The 10 Best Waist Dog Leashes
Special Honors
Pet Bonito Hands Free Running Leash This leash has a padded belt that should be comfortable for extended wear, along with reflective trim to improve you and your pet's visibility in low light conditions. It also has a zippered pouch to contain valuables along with a drawstring bag that's good for keeping things like treats or poop bags on hand. Available in black or grey, it should match your running gear with ease. petbonito.com
I Heart Dogs Hands Free Army Green Bungee Leash Should Fido lunge at something, or if you come to a sudden stop, this leash should absorb most of the shock, so neither you nor your pet will be jostled. It has a handle on both ends - one near your waist, and one near the pet's collar - so you can gain control in multiple ways if necessary. The heavy-duty clips will securely attach to your belt and your pooch's collar for an added sense of command. As a bonus, the company donates 20 percent of its proceeds to programs that pair veterans with shelter or service dogs. iheartdogs.com
Editor's Notes
March 21, 2020:
Only you know your pooch's habits and behaviors, but we strived to round up waist leashes that could keep canines of all activity levels safe and secure on your outings.
If you have a particularly determined animal, the Riddick’s Products Dual-Handle, with its rip-resistant nylon and nickel hardware is a good choice. Many owners of large breeds even praise it for being especially good at keeping their pets secure. The Black Rhino Jogging, with its high-quality stitching, should also last through plenty of abuse. Unfortunately, the Outward Hound Hipster lost its spot because larger breeds can break it, which leads to a safety concern.
Since you bring more than just Rover on your jogs - like your phone, keys, and treats - we looked for leashes with a bit of storage. On this go around, we removed the Paw Lifestyles Premium because we felt there were much better options with pouches, like the Lanney Retractable, which has a fanny pack, and the Dioche Hiking, which comes with a large and convenient bag featuring multiple compartments.
Some pet owners want to give Fido plenty of freedom, so we made sure to find models that do just that. The Tuff Mutt 4-Foot has a clip that slides from one side to the other, allowing a pet to roam around without pulling your body while it's at it. The Prosper Pet, though reliable, was quite basic, and we felt the Pet Dreamland Professional deserved its spot instead, since it has more bungee sections than the Prosper Pet and comes in a sizes for both tiny dogs and big breeds.
Joined At The Waist
Such a design can prevent toppling over should Fido be a strong puller.
By nature, canines have very distinct personalities, each one with a surprising complexity mixed with high levels of energy, a love for life, and an instinctual drive to walk, run, jump, and play. If you've ever walked a powerful, large-breed dog on the street, you'd probably appreciate the level of patience and understanding necessary to train them to obey commands while using a traditional leash that is attached to a collar or harness of some kind. There's nothing wrong with this type of leash, but what if you want something that gives you just a little bit more freedom to multitask, while still maintaining control over your pet outdoors? If this is what you're after, then a waist dog leash is definitely in your future.
A hands-free dog leash is an accessory featuring one end that straps around a person's waist, chest, or torso, while the opposing end hooks onto a dog collar or harness. Setting the waist leash apart from its traditional counterparts is its facilitation of hands-off control over a pet, while keeping the animal in close proximity. This can be accomplished without straining one's arms, back, and shoulders or having to bear the brunt of Fido's pulling strength in the process.
The dog end of a waist leash is usually constructed from sturdy nylon webbing with a built-in clip or clasp that easily hooks onto a collar or harness. By contrast, the owner end of the leash is equipped with an adjustable strap or loop that wraps around the waist.
Aside from minimizing strain on a person's hands and arms during outdoor exercise with a pooch, the waist leash offers several additional benefits. Firstly, the accessory makes it much easier to run and jog with a dog, as one's body isn't being pulled in the same way as it would be by a conventional leash. This often results in a more effective workout for both human and pup. The hands-free design also helps to promote a proper center of gravity, as opposed to an unequal amount of force acting upon the hands and upper body. Such a design can prevent toppling over should Fido be a strong puller. This type of leash also makes it possible to walk a dog and push a baby stroller at the same time. Depending on the design, some waist leashes offer the convenience of dedicated compartments for storing treats and water bottles, which can help reinforce positive training. Furthermore, it's important to realize that the waist leash isn't just for outdoor use. It can also be a useful indoor training tool for a new puppy, allowing him to get used to your presence as he learns the basics of proper leash etiquette. This can be done prior to venturing out onto the streets or to dog parks.
Keeping A Pup Connected And Secure
Regardless of the type or style of leash chosen, safety should be your primary concern. That said, one of the most important considerations is the attachment and locking system for the leash. The attachment hardware should be made from durable materials (e.g. nickel) and be easy to secure at three major attachments points: where the waist belt fastens around your body, where the leash clips to the waist belt, and the point where the leash attaches to a dog's collar or harness. If you plan to use the leash to walk with Fido in inclement weather, just make sure he's fitted with a protective raincoat, as well.
Regardless of the type or style of leash chosen, safety should be your primary concern.
In regard to a canine's propensity for pulling, you must consider a pup's degree of power when investing in a waist leash to ensure it's strong enough to protect both you and your pet. Never make generalizations or assume that a small-breed pooch will pack much less of a punch than a large-breed animal when it comes to leash aggression. For that reason, a good bungee cord system is a necessary part of the design to provide superior shock absorption when a high-energy canine is learning the ropes. The larger the dog, the bigger the bungee cord should be to mitigate his pulling strength.
If you plan to exercise with your dog at night, it's always an excellent idea to spring for a waist leash equipped with reflective stitching. Should you want to ensure superior visibility during those night travels, consider pairing the leash with an LED vest for your pet. Adding this accessory makes him easy to spot and a fun fashion statement to boot.
A Brief History Of The Waist Dog Leash
The leash is hardly a new invention. It has been used as a method of control throughout human history and from the time man and canine first joined forces as close companions. The type of leash worn depended on the job a dog was expected to perform for its human master.
Retractable leashes gained popularity as early as the 1970s, followed by the waist leash in the early 1990s.
Tablets from the 7th century B.C.E. feature aggressive mastiff-type hunting dogs restrained by leashes. Leather or papyrus leashes were used for dogs in ancient Egyptian times. Mosaic depictions of dogs from ancient Pompeii are shown wearing rudimentary leashes, chains, and collars. Shepherds used for hunting during the Middle Ages were also equipped with leather leashes as a means of control, as well as to make the animals appear more aggressive.
The first dog leash patent hit the books in 1908 and was simply referred to as a "leading device". Retractable leashes gained popularity as early as the 1970s, followed by the waist leash in the early 1990s.
Today's waist dog leashes are designed with comfort and control in mind, offering dependable bungee cord operation and extra space for the storage of additional accessories for any busy pet owner.