Last year, I bought an expensive retractable dog leash online for my dog, Maggie. The lead was supposed to be strong enough for dogs up to 90 lb. I have a 52 lb foxhound. Well, one day, while walking around the historic town of Old Bisbee with some friends, my dog saw a cat, and snapped the cable on her lead like a rubber band.
I immediately panicked because we were in a crowded public place, and I didn’t have another leash. I asked my wife and friends to look after Maggie while I frantically searched for a leash, though I knew the odds of finding one were slim. One of my friends said she vaguely remembered seeing a dog leash in one of the shops she was in earlier that day, so I beelined it there.
I got to the shop about five minutes before closing, and sure enough, there was a rack of dog leashes near the front of the store. For a brief moment, I was elated, but as I approached the rack of leashes, I began to get concerned…
They only had one kind of dog leash – a standard flat lead with a $17 price tag. At the time, I wasn’t a big fan of flat leads, and I thought $17 was pretty pricey for such a basic leash. In my experience, flat leads were cheaply manufactured, uncomfortable around the wrist, and had a tendency to wear out and break over the years. I also recalled my dog being much worse about pulling the last time I had a leash like that – click here to learn how to stop your dog from pulling on their leash.
However, after holding the leash for a moment and taking a close look at it, I could tell it was a high-quality leash, so I figured, “What the heck. It’s not like I have any other options.”
The leash I purchased that day was a LupinePet Padded Handle Dog Leash, and many months later I’m happy I did, because this lead is fantastic! Sure, it might cost twice the price as the generic flat leads you’ll find at Walmart, Target, Pet Supermarket, etc., but it’s easily twice the quality.
Let’s dive in to what makes this leash so much better than other flat leads…
Quality Stitching
The LupinePet leash uses bar-track stitching, a method of reinforcing materials that handle lots of stress. This kind of stitching is commonly used on rock climbing equipment and apparel. This is really important when you have a strong dog. My dog has snapped many of leashes – she’s even snapped a steel cable – and she only weighs 52 lb! So good stitching is integral.
Durable Woven Nylon Webbing
Stitching is crucial, but so is the fabric the leash is made out of. LupinePet leashes use a strong woven nylon webbing that is much more durable than other leashes. It also looks nice, and comes in a wide variety of cool patterns and colors.
Padded Handle
Of course, one of the highlights of this leash is the padded handle – it’s right in the name, after all. Well, it’s not just some gimmick. This leash is so much more comfortable around the wrist than other leashes. My dog likes to go on really long walks, so the padded handle makes a big difference for me.
Heavy-Duty Gate-Style Snap
I love the snap on this lead! It’s larger than most snaps, and it’s so much easier to put on than those small hook snaps. I also have no fear of it breaking. However, you should know, the LupinePet Padded Handle Dog Leash for small dogs comes with a lightweight trigger snap, which I cannot speak to because I haven’t used one. But I can definitely assure you the gate snap is awesome.
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