When it comes to walking your dog, having the right equipment to hand is essential to ensuring your dog's safety and comfort.
One of the most important bits of kit to think about is your dog's lead. Dog leads have a variety of different uses and come in varying lengths, widths, fabrics and styles.
Not only are dog leads a legal requirement when walking along roads in the UK, they are also important tools for training and exercise.
Choosing the right type of dog lead will help you get the most out of your walks and prevent any bad walking habits from developing. Remember, this product is something you'll be using every day, which is why it's important to get it right!
So, whether you have a large dog breed or a new puppy, this guide has all the info you need to choose the right Barc London dog lead for you and pup.
Types of dog leads available:
Find the perfect lead for you and your dog:
Step 1: Purpose
The first thing to consider is the style of dog walking activities you will be engaging in most with your dog. Will this lead be used for everyday walks and exercise, or are you planning on using the lead to train a specific skill?
Step 2: Length & width
Think about the areas you will be walking with your dog most frequently. If you live in the countryside, it's unlikely you'll require as much control as when you're out and about walking in public areas.
Your dog's size and strength will also play a role in determining the correct lead length and width.
Step 3: Material
Dog leads are available in lots of different materials, so you should spend some time thinking about which one suits your needs. Leads that have been made from a high quality fabric or type of leather tend to be the most popular, as they offer both durability and comfort.
Step 4: Your dog's collar
Whatever dog lead you choose needs to be able to attach securely to your dog's collar. Clasp size is important - if the lead clips are too big, they won't be able to fix onto your collar.
The Barc London dog lead range explained
We currently offer two types of dog leads in our collection. It's important to buy the right leash with confidence, so we've included the below information to help you choose.
However if there is anything you're unsure about, or if you still have unanswered questions, get in touch with the team and we'll be happy to help!
City Dog Leads
If you're looking for a short dog leash, our City dog leads are just what you need!
Shorter leads are designed to provide more control when walking in small or crowded areas, so if you live in a busy town or want to keep your dog close in tow, these products work perfectly.
Usually, a short dog lead will measure around 4 ft in length. Here at Barc, our City Leads come in two lead lengths, dependent on the material you choose:
- The Vegan City Leads have a lead length of 143 cm (56 inch / 4.6 foot)
- The Fabric City Leads are shorter, with a lead length of 100 cm (39 inch / 3.28 foot).
Sizes Available:
With just one lead length available for each fabric, the difference in size refers to the leash's width. When buying a dog lead, it's important to choose the correct width, because believe it or not, dog lead width matters - a lot!
To find the right width, you're looking for a size that is both comfortable for your hand, and able to handle your dog's size, weight and strength.
Barc's Fabric City Leads are available in four sizes (as shown in the image below) to match the correlating fabric dog collar and harnesses we offer:
- XS = 1 cm lead width
- S = 1.5 cm lead width
- M = 2 cm lead width
- L = 2.5 cm lead width
Unlike the fabric leads, our Vegan City Leads are available in two sizes (as shown in the image below):
- For smaller dogs, we recommend choosing an XS/S = 1.6 cm lead width
- For larger, stronger dogs, we recommend choosing an M/L/XL = 2.5 cm lead width
Top Tip: If you're looking for a matching dog lead and collar, our Vegan City Leads can be purchased as a set.
Fabrics Available:
- Vegan leather
- Premium nylon fabric
Colour choices:
- Vegan leather - light ivory, fresh lilac, lush green, blush pink, ash grey, coastal blue
- Nylon fabric - champagne stripe, candyfloss stripe, liquorice Stripe, Wild At Heart Foundation design
Product Features:
- Heavy duty locking clip / clasp
- Comfortable dog lead handle
- Additional rivet for support
- D Ring pick-up bag holder
- Quality stitching
- Can be purchased as a set
Price: £29
What our customers think:
"Such a good item. It's super cute and comfortable to hold, as well as being great quality. The clip is thick and sturdy and perfect for my strong pup."
- Louise M (reviewing Candyfloss Stripe Fabric City Lead)
"Chew proof! My puppy is learning to wear a harness and lead so he is constantly biting on it. I'm surprised the products are in great condition still. Very nice looking as well!"
- Ly N (reviewing Liquorice Stripe Fabric City Lead)
"This set has changed my life. Before I got this, nobody would even give me a second look in the dog park. Now me and my pooch are the most popular duo around, thanks to Barc!"
- Ben M (reviewing Lush Green City Lead)
Extendable Dog Leads
Also referred to as 'versatile dog leads', our extendable lead range is the better choice for giving your dog more freedom to explore while out on walks.
With an extendable dog lead, you can adjust the lead length using the three clips featured.
Although this lead is only available to be bought in one size, it can be adjusted to three additional lengths, which means you can use it for lots of different styles of walking.
Depending on your and your dog's height, this product can also be used as a cross-body hands free dog lead. However we only recommend wearing the lead in this way if your dog is lead trained and doesn't pull during walks.
At its full length, this multi-purpose dog lead measures 195.5 cm (76.9 inch / 6.4 foot). Using the extra D rings that feature along the lead it can be shortened to the following sizes:
- Short length: 104 cm
- Medium length: 146 cm
- Long length: 179 cm
The width size of our extendable dog lead products measures 2.5 cm.
Important: Please note that our extendable lead range cannot be used with XS collars or harnesses due to the clasp size.
Because of the larger width and clasp size, we feel these leads are best suited to mid-sized / bigger dogs at buyer's discretion.
Fabric Available:
- Vegan leather
Colour choices:
- Light ivory, fresh lilac, lush green, blush pink, ash grey, coastal blue
- 2 heavy duty clips / clasps
- 3 D rings along the lead
- Additional rivet
- Comfortable dog lead handle
- Quality stitching
- Option to wear cross-body
Price: £34
What our customers think:
"Works wonders for walking! Bought this lead to use with my miniature dachshund puppy and it’s a game changer! He used to pull quite a lot when walking, no matter what we tried. Used this lead crossbody for the first time on the shortest leash setting and now he walks wonderfully!
I’ve given him a bit more leash now after a few weeks of use, but he still sticks to my side! Best investment I’ve made, so much so I’ve bought another one for our new pup who arrives in a few weeks! The quality is great and is really comfortable to wear. I can’t recommend this enough”
- Jess (reviewing Coastal Blue Extendable Lead)
“This lead really has been a game changer for us. The vegan leather is so soft and doesn’t cause friction as many other leads do. The extendable function is so helpful and we’re able to utilise the lead in a number of ways. Very happy with our purchase.”
- Yasmin L (reviewing Ash Grey Extendable Lead)
Ready to shop?
Head over to our dog lead range and buy your pup's new lead today!
