Looking for recommendations for a hands free dog leash for running with dog. I’ve been using a retractable hand held for a year now and I now realize it’s been influencing my gait as I’m not relaxed swinging my arms. Dog is a 70lb lab.
Stunt Puppy is what I use.
Looking for recommendations for a hands free dog leash for running with dog. I’ve been using a retractable hand held for a year now and I now realize it’s been influencing my gait as I’m not relaxed swinging my arms. Dog is a 70lb lab.
Pet store owner here.
My recommendation: Roamer Leash by Ruffwear.
https://ruffwear.com/collections/dog-leashes/products/bungee-dog-leash-roamer
Handle expands to wrap around your waist if you like. Bungee action on the leash so that if the dog makes fast starts and stops it isn’t a problem. Especially good for a larger dog like yours.
I have an Alaskan Malamute and she is older now so doesn’t run with me much anymore but when she did, I used a normal leash and looped the band around my arm. I did this as a puppy so she quickly learned how to run with me. I was amazed that when I sped up she did and when I slowed down she did as well.
Looking for recommendations for a hands free dog leash for running with dog. I’ve been using a retractable hand held for a year now and I now realize it’s been influencing my gait as I’m not relaxed swinging my arms. Dog is a 70lb lab.
I like these ones because of the handles if I need to do any corrections in a hurry it is easier to grab the loop than try to pull on a leash.
https://www.amazon.ca/F-Color-Reflective-Running-Adjustable-Absorbing/dp/B072HW7BJD/ref=pd_yo_rr_rp_2/139-1942867-5106450?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B072HW7BJD&pd_rd_r=1804f65a-d426-41fd-bfb8-b909d808537f&pd_rd_w=CXK6N&pd_rd_wg=XF60l&pf_rd_p=f4dade63-6943-4f98-9e54-70f1635e6802&pf_rd_r=V2AZCC0HTPJR45HNZ0Y0&psc=1&refRID=V2AZCC0HTPJR45HNZ0Y0
I have the Tuff Mutt leash that comes with a waist belt that attaches to the leash. Best purchase we’ve made. We have a 60 pound pitt mix that LOVES to run…and is pretty damn fast. Plus he’s 60 pounds of straight up muscle so the non hands free leashes just yank our arms off.
the one that works best for me are the free ones that the groomer at PetSmart gives out, it’s short lenght and very light weight and has a simple slip loop at the end that provides enough correction for the dog when pulled on but it’s not a serious choke
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I run with my dogs every day, and use a no-pull harness and regular clip on leash. When pulled, the harness cinches up, and they quit pulling. They learn pretty quick, and match my pace, and don’t pull, leaving me to hold the leash, and still run with a natural arm swing. Note: I run with two larger (60 & 80 pounds) dogs, and have tried hands free belt type leashes, and no way for me. Too much unpredictability, with other dogs, small wild animals and obstacles… and too much a chance of back/spine or other injuries, when shit hits the fan.
I have two labs totaling 130 or so pounds. No disrespect to Dean T or others, but I have no idea how anybody runs without a hands free leash. I have several hundred (approaching 1000) runs with the same Road Runner Leash by EzyDog. The Ruffwear one linked above is about the same thing and also good. Our local running store sells Stunt Puppy and I may buy one of those if something ever happens to this one.
I like the idea of a separate strap for each dog instead of coupler connected to a single strap like the Stunt Puppy has. A coupler connected to a single strap gets super long if you end up with two dogs. I have my Road Runner doubled back and clipped to itself when used with the coupler so the dogs don’t have 6 feet of room to jump into traffic.
Lots of good products out there. I think the majority will be happy with hands free. I feel like keeping things closer to my center of gravity makes it easier to control the dogs vs. pulling with my arms away from my body.
Specific to running gait, you will have to work with your dog not to pull or they can mess up your gait even with a hands free. Some people will do the hands free leash and then combine a hand leash with a training collar so they can give the dog corrections with the hand leash before it reaches the end of the hands free leash (assuming a harness on the dog).
Our dog is about 65lbs and I’ve been using a Buddy Leash for about 8 years now, maybe more.
I have the Tuff Mutt leash that comes with a waist belt that attaches to the leash. Best purchase we’ve made.
+1, this is well designed and made. I like it a lot. My field-bred cocker spaniel gets me about 5-10/sec per mile speed increase, with this leash 
I have a 60 lb Portuguese Water Dog - no matter what I do/what lead I use, he pulls like a freight train and I get injured. I blame Mrs giorgitd who ‘trained’ him. Now I have my own dog, another PWD. She is 2 y/o and about 45 lbs. We ran for a while on a normal hand lead for training. She runs along my side, little pulling. So we’ve moved to the EzyDog Road Runner. Totally great. It’s a waist lead, so I can run hands free. She like to orbit around me, which can be a problem, but she’s learning to cross only in front and not behind. She is here drooling on my keyboard right now, looking for (more) attention. My only complaint about the EzyDog is that it is almost too long (for sidewalk running - ideal if you are on wider and safe paths). If she runs along side, the slack gets tangled in her front legs and I wind up holding the lead sometimes just to manage the slack. BUT - waist lead it the way to go for dogs that are reasonably behaved on a lead while running.
Edit - a typo.
I run with an energetic mid-sized German Shepherd, and I use a belt (Mighty Paw, but they’re all similar) instead of a hand-held leash – it’s hard to maintain form when your dog is pulling your arm around…
I stopped using the 36" bungee-type leash that came with the belt because it was MUCH too long. That 36" stretches out to 48" and that lets the dog get in front of you, or in front of other people. I now use a 12-16" non-stretching seat-belt attachment (also Mighty Paw) as a leash. It keeps her close by my side, prevents her from crossing in front of me, and prevents her from obstructing others on the path.
On the dog, I use an “easy walk” harness similar to one mentioned above – a chest harness that discourages pulling.