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Best Hands Free Leash

Angela Vuckovic
by Angela Vuckovic
Published:  February 12th, 2022
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A hands free leash will ensure you have control over your pet at all times – without actually having to use your hand to maintain a firm grip. This is our selection of the best hands free leashes the market has to offer – read on to find a perfect match!

Every responsible dog owner should make sure that their pet is getting plenty of exercise on a daily level. One of the best ways to do this is to go on an enjoyable walk around the neighborhood. Your pet will love exploring the environment and you too can benefit from the light exercise. But keeping your pooch on a leash can be a strain on your hands, not to mention that keeps them occupied.

Hands free leash designs help free your arms and relieve the strain. This means no more pain from constant tugging, and a chance to hold your phone, grab a snack, or jog while keeping your pet on a leash. But choosing a quality hands free leash is no simple task. There are plenty of features to keep an eye out for to make sure that you get the right match – we’ve rounded up the best hands free leashes on the market to make that choice easier.

1. Editor’s Choice: iYoShop Hands Free Dog Leash

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There is nothing handier than having the free use of your arms when walking out with your dog. The traditional leash can really prevent you from eating, holding your coffee, or using the smartphone. This great and efficient design from iYoShop aims to make that a thing of the past. Thanks to the special belt that loops around your waist, your pet can walk freely by your side – tethered by the leash, while you’re free to use your hands as you wish. The belt is secured with a quick-release buckle and is also additionally secured with two metal D-rings and a safety clip. The leash that attaches to the belt has two double bungees inside it, which helps to minimize tugging and to keep no strain on your dog’s neck. It also has two built-in padded handles if you decide you need better control and you want to use it as a regular leash. Both features have reflective stitching to help increase visibility at night, and a nifty removable pouch helps you store all the tiny tidbits that you carry!

Pros

  • Extra padded grips
  • Double belt lock
  • Reflective stitching

Cons

  • Leash could be longer

2. Runner Up: Kurgo Multifunctional Hands-free Adjustable Leash

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Hands free leashes are all about adjustability and ease of use. This nifty Kurgo design covers all the important features and makes walking a rewarding experience both for you and your pet. This 6-in-1 design is made from extra durable nylon material and can be adjusted for your personal needs and preferences. The belt loop is secured with an extra sturdy stainless steel safety clip and the leash is connected to your dog’s harness. The leash is covered with reflective material that helps increase visibility in the evening. Besides the hands-free use as a belt, you can adjust the leash for five other uses, including a double dog walker, classic 6-foot leash, stationary tether, courier style leash, and a short 3 feet training leash.

Pros

  • Extra secure stainless steel clip
  • 6-in-1 design
  • Padded handle

Cons

  • Carabiner clip can be problematic

3. Customer’s Choice: oneisall Nylon Hands Free Dog Leash

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A hands free design doesn’t necessarily have to be complex to do its job. This simple, straightforward design gives you a hands free experience without any bells and whistles. The leash is made from highly durable nylon material and features double stitching and stainless steel fittings. The belt is made with a simple loop that is secured with a safety clip and a metal D ring. With that, you can attach the belt around your waist or around your shoulder, depending on your preference. There is also an added grip for classic leash use, and it is padded with soft velvet material for extra comfort. This is one of the more affordable hands free leashes out there – great if you want to try out if this leash style is a good fit for you.

Pros

  • Double stitches at key points
  • Secure safety buckle
  • Versatile
  • Padded velvet grip

Cons

  • Could be more durable

4. Best for Jogging: Sparkly Pets Professional Harness Leash

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Jogging is a great way to stay fit and start off the day on the right foot. But it is also an ideal time to take your dog for a walk. How to combine the two? With this superb hands free leash, of course. This design fits securely around your waist and is attached with both a safety quick release buckle and a pair of metal D rings with a safety clip. Once attached it guarantees safety. The leash features a bungee design, which ensures that no matter how hard your dog pulls, the leash won’t abruptly tighten and hurt them. The whole design also sports two unique handles, for when you need to keep your pet close to you or walk them the traditional way. Added reflective stitching helps with visibility in the evening, and you can even choose from many different colors to suit your own style!

