Product Review: Harness Lead

The Harness Lead is a combination slip lead and harness that is incredibly versatile. It fits any body shape, regardless of the number of legs your dog has. It can be put on without touching your dog's feet, and the neck can open very wide. This combo leash tightens around the chest when your dog pulls, but does not choke. The Harness Lead comes in a variety of colors and two different sizes for dogs 14 pounds on up.

Photo by Erin Koski

The first time I saw this product, it was advertised as "Escape-Proof!" I laughed evilly and bought one to test with Annie the Escapologist. (Paid full retail, not being compensated for this review.) Communication between product reviewers and the company basically boiled down to "the product should be escape-proof if you use it right but we're not actually guaranteeing anything". I'm pleased to see that the Harness Lead is now described as "Escape-Resistant!", because they don't know Annie, and Annie laughs at escape-proof products.

The Harness Lead Company seems pretty cool. They give a lot of their proceeds to charities and rescues, and they have designed a product specifically to be used with kindness. This is not a tool to be used for giving leash corrections. No jerking, no popping, let the dog self-correct by pulling and tightening the leash themselves. I really like the big disclaimer all over the website advising dog owners that if their dog keeps pulling, this product isn't really working for them.

So the basic idea is that this is a slip lead with a couple of extra features that allow it to be turned into a harness. There are a couple of rubber stops that limit how big or small the neck loop can get. Immediately adjacent to the sliding ring is a loop in the fabric, and a rubber disc. Drop the neck loop around the dog's neck, then wrap the rest of the leash around their chest and pull it through the fabric loop to form a harness. The disc keeps the harness from getting too loose, and the stoppers make sure it only tightens around the chest. It's a little bit like this no-pull device, or that trick where you wrap the leash around the dog's chest, but way better.

Does it work? Yes, about as well as any device like this works. The stopper configuration makes sure the chest loop stays up around the ribcage, so there's no worry about the dog pulling sharply and squeezing their abdominal organs. It definitely made an immediate difference in Annie's pulling, both how much effort she put into it and how it felt on my end. She spent quite a bit of time rolling around in the grass and the Harness Lead did not loosen up. Is it escape-proof? No, but the design makes it difficult for many dogs to back out of. If your dog is shaped like a torpedo and is already an expert escape-artist capable of popping out of tools like the Freedom Harness, they won't have any trouble weaseling out of the Harness Lead either.

Pros: Excellent design, reduces pulling and transfers force away from the dog's neck. Soft rope design has no rough edges and seems to be gentle on skin and coat. Fits any dog, including tripods! Can be put on without touching feet or legs. Sits well clear of the shoulder and allows freedom of movement. Company seems to have good customer service, and will happily send a new rubber disc if yours meets misadventure.

Cons: Soft rope is prone to snagging, these can be snipped off and a lighter run over them if they bother you, they're only cosmetic. (The Harness Lead website has a video.) Like a slip lead, this cannot be left on the dog without a human on the other end. Flexible rubber disc seems to be really fun to chew, and may be prone to tearing.

Bottom Line: It's really convenient and seems to actually work for a lot of dogs. I like the company, but they seem to be responding to every bit of criticism by posting a disclaimer on their website. There's a lot of things to be said about this product, so there's a lot of disclaimers. I personally feel that there is room for improvement in the product design, the rubber disc could probably be made from something a little more durable and some color-coding might make it a little more user-friendly for the general public. Still, it's a pretty nifty minimalist harness.

Product Review: Fuzzy Wumpets Lure Coursing Slip Lead

Our Fuzzy Wumpets Lure Coursing Slip Lead was custom made just for Brisbane. This is a 4' leash specially designed to allow for a quick release that leaves the dog collarless and unencumbered. These collars come in three neck sizes and have a fleecy lining for comfort even on excited dogs. There are well over 100 choices of ribbon, and eight different colors of nylon.

Photo by Erin Koski

I bought this slip lead for our first AKC Coursing Ability Test. The trial rules state that all dogs are supposed to be release via a proper slip lead, but at our trial they didn't really enforce that rule. Still, this was our first one and I wanted to be prepared. Plus now I get to feel all fancy because I have the proper equipment.

Coursing slip leads are very different from regular slip leads. The collar portion has a D-ring on either end so the leash can be threaded through it in several different patterns.

