash

In your pursuit of the best leather dog leash, you have a wide array of areas to look at to ensure that you really are getting the best “version” for the individual needs of your dog and yourself. We’ve taken a look at why a leather leash is a great investment to make for a life time of happy walks, but now we need to consider what goes into making a good quality leather leash in the first place.

Some options are great overall choices that cover a multitude of areas, whereas others are particularly great at one or two of them. We’ll talk more about that in our upcoming list. First, here are the points you need to look out for during your leather leash shopping adventures:

• Size: Typical leash widths range from 3/8 of an inch to a full inch. You should consider how the leash is going to “sit” on your dog’s neck before making a purchase. It’d be worth taking your dog on a shopping spree to see how different sizes look on your particular breed. The leash should give enough coverage to sit snugly, but it shouldn’t dig in to the skin. If you can’t take your canine companion in person, consider using a ruler or tape measure to get a rough estimate.
• Material: Your leash should be a combination of 100% leather with metal fixtures to attach to a collar. You’ll find that some leather leashes are made out of a leather mix or synthetic leather. This isn’t ideal because even though with a mix, for example, you’ll still get part of the benefits that leather has to offer. The highest level of longevity and durability comes from pure unaltered leather. Metal components also give more peace of mind when it comes to anything snapping or breaking on a walk, which is clearly the last thing that any dog owner would want.
• Durability: The durability of leather dog leashes closely relates to the materials used, in conjunction with stitch count. For instance, pure leather with metal fittings is clearly going to last longer and be tougher than a leather mix with plastic fittings. The more stitches the leash features, the stronger it is. Triple- stitched leads are typically considered to be the strongest, with anything containing less (a double-stitched leash for instance) deemed to be of a lower standard.
• Length: As this section is hopefully revealing, the right leash isn’t a one-size-fits-all option. That statement definitely couldn’t be truer than when we consider the length of a leash. A “standard” leash is 6 feet in length, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the length is right for the individual needs of your dog. Consider shorter leashes for more control in high traffic areas and longer leashes to help train your dog’s “recall” abilities. The right length is the one that works best for your circumstances and dog training needs.
• Brands: Though a brand name should never outweigh the personal needs of you and your dog, it’s always a huge bonus if the leash you need is backed by the reliability of a trusted manufacturer. Here are some of the best brands out there on the market, producing some of the best leather dog leash options: Fairwin, Pet Safe, Max and Neo, Soft Touch Collars, BAAPET, Leatherberg, Logical Leather, TUG, TaoTronics, and Friends Forever. Though there are obviously endless manufacturers out there, the above list represents an incredibly reliable array of options for you to choose from.
• Strong clasp: A strong leash material would mean nothing without a strong clasp to place on it! You ideally need a metal clasp if you want to guarantee maximum safety. However, there are different elements to consider beyond just the material. Making the right choice is largely about your particular dog breed, too. Larger breeds will require a larger (thicker) clasp whereas smaller breeds will require a smaller one. Luckily, most leashes will feature different sized clasps to cater for the size of the leash itself. But it goes without saying that this is something you should look at closely before making a purchase.
• Pull force: This is a serious area to consider if you happen to have a particularly energetic dog breed. First, check the coating of the leash strap. Stronger leashes typically feature deep over coats or are even coated with another thinner layer of leather. Others are layered and double folded. This makes them twice as strong in theory. Others may feature strong sealant at the edges of the leash strap to make them firmer, and others may have a combination of all of these features and more with either a double or (stronger) triple stitch to weave it all together. Any of these additional elements help to improve the overall strength. Some leashes will also come with weight ratings ranging from 200 to over 500 to assist further.
• Color:Alright, so this might not seem like a hugely important area to consider. But that all depends on your preferences! It’s worth looking at the array of color and pattern options available for your chosen leash before making a purchase. Some manufacturers offer a wide array of different appearances, whereas others only offer one or two as standard. Luckily, leather is classy enough to look “right” as part of most color combinations, if you get the right shade of course. But if your dog’s collar has a particularly wild pattern or color scheme, it’s worth checking to see if your leash will match it.