Pros

  • Efficient bungee design
  • Reflective stitching
  • Good choice of colors

Cons

  • Could absorb shock better

5. Best with Storage: Shine Hai Retractable Hands-Free Dog Leash

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This nifty hands free leash is ideal for any outdoor adventure as it doesn’t just free your hands from the leash – but your phone, wallet, and any other tidbit you take with you on the go. Shine Hai’s design is completely adjustable to fit any person and fits around your waist with a quick-release safety buckle. Its best feature is the several carrying pouches in the front. These help you pack your water bottle, phone, earphones, and any other thing you’d want to have close at hand. The 60” leash can extend to 70” thanks to the bungee material inside it. This gives your pet some reach to explore but also removes the threat of tension on their neck. And even if you are adventuring in the darkness, there is no need to worry: reflective safety stitching and bright colors will make you easily visible both day and night.

Pros

  • Can be used as a standard or hands free leash
  • Several pouches for your essentials
  • 360-degree rotary clip

Cons

  • Could be more durable

6. Best Adjustable: The Buddy System Adjustable Hands Free Leash

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It is important to be able to adapt the hands free leash to both your and your pet’s needs and preferences. That’s why adjustability is a crucial part of the design. The Buddy System offers a seemingly simple design that’s actually quite clever and versatile. It is made from a single-layer durable nylon material that can survive plenty of wear and tear and vigorous pulling. The leash features a belt that goes around your waist and is secured with a quick-release buckle. Both the leash and the belt feature several adjustment clasps, which means that you can adjust the diameter however you want. One added D-Ring helps you attach your keys or even another leash if you happen to have two dogs. One hands free leash does it all!

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Efficient yet simple
  • Your pet has 360-degree freedom of movement

Cons

  • Clips could be more durable

7. Best Dual Handle: Tuff Mutt Dual Handle Hands Free Dog Leash

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Even if you opt to use a hands free leash for a more freeing experience, it is nevertheless important to have two added handles included for better control in case of emergency. Tuff Mutt offers a classic hands free leash design, boasting the use of durable nylon and stainless steel safety fittings. The belt attaches to your waist and the leash has an added bungee material for no violent tugging. And added to it are two nifty hand grips at different positions. They allow you to take control of your dog if need be – one is a regular leash grip, while the other is a close grip for maximum control and safety. This feature gives you peace of mind even when your hands are not on the leash. Knowing that you can react and regain control in any situation is comforting for every dog owner.

Pros

  • Double stitching
  • Reflective stitching
  • 360 degree of movement

Cons

  • Handles are not padded

8. Best for Night Use: YIHATA Reflective Stitching Hands Free Leash

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Not everyone’s an early bird. Plenty of dog owners are night owls! And that means that late-night walks and jogs are a key part of a regular routine. But that brings along a lot of risks. To make night walks enjoyable, you need to look after your safety. This YIHATA hands free leash includes great reflective stitching. This material makes your pet and you easily spotted in the darkness, so car drivers can be aware of your presence at all times. The leash features a belt to go on your waist and plenty of sturdy metal fittings and safety clips. One great feature of this design is the bungee cord. It helps with the shock-absorbing qualities of the leash, and extends it from 50 to 80 inches! This means that no matter how energetic your pet is, accidental injuries and neck strain won’t occur. Enjoy that night walk and the peace of mind you need.

