Best All Around Dog Leash?

 I *love* my leather slip lead from jjdog.com. I like it better than ropey slip leads, because it's flat, and easier to hold, for me. They have a variety of widths, too. I like thin, but I only walk trained dogs on it.

 i love my double leader.... i know you said "if you can only walk one dog at a time" .... but at least i have the option of two. and it allows you to adjust the length with the D-rings sewn into the length of the leash. and if you need to tether your dog for a moment you have that option as well instead of taking the leash off and making a slip knot with it.. And if you need hands free you can make an extra wide loop using the Drings and loop it over your shoulder and midsection.

sorry, dont know the company. i bought it four or five years ago from petsmart. it was the last one on the shelf and cost me $18 :P 

jennie_c_d

 I *love* my leather slip lead from jjdog.com. I like it better than ropey slip leads, because it's flat, and easier to hold, for me. They have a variety of widths, too. I like thin, but I only walk trained dogs on it.

I've heard so much good things about J and Js leather dog leashes from being a member of this forum the past four years, that I think I will with one of those. I had eyed those leashes before but never bought one. Thank you for reminding me again of this store and their leather leashes. Are those tough to get used to at first? I remember using that type of leash when I spent a lot of time at the dog shelter. It would be a little different taking my dog with it for a walk with cars passing by.

Do you feel confident walking your dog with it? I know there shouldn't be anything to worry about. It's a slip lead. I guess it's just a psychological issue I'm having (no collar!). That would be exactly what I want I think. However, I might need the training one too. I'm going to be offering my dog walking services soon, and just in case a client doesn't have the right leash, I'll need one. Then I can attach the training leash to a EasyWalk Harness.

PS: If you could guide me through those sizing charts I'd appreciate it. I'm confused by 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4. It's the same picture for all of them. Which size do you have? I can not stand narrow width dog leashes. I need a good grip. I'm a male, so chances are my hands are bigger than your's.

 My favorite lead has to be the Rogz Multipurpose lead I got.  It has a clip on each end along with 3 D rings along the length of the lead.  Its great because depending where you clip it you can have three different lengths of lead to walk with.  You can also use it to walk two dogs on it or you can hook it and loop it around your shoulder if you need extra control.  Finally because it has clips at both ends and the D rings you can clip it to anything.  When I first got Kirby I loved that leash since I did the tether method for the first month or so.  Made it so easy.

That being said usually I walk him on a 15ft Drag Line.  I like the length for training, letting him sniff in more secluded areas, and to be able to give him plenty of loose leash if I'm letting him greet other dogs while on leash.

I love my service dog leash from J&J  http://www.jjdog.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=jj&Category_Code=3CATConvertibleServiceDogLeashCONSDL  They now have them in 6 foot lenghts, too.  It was increbibly soft from the day it arrived.  If I were going to use a slip style lead, I'd go for one that had a martingale collar, like the one Mendota makes.  My hands cramp with round leads, tho.  I personally don't care for Premier's martingales because the cloth loop doesn't "relax" flat after the tension is off.  Caleb's martingale has chain where the loop is.

Hands down my 1" x 6' ASAT lead.  I love ASAT, I use it for *everything* including tracking and protection.  This is my all-purpose, all-breed leash.  I've used it on all three of my dogs, from everything from going on a walk, visiting the pet store, to doing protection work with Nikon, or formal obedience training.  I bought it from my breeder for $15, her wholesale supplier is dogsportgear.com.

 I've found leashes almost, if not, identical to the J&J service dog leash for way cheaper ($13.99) by buying through Guide Dogs for the Blind's store (link to leash).  They are hands down my fav leash for training, but a bit short for most walking (we live in the country so I like 6' leashes, if we lived in the city, the SD leash would be fine).

ShelterDogs

Do you feel confident walking your dog with it? I know there shouldn't be anything to worry about. It's a slip lead. I guess it's just a psychological issue I'm having (no collar!). That would be exactly what I want I think. However, I might need the training one too. I'm going to be offering my dog walking services soon, and just in case a client doesn't have the right leash, I'll need one. Then I can attach the training leash to a EasyWalk Harness.

