My pitties who I had for over 14 years – I loved them immensely, but boy they sucked at walking. You would think after 14 years of me yelling “walk nice” they would get it, but nope they didn’t!
I wish I had known about the invention of the hands free dog leash when I had them because it would have made my world a whole lot easier and my walking a lot more fun.
With 2 dogs comes 2 poop bags – then my phone, my keys and when it was warm a water bottle. It was a lot to carry and more often than not I would be wearing leggings, which of course had no pockets.
The ONLY reason I like winter walks was because I would get to wear a coat with pockets to store my loot – well except the full poop bags, I never put those in my pockets!
If I had known then what I know now, a hands free dog leash would have been my go to for double dog walking!
What Is A Hands Free Dog Leash?
Well, just like it sounds.
It is a specially designed leash that will allow you to walk your dog(s) while leaving your hands free for other things!
You will link the leash part to the collar of your dog like you normally would, but instead of a “handle” at the end of the leash there will be a strap or loop that is designed to wrap around your body, most commonly your waist.
There are others that will loop around your body as well if that is more appealing and it just may be for stronger dogs.
Is A Hands Free Leash Right For You?
There are some scenarios where a dog leash that gives you hands free mobility may not be the best choice.
- If your dog pulls a lot and is not well trained – they may pull you down with their strength.
- If the dog weighs more then you – then thinking about placement of the leash on your body is critical. The waist may be a bad choice since they can knock you off your center of gravity. You may want to consider a shoulder type leash instead in this instance.
- Will you need to walk multiple dogs? If so it is important to make sure you can maintain your balance with their weight and to find a belt that can hold multiple leashes.
What To Look For When Buying A Hands Free Dog Leash
There is a pretty good selection of leashes available that are hands-free and each leash is pretty unique in what they offer.
Some are more basic and may just have the leash and D clasp.
Others have more advanced components like zippers and storage, we are not reviewing those here, but you should know about their availability, they are often called dog walking belts.
Below are some of the features that are often available as options or may come included:
Shock Absorbers
If you have a true puller on your hands you may both often feel the tugging that your dog gives which can be pretty painful if they pull hard enough.
The shock absorbers can actually offer a bit of give in the leash which will allow you both to walk with a bit more comfort.
Shock absorbers are also great because they make it less likely for your dog to pull you over or make you lose your balance.
LED Lights or Reflectors
If you are a night time walker we think one of these are a mandatory feature!
Having integrated LED lights will add a bit of weight and will require some batteries to keep the lights working, but allowing motorists see you easily is critical to keep you both safe!
Reflectors are a second option that of course do not use batteries, but may not be as bright as the LED lights.
Many of the options I looked at did have reflective surfaces. While this is not super important for me, it was a nice to have item!
Leash Configurations
Some of the leashes I looked at went from a standard hands-free leash to a normal hand held leash with a quick change.
There are some that even allow you to walk 2 dogs at one time. I wish I had one of these when I had 2 dogs! So if you have a unique situation, this may be important to you.
I was only looking for a straight-up hands free leash for when I walked my girl alone, so configurations were not that important to me personally.
Pockets
To me this was a mandatory item!
I like to always take my phone with me and of course poop bags and my house keys.
Before I found a hands free leash, I was jamming these things in my pockets or inside my pants if I did not have pockets (yes, I know gross!).
I knew I wanted a zipper pocket not too big – not too small.
Recommended Hand Free Dog Leashes
Mighty Paws Hands Free Dog Leash
The Mighty Paws dog leash is definitely a top pick in the world of hands free leashes. It features weather-proof nylon and strong hardware that is able to handle even the strongest dogs.
Reflective stitching to keep you safe at night and a bungee that allows you to have enough give to absorb the force of a dog that really likes to pull.
The belt is a lightweight design and fits waist sizes up to 42″. The “D” ring moves so you can place the dog right where you want on your waste.
It is recommended to purchase the longer lead length if your dog is not trained well to allow for extra room. This comes in either 36 inches or 48 inches.
Features:
- Recommended for dogs 30-100 pounds
- Flexible belt for waists from 26″ to 42″ in size
- Can be used with 2 dogs with their BungeeX2 Coupler
- 90 day 100% customer satisfaction guarantee
GOOD STUFF
Customers are just plain happy. An overwhelming number of buyers have note the high quality of construction and how well it worked with even strong dogs.
NOT SO GOOD STUFF
People with smaller dogs may find the leash a bit bulky and others only noted about buying the smaller version of the leash and it being too short. If you like more distance between you and your dog we definitely recommend the 48″ version of the leash to ensure distance.
SparklyPets Hands Free Dog Leash
A hands free leash from the great people at SparklyPets that offers a variety of features to ensure you and your dog are safe while giving you a comfortable walk experience.
Features:
- Recommended for dogs 30-100 pounds
- Flexible belt for waists from 28″ to 47″ in size
- The length of the bungee leash is from 50″ to 60″
- Can be used with multiple dogs
- Comes with a storage bag
- Can be used as a hands-free or hands-on leash
- Available in several colors
- 100% money back satisfaction guarantee
GOOD STUFF
The overall sentiment is very good for this product. There is a dual handle design too which can allow you to use the leash as a regular leash and to grab your dog close by using the handle closest to your dog to keep them extra close in situations.
NOT SO GOOD STUFF
There is not a lot of bad things about this leash – a few people have reported the clasps breaking, but nothing else stand outs in a negative way with this leash option.
Tuff Mutt Hands Free Dog Leash
The Tuff Mutt hands free dog leash was make for runners, walkers, and hikers. It has a durable bungee that is 4 feet, but stretches out to 5 feet, which allows there to be space between you and your dog.
What I liked about this hands free leash is the length. It allows your pup to roam without getting tripped up by your feet.
The cord itself is black but the handles come in different colors, which isn’t a big deal for me.
Just like other hand free leashes on the market, this comes with reflective stripping for those who like to go out at night.
The dual handles on the leash are also a night feature that will allow to easily grab if you need to get further control of your dog.
Features:
- Leash is best for medium to large dogs. Minimum weight is 30 pounds.
- Dual handles
- Reflective stitching for walking in the dark
- Leash stretches up to 60″
- Adjustable waist – no exact sizes given but estimates are 28″-64″
- Available in several colors
- 90-day, 100% money back satisfaction guarantee
GOOD STUFF
This is a leash that has a lot of great reviews – from the tension tot he quality, it makes customers very happy.
NOT SO GOOD STUFF
A few have noted that the leash seems kind of heavy – which makes sense given the double bungee feature – so we only recommend this for heavier dogs and not little dogs for that reason. A few other have noted that the clasp sometimes does not stay securely closed.
Do You Use A Hands Free Leash? Love It or Hate It?
If you currently use a leash that leaves your hands free let us know what you think!
Tell us the brand and what you love or hate about it so our readers can get more real life examples of these leashes in action.