Pros

  • Superb shock absorbing bungee cord
  • Great visibility in darkness
  • Durable

Cons

  • No 360-degree movement for your pet

9. Best for Bicycle: Videosystem Hands Free Bike Dog Leash

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Leashes are not used exclusively for walking or running – some of them can be used while cycling. You can help keep your dog healthy and energized even while you have a casual bike ride. With this smart design from Videosystem, your pet can lightly jog beside you while you pedal along. This concept features a sturdy metal bar that is attached to your bike’s seat. At its end is a leash made from durable nylon and featuring a bungee cord. This allows your pet limited movements by the bicycle – they’ll enjoy their freedom, but will still not be in danger of oncoming traffic. The bar features added non-slip padding that keeps it in place at all times. Some simple screw-tightening and you and your pet can be ready for a new biking adventure.

Pros

  • Very durable
  • Bungee leash
  • Keeps your pet close by and away from traffic

Cons

  • Bungee can stretch out after a while

Are Hands Free Leashes Safe to Use?

A lot of dog owners firmly believe in the good old “hands-on” experience. This means that as long as they have a grip on the leash, they have control over the situation. While this is certainly correct, it does not mean that hands free leashes aren’t equally as safe.

Even if you are not using your arms in a hands free leash design, you are nevertheless using your body to maintain control. These designs usually rely on a nifty waist belt to which the leash is attached. This places the point of control to your waist – the point of your stability on the ground. This means that your dog can’t tug you around as they please. To do so, they now have to move your entire body from its center of stability – and that’s not as easy as tugging just your arms.

Besides this, most hands free leashes employ a bungee cord in the design. This guarantees that your pet won’t get hurt even if they tug unexpectedly and hard. The bungee absorbs the shock and limits the pull on your body too. Of course, the leashes are all secured with safety clasps, quick-release buckles, and stainless steel fittings, making them super secure and great fun to use.

And when you want that extra hands-on control, you can rely on the added handgrip to bring your pet closer and under your guidance.

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Angela Vuckovic
Angela Vuckovic

A proud mama to seven dogs and ten cats, Angela spends her days writing for her fellow pet parents and pampering her furballs, all of whom are rescues. When she's not gushing over her adorable cats or playing with her dogs, she can be found curled up with a good fantasy book.

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Dogs Trained to Detect Ancient Remains Expedite Search for Graves

Canada’s recent discovery of hundreds of tiny unmarked graves attributed to the residential school system has created not only cross-country outrage but also a determination to locate and repatriate the remains of all children who left home to attend these schools but never returned.Within a few weeks, the number of unmarked graves throughout Canada had quickly grown to over 10,000 and the ability to locate and identify additional sites (that would date back decades), had become almost impossible. Particularly since many of the schools had since been razed and pinpointing potential burial areas leaned heavily toward guesswork.The search had to be done respectfully – meaning without the use of large, excavation equipment – however, the need to cover a vast range of land in a timely manner was a challenge.That’s when the search teams decided to bring in the dogs.Part of the Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue Dog Association, German Shepherds, Recce and Taz are proficient in detecting older, archeological remains with drill work that has included using older cemeteries as their training ground. In fact, Historic Human Remains Detection Dogs have been used throughout North America and Europe to identify human remains in archaeological sites that date back hundreds of years… and longer. These dogs can pick up on the much lower scent levels that come from teeth and bones found in ancient graves… and some are even explicitly trained to detect cremated remains where no bones or teeth remain.This switch from bulldozers to the canine duo is a change welcomed by the area’s former residential school students who feel that because dogs have always been part of the Indigenous culture, they offer a natural, more appropriate approach to finding the missing children.According to Archaeology Professor Adrian Burke, dogs make a great option because they are non-invasive. Although it’s not an exact science – they can’t pinpoint an individual grave - they can hone in on a location and this saves time and the need for random digging. Once dogs flag a site, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is used to confirm what lies beneath.By adding Recce and Taz to the search teams, it’s estimated the time needed to cover a couple of acres can be reduced from a few weeks to just a couple of days.While the process is still slow and time-consuming, Indigenous residents confirm it’s about the children’s families understanding what happened to their little ones, being able to bring them home for appropriate burial, and ultimately experiencing a sense of closure and justice.

Why is My Cat Suddenly Acting Aggressive?

