Your dog can’t do without a comfortable and durable leash when you are walking around the neighborhood. Some leashes are made of nylon or other synthetic fabrics but investing in the premium leather dog leash could be a better thing to train and walk your dog out. Plenty of dog owners prefer to choose leather leashes because they offer a longer service life, reliability and the best comfort for dogs.

Thanks to this unbiased guide, you may check top 5 premium leather leashes for small-to-large dog breeds. The comparison table will assist you to figure out what features are more important in your case. Do not forget that durability and comfort for your pet are the main criteria to keep in mind.

LEATHERBERG Training Leash – the best for training!

LEATHERBERG Leather Dog Training LeashThe Leatherberg product stands for a high-quality leather harness, a perfect choice for training your pet because it shows a nice compromise of the most essential characteristics at a fair price. It is thick enough for even the toughest dogs.

This leash, along with metal rivets and solid hangers, uses good double stitching. And it is really durable. In terms of the product’s quality, this piece uses the whole grain leather material, which is lightweight but also robust and has enough to withstand friction for both you and your dog without creating unnecessary discomfort.

However, premium leather can boast water-resistant qualities. Also, it does not attract dust or dirt like a nylon dog leash can.

Pros

Pros
  • Partially water-resistant;
  • Good for walking and pain-free training;
  • Durable;
  • Double stitching;
  • Soft leather;
  • Lightweight but sturdy;

Cons

Cons
  • Some larger dogs can easily chew this leash;
  • Pricey;

For certain activities like cycling, jogging and exercising it gives the right range. It is the chosen length used by most experienced dog owners as a regular walking companion and owner. This particular dog leash has the feel, not pricey, that you want in a top-notch harness. It is a durable leather-based dog collar. If kept in decent shape, it can last for several years.


Timber and Tide Outdoor Leash – the best for water-resistance!

Timber and Tide Outdoor Co - Premium Heavy Duty Leather Dog LeashThis thick leather dog harness is also a tool for advanced training and is perfect for walking or racing. It’s made supple by means of several oils and waxes that still hold it smooth and weather-proof.

Similar to other premium leather leashes on the market it’s a long and sturdy leash that helps keep the leather from ripping apart, even when the weather is hot. This has heavy-duty hardware, an antiquated loop intended to be sleek to keep dogs from pulling it out of the harness.

Pros

Pros
  • Great for heavy-duty use because it is extra strong;
  • Made of top-notch full-grain leather;
  • Soft to protect your hands during long walks with a dog;
  • Water-resistant finish;
  • Thick – about 4 mm;

Cons

Cons
  • One-size only;
  • Chemical treatment was done to achieve the tanning effect;
  • The warranty won’t work if the dog chews the leash;

The hardware with a traditional look contributes to this leash type, making it small and elegant while also offering it the power you need to protect your dog, especially though it’s a large dog. It has a water-resistant coating, and there’s no reason to think about walking your dog in the rain or by the sea. This comes with a one-year warranty as well.


ADITYNA Heavy Duty Leash – the best for extra-large breeds!

ADITYNA Heavy Duty Leather Dog Leash 6 FootIf you need a reliable and resistant harness for training and walking your Border Collie, Bernese Mountain Dog, Caucasian Shepherd or another extra-large dog, then you should check this premium leather leash.

This military-grade dog-training harness offers the perfect fit for effective training exercises, providing more coordination over your pet on walking or even racing exercises.

Also, it features a solid clasp with a sturdy stitch improved by two rivets to add weight. The collar is also applied to bigger dogs with a 1-inch diameter.


Mighty Paw Leather Leash– the best for playful dogs!

Mighty Paw Leather Dog Leash, Super Soft Distressed LeatherThe Mighty Paw harness is constructed of all-natural cowhide cloth and sturdy metal hardware to handle even the most adventurous dogs’ tension. For convenience, it has a reinforced handle and to reduce the chance of chafing. It features a powerful and sturdy Carabineer film.

This decent collar won’t chafe or damage the skin of your pet’s neck – a great feature for active dogs.