Photo by Erin Koski

Threaded through one way, the slip lead is a secure leash. Threaded another way, it is ready for a quick release. While it is very secure for most dogs, I found that the coursing slip lead got progressively tighter but did not loosen when pressure was relieved. This meant that it just kept cinching down on Briz until I pulled it loose again.

I also found that the lead was a bit difficult to switch from secure to quick-release on a crazy-excited dog. There is an alternate secure pattern of threading the leash back and forth, but that was also very difficult to pull loose. I ended up just putting the leash in slip-mode and holding it that way until it was time to go.

Photo by Erin Koski

Of course, my issues with the coursing slip lead have to do with the nature of this type of leash, and are not the fault of Fuzzy Wumpets. I am very pleased with the quality of my slip lead, it is strong, safe, and beautiful. The collar is nice and wide, so it distributes pressure over a larger area when Brisbane is screaming and flailing with excitement. I love the fuzzy purple lining, it's made out of a fabric called 'microplush' that is soft and breathable.

Pros: Meets requirements for AKC lure coursing trials. Soft, strong, comfortable. Infinite color combinations!

Cons: I wish the collar could come in custom sizes. If ours was an inch bigger, it wouldn't choke Briz when it tightens all the way up.

Bottom Line: This was my first choice for a lure coursing slip lead. Nothing else looked as soft or pretty. I'd like to get Briz one of their limited slip collars next.

Product Review: Fraggle Rock Custom Biothane Martingale Slip Lead

Our Fraggle Rock Biothane Martingale Slip Lead was custom made just for Brisbane. It is waterproof, seawater proof, sandproof, and pretty much everythingproof. It also looks quite snazzy.

Photo by Erin Koski

I used to use Lupine collars, leashes, and harnesses for my dogs at the beach. They were sturdy, reliable, and annoyingly absorbent. Every beach trip ended with either hanging the gear out to dry and then trying to shake the sand off, or rinsing it and then hanging it to dry. Either way, we brought home way more sand than necessary in those soggy collars.

Last year I started replacing our beach gear with waterproof, non-absorbent gear like Brisbane's Dublin Dog collar. The synthetic gear doesn't fade in the sun or absorb seawater, so it keeps looking awesome even after being dragged through the mud.

Photo by Erin Koski

I wanted a biothane harness for Ru, but couldn't find one. Fraggle Rock Designs custom-made Ru a beach harness and matching leash that fit perfectly.

For Briz, I wanted something that was easy to get on and off, escape-proof in case he saw the mailman while wearing it, and wide enough to distribute pressure across his neck when he needs to get from the car to the sand RIGHT NOW! (According to Brisbane, this is the only time it is permissible to pull like a sled dog.)

This custom biothane martingale does everything I need it to. The collar is nice and wide to help distribute pressure. The 4' leash is thin enough to hold in the same hand as my Chuckit while juggling my car keys and chihuahua. The martingale loop is big enough to allow me to slip the collar over Brisbane's head, but not so big that it flops around when there's no leash pressure. The slip action is fast enough to keep Brisbane contained even when he tries to back out of the collar, though it's probably not fast enough to do an actual leash correction.

Pros: Doesn't pick up sand, salt water, or dead sea lion goop. Washes clean with minimal effort. Probably skunk-proof, have not tested this theory. Easy-to-use slip lead that won't strangle my dog or let him escape at the worst possible time.

Cons: I haven't yet figured out a good way to carry this leash once we're on the beach and Brisbane is running free, since I can't clip it to itself.

Bottom Line: I now have the coolest beach leash ever for Brisbane. Thanks Fraggle Rock!

Product Review: Zumi Dual Lead

The Zumi Dual Lead is a hybrid slip/regular leash that is basically the Transformer of the dog gear world. It clips onto a collar or harness. It works as a slip lead. I can wear it around my body at work without it turning into a fun toy for a certain Labrador. It also comes in pink and black, to match my everything.

Photo by Erin Koski

With the exception of the Euro lead, my leashes all fall into a couple of categories. See, there's the regular snap leashes that have a snap, clasp, or other piece of attachment hardware at the dog-end, for attaching to a collar, harness, or head halter. Then there's the slip leashes, which have an integrated collar in the form of either a martingale loop or just a ring to form a slip collar. Slip leashes are great because they just pop over the dog's head and snare them in an escape-proof collar. Snap leashes are nice because they attach to whatever the dog is wearing and don't have to go over their head.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Dual Lead by Zumi combines both of these functional tools into one magical piece of gear that apparently solves all of my problems. This leash has a regular snap at the end, but it also has a floating ring and leather stopper that can be moved along its length. When the snap is attached to this ring, the leash becomes a slip lead.