Cats are well-known for their independent and aloof nature. It’s part of their mysterious and majestic presence. But what do you do when your once docile companion suddenly becomes angry or aggressive?Understanding why your cat may have shown such an abrupt behavior change is important. Why? This could be a sign of much bigger trouble that demands your attention. There are many explanations for this type of change in demeanor, including physical pain or illness. The best solution to create harmony once again in your home is to get to the bottom of it!In this article, we will look at the most common reasons for a cat to suddenly exhibit aggression and what you should do to help your furry best friend.What Does Aggression Look Like in Cats?If you are a first-time cat owner or have never encountered an aggressive cat, you may wonder what aggression looks like. Our feline friends aren’t always as outwardly friendly and affectionate as their canine counterparts, but aggression refers to behaviors that go a step further. Rather than being aloof or disinterested, an aggressive cat outwardly expresses upset, anger, and frustration toward a trigger.Cat parents who seek help with an aggressive cat often refer to their cat biting or swatting, causing physical harm out of nowhere. But there are often other signs of trouble that are overlooked or unnoticed.Early signs of aggression include:Thrashing or fast twitching tailDirect stareDilated pupilsEars flattened back against the headStiff or crouched postureRaised hacklesHissing, growling, or yowlingWhen these warning signs are ignored, a cat may feel they have no choice but to react further to protect themselves from the perceived threat or trigger. It is at this moment that a cat will swat or bite. Learning to recognize the early warning signs will help you prevent the situation from escalating to the point that someone is hurt.How Do You Tell if a Cat is Playing or Being Aggressive?Some cats, especially young kittens, may play in a way that is similar to or mimics the signs of aggression. This can make it harder to identify if your cat is truly upset or simply playing around. Luckily, there are a few minor differences that can help you differentiate between the two.When a cat is being playful, they usually have their claws retracted. This means they may swat at you during play, but they aren’t scratching or causing harm with that action. The same can be said when they pounce on you – landing on you with their paws, nails retracted. If your cat is biting at your hand during play, they often have a threshold they won’t cross. They may bite hard enough that you feel some discomfort, but they aren’t trying to break the skin.There is a grey area that shouldn’t be overlooked between play and aggression, where a cat either didn’t learn where that line exists or fails to acknowledge it. This is known as play aggression, which we will touch on later.

Researchers Find Genetic Links Between Human and Canine Brain Tumors

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered striking similarities between the most common type of brain tumor in dogs and humans - meningioma. These findings were published in the scientific journal Acta Neuropathologica. Until now, scientists struggled to find reliable experimental models to understand the biology of and develop effective treatments for these tumors. But thanks to these newly discovered similarities, doctors will be able to use a classification system that identifies these aggressive tumors in humans and pooches.“The discovery that naturally occurring canine tumors closely resemble their human counterparts opens numerous avenues of exploring the biology of these challenging tumors,” said Dr. Akash Patel, an associate professor of neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine and principal investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital. “It also provides opportunities for developing and studying novel treatments applicable to both humans and dogs,” he added.During the study, researchers analyzed 62 dog meningiomas from 27 breeds and found that the tumors were remarkably similar to the same kinds of tumors in humans. To this date, this is the largest study of the gene expression profiles of the canine meningioma. Others, including Dr. Jonathan Levine, a VMBS professor and the head of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (VSCS), and Dr. Tiemo Klisch, assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Principal Investigator at Duncan NRI, were involved in the study along Dr. Patel. Meanwhile, assistant professor Dr. Beth Boudreau was a key collaborator. Previous work done by Levine, Boudreau, and others at VMBS, which found similarities between gliomas - the second most common type of brain tumors - in humans and dogs, was instrumental for Patel’s study. “We ended up agreeing to provide Patel with canine tumor samples we had worked years and years to achieve, to see if he could isolate the RNA, which is not always easy to do,” said Levine, in a statement. “He was able to produce this very robust data set that showed a similar pattern structure to human tumors. Our team also provided Dr. Patel with key clinical outcome data, including responses to certain treatments.”Now that the researchers have found a link between brain tumors in humans and dogs they hope to establish clinical trials to continue their research. Setting up this type of clinical trial can take several years of planning and requires funding.“We are really interested in creating wins for both human and animal medicine,” said Levine. “For example, we hope to give dog owners access to therapy that’s not available anywhere else in the world through clinical trials. At the same time, that information will also inform the next step of human trials.”As it happens, another group of researchers from the University of California, Davis, conducted a similar study with matching results about meningioma in humans and dogs. This study was also published in the scientific journal Acta Neuropathologica.Now, the two research groups plan to collaborate in the future and share their findings to develop treatment options for both human and canine brain tumors. “If we do one trial, we’d be able to enroll patients a lot more quickly, which would make it easier to get larger data sets resulting in stronger findings. So we have a lot of interest in doing a collaborative trial,” added Levine. “We really see the team out in California as potential partners.” Thanks to this groundbreaking research, scientists now have a better understanding of brain tumors and are one step closer to developing life-saving treatments for both humans and dogs. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Rover Releases the Most Popular Pet Names of 2023