Pros

Pros
  • Great for playful dogs;
  • Very soft;
  • Durable hardware;
  • Stylish look;
  • The handle has extra padding;

Cons

Cons
  • It has a distinct chemical odor at first;
  • Hard to attach to small collars;
  • The leather is easy to stretch;

The Neoprene internal lining of the Mighty Paw leash cushions the neck of the dog offering protection and allowing greater traction throughout any activities. It could be a perfect collar and harness for the energetic dog, because it holds him safely, and maintains safety and protection. The Neoprene coating also has odor absorption and thus it stays clean and new throughout its lifespan.


Leerburg Leather Dog Leash– the best for security!

Leerburg Leather Dog LeashThis Leerburg harshness is another premium leather dog leash that ends up costing a few bucks more than any standard leash. But the level of craftsmanship is easily evident right from the moment you get it in hand. Also, it could be a perfect gift for someone searching for nothing but nice.

It’s handmade by Amish people that is why each product is kind of unique. It uses luxurious Latigo leather that will certainly be loved by both you and your puppy.

The snaps on this leash are hand-crafted from sturdy stainless steel of the finest consistency-not the chrome-plated snaps you see everywhere.

Pros

Pros
  • Handmade by the Amish;
  • Snaps are sewn, riveted for extra security;
  • Hardware is made of 100% stainless steel;
  • Very resistant and durable;

Cons

Cons
  • Pricey;
  • Chemical odor;

The snaps of this product are sewn and then pop riveted to ensure the maximum possible protection. For extra Schutzhund’s security, that is really relevant, because a broken harness may cause tragedy.


Buyer’s Guide

Design:

  • Braided leather. You may purchase a leash dog leather that is fully flat. Such leashes only twine at the point of contact or handle. On the other hand, the braided leather parts offer better ergonomic assistance for a stronger grip and improved balance. Yet braided leather would be more difficult to keep clean and polished. That is why braided rope and leather are very uncommon and therefore not the best long-term durability choice;
  • Attached clips. A clip stands for a small detail you may easily skip. But a rotating clip should be a must-have feature for any leather dog leash. This clip stops the bending of the leash when you’re walking the dog – it helps to maintain balance and keep the harness in perfect shape for long distances;
  • Double handlings. Many dog leashes have a second handle at the point of contact, and a normal handle at the end of the tail. It is often referred to as traffic management, and it allows you the opportunity to control your dog faster. This is perfect for a pet during a training session;
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Material

  • Latigo leather. This is the most costly choice as it has been treated with oils and waxes. And Latigo leather is also double-tanned. Commonly, this leather type is shinier and lasts longer, but could have more industrial preparation than the other alternatives;
  • Cowhide leather. It’s fully natural, just untreated. It is unbleached, with the cow’s skin and fur. This leather leash choice is less popular;
  • Genuine leather. For leather dog leashes it is the most popular pick. This solid but also highly handled material doesn’t shine. Cracking is possible so make careful to have it oiled;
  • Premium leather.  This leather material was treated with special oils for gloss and shine. Also, it has the top layer removed to avoid imperfections and to make it sturdier;

Thickness

The thickness of the leather material is an essential quality of any dog leash. Thicker leashes ensure that all the components can hold up longer. A strong yet slim harshness can be a safer choice in the long term, particularly though you have a tiny dog.

Length

The regular 6-foot dog lead fits great for the regular walking and training sessions.

Shorter leashes are still available, such as 3-foot-long versions, although they are typically used in busy areas like malls. 

On the other side, if you carry the dog regularly to romp in open fields, there are longer choices available – up to 50 feet.

Hardware

The key that is stuck to the tag on your dog’s leash. Expert trainers believe that brass fittings are ideally matched to long-term longevity and susceptibility to corrosion. Therefore, it’s very unlikely that inexpensive metal alloys can crack particularly though you don’t have a super big dog who leads sometimes.

Other important features to look for in leather dog leashes:

  • A metal locking clasp or carabiner for additional security and safety of your pet. The plastic pieces may crack;
  • Double stitching made with the reflective layer is more preferable during night walks;
  • A padded handle won’t make your hands sore during long walks and training sessions;
  • D-rings can help to bring along diamond bags instead of keeping them inside your pocket or backpack;

Final thoughts 

The above-mentioned leather dog leashes will provide you with the most premium products in this niche. Think of the pet’s comfort and safety first. Only then pay attention to the style and colors. Before buying, you may want to check if the picked dog leash suits your dog’s size. 