 I work at a cage-free dog daycare and boarding facility, and employees are supposed to carry a slip leash while in the yard with the dogs. There are numerous Timberwolf rope slip leashes around for me to use, but the Zumi is outperforming them all.

Today alone, I:
1. Snapped the leash to the harness of a very elderly poodle with a neck injury so I could gently coax him away from the rowdy puppies without picking him up or touching his neck.

2. Snapped the clip to the ring to make a slip leash around the neck of an enormous Labrador puppy wearing a ridiculously huge Cone of Shame. There was no way a regular slip leash was going over that dog's head without folding something.

3. Used the Dual Lead as a slip leash to wrangle, direct, and move dogs who don't like their collars grabbed.

4. Attached it to Brisbane''s harness as a snap lead to take him to and from work with me.

5. Used it as a slip lead to take Brisbane to the beach, did not bring home a pound of sand.

Photo by Erin Koski

But wait! The Zumi Dual Lead has one more superpower! It has a ring on the handle for attaching...things. This is now my greatest weapon against That Dog. Every daycare and dog park has at least one That Dog. Our That Dog is a chocolate Labrador that enjoys swimming, sitting on my feet, playing tug, and playing keep-away. It's those last two that are really a problem, anything that's not nailed down will become a toy for That Dog. Lock the water buckets to the fence, keep a good grip on your leash, and leave your jacket at home because That Dog loves nothing so much as grabbing something and parading around with it in the hopes that someone will try to take it away.

That Dog particularly loves stealing leashes. Most people either slide their slip leash down and drape it around their neck feather boa-style, or open them all the way up and wear them across their body like a machine gun bandolier. Or a purse strap. That Dog likes to sneak up and snatch draped leashes. When the leash is opened up and worn around the body, the handle also makes a nice tug toy for That Dog. He particularly enjoys the sounds new employees make when they suddenly realize that the slip leash can still tighten when they wear it like that. I can clip my Zumi Dual Lead to the ring on the handle, keeping it handy and theft-proof while utterly baffling That Dog when he tries to intitate a game of Torture Tug.

Pros: Works as a snap leash, a slip leash, and a slip leash that can snap open. Snaps to itself for secure and handy storage. Doesn't pick up sand or get all fuzzy like some of the well-worn Mendota leashes I have used. Comes in a bunch of color choices with two different lengths available.

Cons: Not quite the right shade of pink, needs to be darker to match Brisbane's Front Range harness. The hardware is a tad heavy for Ru, a lighter option would be nice for bitty dogs.

Bottom Line: Everyone who has seen this leash has been enamored with it. Our daycare should totally carry them in the boutique.

Product Review: Lone Wolf Slip Lead

The Lone Wolf Slip Lead is a simple slip lead made from a wide, soft synthetic braid. It is available in 4' and 6' lengths in a multitude of colors and combinations. Ours is a 5/8" wide 4' purple/black slip lead.

Photo by Erin Koski

I love Lone Wolf's soft, wide slip leads, we have a matching 4' martingale lead that is Brisbane's primary leash. I don't normally use full slip leads for my dogs, but I do keep them around. I bought this one specifically to use at work.

The wide flat  braid material is nice and grippy when my hands hurt. I find it easier hold than Mendota's round braid leashes, and less rope burny than Timberwolf's slip leashes.

Pros: Comfortable and easy to hold. Ring slides freely and leather stop prevents leash from opening wide enough to allow escape. Wide webbing distributes pressure comfortably both on the dog's neck and on my hands. My favorite slip lead for days when my hands are sore.

Cons: Strands of the braided strap can get caught on things and pull little loops loose.

Bottom Line: Loved my martingale lead so much I got a slip lead just like it.

Product Review: Mendota Dog Walker Martingale Lead Combo

The Mendota Dog Walker is a slip lead that ends in a martingale collar instead of a slip collar. It comes in 3/8" and 1/2" soft round rope, in a wide variety of colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

I love my Lone Wolf martingale lead for Brisbane, right now it's his default leash. However, the collar on that one is just barely small enough that he can't escape it, so it cannot be used on a smaller dog. Lone Wolf also makes a teensy tiny martingale lead, but I think it's much too tiny to use on a big dog.

