Goldilocks decisions: Finding a leash that's 'just right'

The leash and harness that works for one dog may be a nightmare for another

Photo credit: Shamontiel L. Vaughn

Not all heroes wear capes, but ERUW certainly came close with their padded leash. Voyager won me over with their Step-In Mesh Dog Harnesses too. In fact, I love these two options so much that I own four harnesses (in different colors) and two of the leashes. As a two-year dog walker of 84 dogs and 500 completed dog walks, I found pet walking supplies that aren’t too hard, aren’t too soft, they’re just right.

And I didn’t realize how particular I was about leashes and harnesses until after I took a year off to enjoy adopting a puppy. I missed Wag! walking and rejoined exactly one year later. During my first dog walk with a new dog (number 85), everything about the walk was all wrong—and it all came down to the leash and the harness.

A dog walker’s journey to the best pet walking supplies

I’ve used just about every harness and leash there is—from Martingale Collars and Slip Leads to Retractable Leashes and Bungee Leashes. I’ve lucked out in avoiding Shock Collars, but multiple uses of a Prong Collar made me both relieved to not be yanked down the street and wincing at having to put it on a dog’s neck.

I can even admit to looking like a teenage boy trying to unhook a girl’s bra every single time I wrestle with an Easy Walk Dog Harness or Roman Harness. People who are pros at putting those on are the real pet MVPs of life. I was relieved when Wag! gave dog walkers the option to use the leash of their choice, even if the pet owner has another option available. That made it much easier for me, both comfort wise and being knowledgeable about how to use my go-to walking supplies.

With all of these pet walking options, how can a dog owner (or dog walker) figure out which dog walking paraphernalia is best for them in the first place? Here are a few tips.