The first type of leash is the nylon or cotton leashes. Well actually usually just different widths. Lengths are pretty general, four feet or six feet.

As far as determining which length you should get, recommended a six-foot leash just because you can always make it shorter. A four-foot leash you can ever make any longer. And if you need to pull a dog in, that’s fine. Wrap it around your hand a few times.

They’re not the strongest material, but they are quite comfortable to hold in your hand. So if you’re going to go for, you know, long walks and again you have a smaller dog, nylon or the cotton leashes are pretty nice.

The next type of leash is leather leashes. So leather is kind of the next step up from the nylon or cotton as far as durability goes. And they’re fairly comfortable to use as well. One thing you should know, though, is that leather hardens when it gets wet. And then once it dries up it becomes very brittle. So if that happens, there’s a risk that you could be out one day walking your dog and that leash snaps.

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If you have a leather leash or you’re going to get one, be very careful that you avoid getting it wet. If you take your dog out for walks during the rain, definitely something you want to avoid with the leather leash. Don’t let it sit on the ground where it gets wet. Don’t let your dog put it in his mouth. Keep that thing dry as best you can.

The third type of leash is metal leashes or chain leashes, and these are the most durable ones. You’re not going to break metal. It’s good to use these leashes with puppies in particular when you’re first starting to walk them because the metal helps to discourage the puppy from actually biting the leash. Leashes and collars are a foreign concept to puppies, so it’s very normal for a puppy when you first put him on a leash to turn and try to bite the leash and jump up at it.

Well, when they bite the metal, it doesn’t hurt them, but it’s very unpleasant. And it’s a great deterrent to teach the puppy not to bite the leash. The one downside of chain leashes, however, is that they are very uncomfortable. Most of them have a little nylon strap at the end that you can put your wrist through. But other than that, the actual chain leash is going on your hand. So you don’t have as much control with them, especially with the bigger ones, with a bigger dog, it can be kind of rough on your hands.

The fourth type of leash is the extendable leashes, the ones that have to the little plastic and they all roll up into the inside of the plastic container. Now, these ones are the really long leashes. Most of these go from like 12 feet to 30 feet. And it’s very important that you strictly follow the recommendation for the weight of your dog and the appropriate leash. Because if you try to be cheap and get a leash that’s for… You have a large dog and try to get a leash that is rated for a lesser weight, a great chance of that leash breaking.

Stretch leashes. These are kind of like retractable leashes just without the fancy mechanism inside. But essentially every time the dog goes to pull, you stop walking. So what happens is when the dog feels pressure on the neck, you don’t go forward until they loosen it up. When they loosen it up, they go forward. When they feel pressure, they stop going forward.

The stretch leashes don’t really allow that because there’s too much give when your dog goes to pull. There’s never any type of firm pressure. So stretch leashes, again, kind of like the retractable ones. In certain situations they’re okay. But for everyday use, it’s not recommended to use them.

The last type of leash is a slip leash. And these are the ones that usually groomers will use, vets, will use. It’s basically just a little rope that slips through a ring and goes around the dog’s neck. These are good for grooming your dog, giving them a bath. You don’t want to get this nice color wet or anything like that. But this is not something you want to use for everyday walking.

Any type of collar or a slip leash or collar that constricts, puts a lot of pressure on the dog’s neck, on their trachea. It can cause collapsed tracheas. So those are the six different types of leashes.

Video Tutorial: Make a simple leather dog lead


4.7 stars / 12 votes

Steve Coltharp

Hello, my name is Steve and I’m an author of the blog “Leather Toolkits“, sharing everything related to leather and leather care. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

4 Comments
  1. Hassan

    I like this tutorial because the author presented the buyers guide in an easy to understand manner, especially about the leather dog leashes. Plus, the video works fine!

    • Steve Coltharp

      Hello, thanks!

  2. Connor

    If you live in a warm climate like I do, then leather leashes are the way to go for your dog. They are very durable and will withstand a lot of pulling from a dog. But, if you live in the rainier parts of the world, well, you’re out of luck. Don’t go with leather as you will waste your money on something that will snap soon and be unusable. If you decide on a leather leash then any one of the 5 recommendations is good but I think Leatherberg is probably the better one of the lot.

    • Steve Coltharp

      Hello, Conor! Thanks for sharing.