My Mendota Dog Walker, on the other hand, can be used on any size dog. Seriously, any size. I use it at work all the time on Bernese Mountain Dogs and assorted mastiffs. The collar portion is 5/8" wide and measures 8.5" from end to end, tiny enough to use on Ru if I ever used any type of slip collar on his neck.

Photo by Erin Koski

The Dog Walker works well on Brisbane, it will choke him if leash pressure is applied, but there is no way he can back out of it. The loop that runs through the collar measures 18" when folded in half, allowing me to slip this leash onto any dog with a head circumference less than 24". A leather keeper slides down the loop to prevent the dog from popping their head through the remainder of the loop and losing the martingale effect.

That huge martingale loop is one of the reasons I love using this leash at work. I can cinch the keeper down to keep the dog securely in the collar, and then hang on right where the loop meets the rest of the leash when I need to keep the dog really close. It's like a nice little traffic leash that won't give me rope burn if the dog suddenly decides they're going somewhere in a hurry.

Pros: Fits just about any standard dog, just not the outliers on the "rodent" and "hippopotamus" ends of the spectrum. Soft, comfortable, and durable. Ends of the flat webbing collar are sewn on the outside to prevent irritation.

Cons: Slightly more complicated than a slip lead, occasionally baffling coworkers when I toss it to them. Harder to lasso difficult dogs with than a standard slip. If the keeper is not employed, some dogs can pop their heads through the martingale loop such that they are then wearing the fixed loop around their heads with the collar doing nothing.

Bottom Line: The collar on the 1/2" rope Dog Walker was big enough for Brisbane to escape, so it clearly isn't this versatile. Right now this is my favorite slip lead martingale universal escape-proof leash thingy.

Product Review: Little Pals Adjustable Harness and Leash Combo

The Little Pals Adjustable Harness and Leash Combo by Coastal Pet Products is a step-in harness with an attached leash. It comes in two styles (daisy and bone) and each of those are available in two colors. This product fits dogs with chests 10-14" around.

Photo by Erin Koski

This is basically the harness version of a slip lead. It's not as fast or convenient as looping a leash over a dog's neck, but it is much safer for tiny tracheae. Normal step-in harnesses close at the back with a quick-release buckle and a D-ring extending from a strap on either side, the leash is clipped through both rings. The combo eliminates the buckle and rings and just has a big loop of strap connecting each side. The (tiny rat) dog's feet go through the harness, and then the long strap is pulled over the head and cinched down behind the shoulders. There is a swivel at the point where the leash attaches, preventing it from getting tangled.

This leash is totally freaking adorable, look at that daisy! It takes a moment to figure out how to put on the dog, but after that it's very easy to use. I love that it doesn't require me to manipulate tiny buckles or trigger snaps. The little metal slide that keeps the harness tight requires minimal effort to move, but performs its function fine.

When I first tried it on Ru, I noted how far the Y-shaped points of the harness were from meeting behind his shoulders. The large loop means that technically I could put this harness on a much larger dog, but the bigger the dog the more the small harness would restrict shoulder movement. Then I read what size dogs the harness is actually supposed to fit and remembered that Ru is actually quite large by Little Pals standards. This harness is intended for dogs with 10-14" chests, and Ru is 13". Still, this combo harness would probably be a better fit for a tiny dog.

Pros: Easy to put on for the spatially aware, requires minimal fiddling with tiny hardware. Fast and convenient, fit in pockets. Excessively cute. Sized for truly bitty dogs, the chest strap on mine actually measures 8" so I believe it would best fit a dog 8-12" around.

Cons: Whoever invented step-in harnesses has never actually tried to get a dog to step into anything on purpose. The leash is only 4' long, and that's not much for a 6" tall dog. I prefer 6' leashes for tiny dogs so I don't accidentally yank them off their feet by turning to fast while holding the leash at waist level.

Bottom Line: The Little Pals Harness and Leash Combo serves the same function for Ru as the Lone Wolf Martingale Slip Lead does for Brisbane. It's a great house-to-car leash, an emergency backup. An I'm-feeling-lazy leash. I would recommend this leash for people who have joint pain and want to use a harness but don't want to fiddle with tiny hardware.