PS: If you could guide me through those sizing charts I'd appreciate it. I'm confused by 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4. It's the same picture for all of them. Which size do you have? I can not stand narrow width dog leashes. I need a good grip. I'm a male, so chances are my hands are bigger than your's.

My dogs are completely reliable, leash or no, so it doesn't bother me one way or the other. It's a lot faster than putting a collar on them, and it is more secure than a buckle collar will ever be. 

The widths are inches. I use the 1/4" width, because my dogs are small and leash trained. If you're walking big, untrained dogs, I'd probably go with the 5/8 or 3/4. I generally like the thinnest lead that will do the job. 

 from a big dog owners persective I love Ruffwear's Knot a leash - comfy, very secure and made to last

Sorry this is late --

My FAVORITE leash -- hands down -- is one with an adjustable handle.  TopPaw used to sell them and don't anymore.  I get them at Ryan's Products - he makes them.  You can get them in 5/8" or 1" widths -- the 5/8" has a regular leash clip on it -- the 1" has a big old lobster claw type thingy.  Whichever works for you.  I like the 5/8" ones for our dogs.

The advantage is you can open the handle up and fasten around your waist or the handle of a door or ANYTHING.  Or -- you can easily clip two leashes together.  OR ... if you find a dog with no collar, you can adjust the handle just like a flat buckle collar and make the other end into a leash handle. 

I LOVE THESE LEASHES.  I've sent them to tons of shelters so dogs have a "go home" leash.  They do them in several colors (when walking two dogs sanity dictates that each have a separate color so I know which dog I'm handing to David???  Billy is red, Luna's blue and Tink is purple!! LOL)

The 5/8" one (Under $4)

The 1" one  (About $4.50)

Liesje

Hands down my 1" x 6' ASAT lead.  I love ASAT, I use it for *everything* including tracking and protection.  This is my all-purpose, all-breed leash.  I've used it on all three of my dogs, from everything from going on a walk, visiting the pet store, to doing protection work with Nikon, or formal obedience training.  I bought it from my breeder for $15, her wholesale supplier is dogsportgear.com.

Lies, I've seen you recommending ASAT leashes for a while, & I broke down & ordered two ASAT tracking lines.  Oh dear lord, I am in LOVE!!!  I never thought that I would use anything other than leather leashes, but I am happy to say "I was WRONG."

BEVOLASVEGAS

Liesje

Hands down my 1" x 6' ASAT lead.  I love ASAT, I use it for *everything* including tracking and protection.  This is my all-purpose, all-breed leash.  I've used it on all three of my dogs, from everything from going on a walk, visiting the pet store, to doing protection work with Nikon, or formal obedience training.  I bought it from my breeder for $15, her wholesale supplier is dogsportgear.com.

Lies, I've seen you recommending ASAT leashes for a while, & I broke down & ordered two ASAT tracking lines.  Oh dear lord, I am in LOVE!!!  I never thought that I would use anything other than leather leashes, but I am happy to say "I was WRONG."

I still use a 4' x 5/8" leather lead as my trial lead, just to be more old school, but I never use leather anymore in training.  It' breaks, cracks, gives me blisters, sucks all the moisture out of my hands (and it's already sub-zero, dry temps).  You can also get collars, harnesses, agitation collars, etc in ASAT.  It is not all alike, some has more texture and actually looks/feels more like leather but overall I prefer it.

Liesje

Hands down my 1" x 6' ASAT lead.  I love ASAT, I use it for *everything* including tracking and protection.  This is my all-purpose, all-breed leash.  I've used it on all three of my dogs, from everything from going on a walk, visiting the pet store, to doing protection work with Nikon, or formal obedience training.  I bought it from my breeder for $15, her wholesale supplier is dogsportgear.com.

Thank you for the ASAT recommendation. I was not aware of these until now. I've narrowed it down to your recommendation and jennie's J&J slip lead. I do like the idea of a slip lead though, as I wouldn't have to also purchase a martingale collar. Is this the one you own?

Thanks to everyone else who replied in this thread. It looks like I've narrowed it down to two. Just a matter of deciding now.

 A lot of places make their leads. If you email them, I bet they'd be willing to put a ring instead of a snap. I am seriously considering an ASAT lead after reading all the rave reviews, but I can't seem to find one light enough for my dogs.