You can't go wrong with this leash!
This is a GREAT leash. The bungee part is great at absorbing "shocks" from overly rambunctious and excited puppy antics, or the "we're walking" yank you exert on said puppy who is engrossed in whatever particular sniffing task he fancies at the moment. Pros: I didn't think I needed this, but I'm really glad I got it! The leash is easy to use and comfortable; hands-free option is awesome, so you can keep your hands warm and your arms un-yanked, dog seems to have adjusted quickly to bungee aspect and is more responsive (the number of times the bungee has been fully extended during a walk has drastically reduced). Mini-Cons: Leash was longer than I expected, though the length is good for allowing my pup to walk far enough in front of me so I won't "flat-tire" him; if you are slim-waisted and need to cynch the belt fairly tightly, the leash attachment has less of the "single-ply" portion of the leash to run along. The leash attaches to the portion of the waistbelt part between the buckle and the sliding tightening thingie. The leash connecter hook thing does not fit past either, so if you are expecting the leash to be able to swivel around your whole body, that will not be the case. I have my belt set to about 32" and so the leash attachment has basically my front to slide back and forth across. There is also no "fixed" place to make the leash slider attach, though you could easily tie a knot in it. Finally, it's winter now, so I have the waistbelt thing go over a few layers (shirts, sweatshirts) and under my coat. As such, the fabric creates enough padding so that the yanking around the waist isn't a big deal (took a bit getting used to), but I'm not sure how it'll feel once it's summer and I'm wearing fewer layers of "padding". Ditto for running gear. If you have abs of steel, this might be fine for you, or if you can find a way to stabilize it with your hip bones so it doesn't dig into your kidneys, that would be good. However, I don't think that's an issue with this particular leash - the same would be true of any leash attached to a waistbelt. If you are trying to decide between this leash and the Hertzko Hands-Free Leash available here on Amazon, there are a few differences you might take into account: They are similarly constructed, the Hertzko leash is slightly shorter, but the Tuff Mutt leash has that extra handle close to the waist. also, the Tuff Mutt leash "top" is just a D-ring (the hook is attached to the waist, meaning you could theoretically use another leash, or perhaps attach a carabiner to the waist to replace the hook if it ever broke - that could probably swivel all the way around the waist, so a potential work-around for narrow-waisted types), so it's not awkward to just use the leash portion; the Hertzko leash portion has hooks on both ends, and d-rings on the waistbelt (one fixed, one that slides). I also think the Tuff Mutt leash seems a little more "heavy duty" than the Hertzko one, but not by much. Overall, this is an excellent leash, and a must for anyone who walks a dog (or dogs?) regularly - it's nice to not feel like your arm is being torn out of your socket. The bungee part is awesome because it's sort of shock-absorbent, and the convenience of sticking your hands in your warm pockets while walking is unbeatable. This leash has some better "features" than the Hertzko leash, in my opinion, but the one you pick depends on your budget and design aesthetics. Basically, you can't go wrong with this leash! Read more