Product Review: Mendota Slip Leads

Mendota slip leads are made from braided polypropylene rope. They come in two widths and are available in 4' and 6' lengths. The leashes are accented with oiled leather, and have a leather slide to prevent the ring from sliding too far toward the handle. This allows the slip lead to tighten up as much as necessary, but limits how big it can get so it doesn't slip off.

Photo by Erin Koski

Slip leads are super convenient, and Mendota slip leads are soft and pliable. This makes them easy to cram into my pocket or stuff in a purse. They make great my-dog-doesn't-really-need-a-leash leashes, and also wonderful maybe-I-should-use-a-leash-when-we-walk-from-the-house-to-the-car leashes. Brisbane is wearing a small 4' Mendota leash. We've had it for at least six years, and it looks great.

I don't use this for a regular walking leash, so it's pristine. I have seen ones that have been used as an everyday walking leash for several years, and they eventually start to go a bit fuzzy. The rope stays soft and pliable, though. Mendota leads are comfortable enough for dogs that don't pull, but I prefer to well-worn leather for Brisbane's everyday walking leashes because it doesn't give me a rope burn when he spots a squirrel. Mendota also makes martingale leashes called Dog Walkers, but I prefer the Lone Wolf martingale leads because the collars fit Brisbane perfectly without choking him.

Pros: Super convenient, just slip it on and go. Soft and pliable, not abrasive. Very sturdy and durable, will likely last longer than the dog. The thinner leads are very space-efficient and make great spares, car leashes, and emergency leashes. Escape-proof. The slip lead style allows for leash corrections.

Cons: Not as grippy as Lone Wolf or Timberwolf rope leashes. So far the Lone Wolf slip leads get my vote for maximum grip with minimal hand damage. Slip lead design strangles dog.

Bottom Line: I don't actually use this leash that often, but it is perfect for capturing loose dogs. I use it mostly as an emergency backup, a fail-safe for skittish dogs, and a leash that lives in my car. It's much nicer than those skinny little nylon belt slip leads that vet offices give away.

Product Review: Lone Wolf Martingale Slip Leash

The Lone Wolf Martingale is a combination slip-on leash with a martingale-style collar. It comes in two webbing widths, two lengths, and 16 different color combinations. Lone Wolf makes a variety of webbing products in each width, including traffic and traditional slip leads, and regular leashes. The company also make round nylon braid leashes in a variety of colors.

Photo by Erin Koski

I have several dozen different collars for Brisbane, but maybe ten leashes because those do a lot more than just hold tags. Briz walks nicely on a loose leash 99% of the time, and then once in a while he explodes. I mostly use 3/4" wide leather leashes for their superior grip, when I buy a leash I try to imagine what it will feel like to have it violently ripped through my hands. Lone Wolf's flat braid is soft and grippy, and wide enough to grab comfortably even with sore hands.

Slip leashes are extremely versatile, and very popular in agility where dogs aren't allowed to wear collars while they run. I like martingale slip leads because they are limited-slip rather than choke collars. They also tighten more evenly than a collar that slips through a single ring. The Lone Wolf martingale lead has a leather slide to keep it from opening too wide. Brisbane's is a 4' long black and purple martingale in 5/8" wide flat braid.

Pros: Easy and convenient to put on. Requires no opening or closing of hardware and is made from big, beefy braid so I believe it would be comfortable for arthritic hands. Seriously, the 5/8" wide braid is at least 1/4" thick with nice rounded edges. This might be the greatest leash ever for people with limited hand mobility. I also love the variety of colors available. Comes in 4' and 6' lengths., and mine is big enough to fit a dog with a 42" neck.

Cons: The collar is non-adjustable. My 5/8" martingale has a 16" collar and Brisbane has a 17" neck, so it is snug when tightened and he can't back out of it. I'm just lucky it worked out that way because the collars don't come in different sizes. If he had a bigger neck, the collar would choke him when pulled tight. If he had a smaller neck I would have to use the smaller size, which has a much shorter collar. Ru is too small for the smaller martingale.

Bottom Line: I use this leash for agility class and quick trips when I don't feel like putting a harness on Brisbane. It lives in my dog event bag and goes on various trips with us. I know several people who use them as their primary leashes.