Dog lead

Dog leads at a range of prices

Choose a dog lead first by its length and how it's held: a short lead in the hand for town, a long lead or long line for training, a retractable to give some slack, hands-free for running, a double lead for walking two dogs. The selection covers these five uses, in nylon, rope, polyester or chain, plus a few harnesses sold with their lead.

Short leads and rope leads

For everyday walks, a short lead of around 1.5 m keeps your dog close to you:

• the double handle lead, in reflective polyester, in 120, 150 or 180 cm, with a second grip for extra control;
• the reflective rope lead, 1.5 m, with foam handle;
• the rope lead for small, medium and large dogs, in reflective polyester, 1.5 m, in pink, red or black;
• the pastel braided cotton lead, 1.5 m, in nine colours, from mint green to grey;
• the braided rope slip lead, in 1.5 or 1.8 m, which slips over the neck in one go;
• the stainless steel chain lead, with braided rope handle and built-in spring;
• the elastic nylon tactical lead, which its product page says is also suitable for large dogs.

For all braided leads, see also our rope dog leads.

Long leads and training lines

A long lead lets your dog explore while staying attached: useful for recall, in the park or the woods. Allow between 3 and 15 m depending on the space:

• the long training lead, in lightweight nylon, in 3 or 5 m;
• the rope lead with double handle and poo bag holder, in 1.5, 2 or 3 m, in thick nylon;
• the orange rope long line, in polyamide, in 5, 10 or 15 m, with foam handle.

For an even longer line, see our range of long line dog leads.

Retractable leads

A retractable lead lets out the tape as your dog moves away and reels it back in as they return; a brake button locks the length. The selection includes 2.5 m models for small dogs, plus 3, 5 or 8 m:

• the paw print retractable lead, 5 m, for small dogs;
• the classic nylon retractable lead in 3 or 5 m, and the 3 m / 5 m version in ten colours, from blue to red;
• the 5 or 8 m retractable lead, rated for dogs up to 50 kg on its product page;
• retractables with a poo bag dispenser, one with an LED light for the evening, and the round designer model in 2.5 m;
• the double retractable with independent brakes, for two dogs.

Find them all in our range retractable dog lead. In town or near a road, go for a short lead: a retractable also gives less control when your dog pulls.

Hands-free leads

Worn around the waist or over the shoulder, this dog lead leaves your arms free for running, walking or carrying a bag. Several have an elastic section that absorbs jolts:

• the hands-free lead with car loop, in reinforced nylon, in nine colours;
• the shoulder lead, in polyester, and the reflective rope version;
• the running or hiking lead with double elastic, and the version with a sports pouch for running;
• the elastic lead in reinforced polyester, described as no-pull on its product page.

The whole range is in our waist-worn dog leads.

Two dogs or more: the double dog lead

A double lead, or a splitter that clips onto a single lead, stops two leads getting tangled:

• the double, triple or quadruple lead, in rope, for 2, 3 or 4 dogs;
• the tangle-free triple lead, for small to medium dogs according to its product page;
• the comfort rope double lead, in 100 or 120 cm, and the elastic double rope;
• elastic or tangle-free double couplers, to attach to your current lead.

See our selection double lead for two dogs.

Harness and matching lead

Several items in the selection pair a harness with a dog lead: the breathable 2-in-1 for small dogs, the reflective 2-in-1, the pastel Y harness, and the 4-in-1 packs with collar. Handy for a puppy: the size and colour are already coordinated.

Which dog lead should you choose?

• Town, pavement, road: a short lead of 120 to 150 cm, in nylon or rope.
• Dog that pulls hard: a short lead with a double handle, paired with a no-pull dog harness.
• Recall and training: a long lead or a long line of 5 to 15 m.
• Park and paths: a retractable lead, in 3 or 5 m.
• Running: an elastic lead worn around the waist.
• Two dogs: a double lead or a splitter.

For size, a dog lead is also judged by the width of the webbing or the thickness of the rope, and by the clip: the heavier the dog, the stronger they need to be. For colour, most come in black, blue, red or green, and several are reflective – also useful for safety on evening walks.

FAQ

Is it compulsory to keep dogs on a lead?

The rules vary from place to place: many local councils require it on public roads and in parks, and some dogs must be kept on a lead in all public places. Check with your local council for the rules in your area.

At what age can a puppy go on a lead?

You can get a puppy used to a collar and their first dog lead as soon as they arrive, at home first, in sessions of a few minutes. A light, short lead is enough to start with, before moving on to a long line for recall.

What is the most comfortable harness for a dog?

A well-fitted, padded harness that leaves the shoulders free. Compare those sold with a lead in this collection and our full dog harness range, depending on your dog's build, for safe walks.

To complete the look

This range is divided into Double dog lead, double dog lead, retractable dog lead, hands-free dog lead and rope dog lead. For cats, see our cat lead. For small dogs, see the small dog harness, and for the ID tag, a dog collar to match the lead. In summer, a cooling mat for after the walk. Everything else for daily life is in our dog accessories.