Feel like you never have enough hands while walking your dog? Same here! Until I discovered “wearable” or hands free leashes, I was always fumbling around with poop bags and whatever else I needed to carry. I saw people using the hands free leashes around every once in awhile but never gave them a second thought. That is until I hurt my shoulder a year ago. After a torn labrum left me in a lot of pain, I needed to find a solution to walking my dogs. As a dog walker, it was imperative my shoulder heal correctly, but I also needed to keep working. That’s when I found the benefits of using a hands free leash.

After struggling through walking the dogs with my injured shoulder, I was desperate to find a solution. I remembered seeing someone use a hands free leash one night then went onto Amazon and quickly ordered the first one that came up. To this day it’s still the one I use on a daily basis. I get asked all the time when I’m out walking where I got it. Since you’re probably like me, you may have never thought to use one of these. Thats why I’m here to help change that!

So far I’ve tried 4 different wearable leashes. I wanted to get a real feel for what was out there. There are pros and cons to each and that’s what I am going to go over in this post. I have two cross body leashes and two that go around the waist. However one of them is interchangeable and can do both. 

Around The Waist

Let’s start off with the very first leash I bought. Its a very simple design and admittedly my favorite, I use it on a daily basis with my clients’ dogs. It has an adjustable belt that goes around your waist with a bungee type leash attached. The leash has a handle at the top so it can be used as a traditional leash if you ever need to. It comes with a pouch that slides around the waist band for keys and poop bags. It also has a stationary ring for anything else you need to carry. The ring that the leash is attached to, slides around the waist band easily which helps give your dog a little more mobility.

 I have also bought an attachment for two dogs. I will usually walk my smaller dogs with the hands free leash and have my big one on a traditional leash. This has also come in handy when my beagle decides he’s done walking, and I have to carry him but need to still hang onto my other two.

Let’s talk cons of this leash, while this is my favorite it does have some flaws in may opinion. I have a love hate relationship with the bungee design. While it’s great for making sure the leash doesn’t get tangled under the dogs legs, it can be tough with dogs who like to pull. Because of the bungee, it makes it a little difficult to create tension to have any sort of leash communication. However, if you do have a dog that pulls it does help to distribute the weight of the dog around your waist rather than having it pulling your arm. Even though it has its flaws I use it every single day and honestly they’re very minor inconveniences. 

Crossbody

I have two cross body leashes and I love them. The first I’m going to talk about is from sleepy cotton. Not only is this leash super stylish, it’s also very comfortable to use. It’s design allows for it to adjust to your movements. You can tighten or loosen the crossbody so it fits properly. The lead is the perfect length to keep your dog next to you while also still giving you some room to roam. I also like the idea that if you have two or more dogs you can cross one over each shoulder and keep each dog separated on their own side while still maintaining hands free. The rope is super soft and I barely feel it when I wear it. 

Another cross body leash I have, I bought off of Amazon. This one is a little more structured, it has metal rings all along it so that you can adjust the length of the lead. This also keeps the size of the loop around your body fixed into position. The only flaw with this design is obviously everyone has a different body type and height. The lead itself isn’t very long, so when I use it, my dog needs to stay right next to me otherwise he’s pulling. I use this for Diesel who is a taller dog, for a shorter dog you will need a longer length.

Now while the shorter length may seem like a bad thing, I actually do also find it very helpful. When I’m doing a structured walk with my dog or working on training this leash really does help to keep him in position. It also helps if you are around a lot of people, it keeps your dog right next to you so they aren’t wandering. Just make sure to check the lengths if you decide to order this one. 

Multifunction

The last one I am going to discuss is the Kurgo 6 in 1 leash. Honestly I’m not in love with this leash just yet. Out of all my hands free leashes, this one just doesn’t do it for me. The design is great, I love the concept of it, I just have a lot of issues with it while trying to adjust it. I think the multifunction design is a good idea, however I personally would only use this as a cross body leash. I can’t get it to fit snug enough around the waist like I can with the first one. The durability is fantastic though, the leash itself is nice and sturdy and there is a big metal clip that slides into the loops on the lead. This leash isn’t my favorite, but I think with a little more patience I can work with it. 

These types of leashes are a nice alternative to a traditional leash because it helps to keep your dog secure while having the benefit of keeping both hands free to hold other things.

These can be especially helpful if you need to push a stroller while walking your dog. As I stated before it really can be a lifesaver for multiple dog households as well. Or even if you are injured like I was. I also really like the fact that the strain isn’t on your arms, all it takes is one pull in the wrong direction and you can get hurt. With the weight distributed around your waist or across your body it really helps to keep you injury free. If you are someone who takes your dog to special events or places where there are crowds, this really is a beneficial thing to have so your dog is safe and secure next to you! This can be a lifesaver for you if you run with your pup as well.

I hope you can start enjoying the benefits of hands free leashing! Be sure to check out our other blog posts for taking your dog on all the adventures. If you purchase one or use one yourself please make sure to tag us on instagram using the hashtag #dogsdontwearpantsblog!