The Best Hands-Free Dog Leashes for Multitasking Pet Owners

Hands-free dog leashes are designed to make human lives easier. By freeing up our hands, we can chat on the phone, go for a run or sip our coffee—things that are harder to manage with say, a retractable dog leash. Of course, a hands-free leash doesn’t mean ignoring your dog completely. Wearing a hands-free leash around your waist or across your body still means being in tune with your dog’s movements. Hands-free leashes are ideal for dog-human pairings who trust each other and aren’t at risk of pulling each other over. Overall, our favorite is the Tuff Mutt Hands-Free Bungee Leash ($25) because even if your dog does pull, there’s shock absorption to keep you both safe.  

• Nicole Ellis is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer with Rover and has 15 years of experience in the dog training arena. With her positive reinforcement approach, she’s helped dogs learn basic training, tons of tricks and how to be excellent service animals. 
• Jeremy Canade is the co-founder and CEO of Fable Pets, a company that designs dog products to be as safe and durable as possible. He and his sister founded the company together with strict safety protocols in mind for all their gear. 

We asked our experts what to look for in a hands-free dog leash (more on that below) and took all of their advice into consideration when choosing the best options, as well as the length of the leashes, the materials used and how versatile the product is. We also considered price and user reviews, as well as our own experiences taking our dogs out and about.

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The most obvious benefit for a hands-free dog leash is that humans walking their dogs can multitask. Nicole Ellis, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer with Rover, says pet parents who love going everywhere with their dogs, including running errands, can use a hands-free dog leash to be able to hold coffee, groceries and phones while still being attached to their pups.  

“Some hands-free leashes attach to the waist (or below the waist), which also may give pet parents more control over stronger dogs, as you can use your whole body as the center of gravity,” Ellis says.

Large breeds who are strong-willed may not be a great fit for hands-free leashes, especially if their humans are on the tiny side. Basically, if you’re worried your dog could pull you over, Ellis recommends sticking to handheld leashes. A tumble could harm you and your dog, so let’s avoid that at all costs.

Ellis also notes that puppies who haven’t been leash trained may need some extra help learning to walk attached to a hands-free leash. “If the dog isn't trained to walk on a leash, they may zig zag around you,” she says.  “This could potentially be a tripping hazard.”

As with any leash, you’ll want to find one that is an appropriate length for your particular dog. A hands-free leash should be long enough to fit around you comfortably and reach your dog with a little slack. Neither of you should be yanking the other as you walk.

It’s also important to choose a hands-free leash that is adjustable or has multiple connection points. “You want to ensure the leash is not going to fall and trip you,” Ellis says. “There are many styles from crossbody to around your waist. I always look for ones with metal clips that are strength tested.”

Dog parents who spend lots of time outdoors should also look for durable material like PVC coated webbing or biothane. Ellis says these materials are easy to wash and won’t hang onto nasty smells.

“Look for leashes that give you the opportunity to style how you want to wear them, such as cross-body or around your waist,” says Jeremy Canade, co-founder and CEO of Fable Pets. “Also, pay close attention to the quality and construction of the clip that attaches to the collar or harness.” Canade has seen his fair share of dogs getting loose and warns faulty clips are to blame.