Whether you’re stumped for a name for your new dog or cat, or you’re just curious to know what people are naming their pets these days, Rover has some answers for you. The company released a list of the most popular pet names of 2023, and the 11th annual Top Pet Names Report also sheds light on the inspiration behind the names.Here are some of the interesting findings that Rover shared.

Can Cats Get Frostbite?

When a cat is exposed to extremely cold conditions, they are at risk of frostbite, which may require professional veterinary care. But what is frostbite, what puts a cat at risk of frostbite, and what can be done to treat it? Here’s a short guide to help you better understand this condition and keep your cat safe.

These Are the States With the Most Spoiled Doggos in 2023

With the holiday season fast approaching, it is the time for presents, cuddling, yummy meals and, to be honest, spoiling the one you love, including your four-legged bestie. But are there some pet parents that take it a bit too far, and if so, do we know in which states they live? If you are one of those owners who like to pamper their furry friend and spoil them to no end, stick around to find out who’s guilty of overindulging their doggo just like you!An interesting  Forbes Advisor survey estimates that around 22.2% of dog owners in the USA, or one in five, admit to having spent more money on  Christmas gifts for their dogs, rather than gifts for friends and family. This means that there are certainly some pampered and spoiled doggos to be found across the nation, but what is more interesting is that dog owners in certain states tend to spoil dogs more than in others. Now, after a nationwide survey, the results are in!With a score of 100 out of 100, Florida definitely wins as the state with the most spoiled dogs! The Sunshine State is reported to have around 66.5% of owners who spend more money on their dog’s health, grooming, and gifts, than on their own. They are also more likely to pamper dogs by perfuming them, pushing them in strollers, buying them clothes and gifts, or taking them to restaurants. Interestingly, the second place, and right behind Florida, is Alaska, with a score of 98.69 out of 100. Nearly half of all dog owners in this northerly state admit to regularly throwing birthday parties for their pooches, purchasing them special outfits, and even putting cologne on them. They too will spend more money on their pets than on themselves.Behind Florida and Alaska in places 1 and 2 respectively, are the following states:3. Washington - 91.82 out of 1004. Colorado - 82.04 out of 1005. California - 77.96 out of 1006. New Jersey - 77.52 out of 1007. Illinois - 77.23 out of 1008. Texas - 70.80 out of 1009. Delaware - 69.93 out of 10010. Virginia - 69.34 out of 100The survey also offered some indicators and activities that might suggest that you are spoiling your dog. If you regularly do some of these activities, you might be pampering your pooch as well!Taking family photos with the dog Ordering the dog a special treat at a restaurant Bringing the dog on vacationPushing the dog in a strollerSpending more money on the dog’s health and grooming than on their own Buying the dog outfits and accessoriesSo, what’s the result? Are you too on the list of owners who spoil their pets? Let us know!

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