Leather Dog Leads/Leashes

Discover the Leather Traditional Lead—where sophistication meets enduring quality for every walk and adventure. This classic leather leash is built for function and longevity.

Premium Quality: Crafted from durable, high-grade American leather that becomes more supple with use. This leather leash improves with age!

Comfortable Grip: Expertly beveled edges ensure a smooth, comfortable hold.

Reliable Hardware: We use only premium stainless steel and solid brass hardware, so you can trust your leash for lasting performance.

Built to Last: No stitching or rivets to wear out, ensuring long-term durability and consistent function. Handmade in Colorado, USA, and backed by our Lifetime Warranty.

Thoughtful Design: medium 1/2 inch wide leads feature elegant leather braids at both ends, adding a touch of sophistication, while XL 3/4 inch leads feature a braided handle have sturdy screw posts at the dog-end.

Warranty and details about our leather and width/size can be found below.

Looking for more options? See our Custom Traditional Lead for more width and hardware choices and a QUICK GRAB handle 

Looking for a different length? See our shorter Traffic Leads or longer leather Tracking Leads.

The Atlas Leash™ is a super long (over 9 feet) multifunctional leash that can be configured a dozen ways. It's the most useful dog leash ever created! Discover why The Atlas Leash™ is the last leash you'll ever need to purchase. 

BLD’s special edition design supports Atlas Assistance Dogs®

We partnered with our friends at Atlas Assistance Dogs® to develop one leash that does just about everything to make life with service dogs more convenient. Specifically, a leash that can be worn to free up your hands, be short, long, and in-between.

The Atlas Leash™ is not just for service dog handlers! Anyone can enjoy the convenience and fine quality of the Swiss army knife of dog leashes.

What makes this leash so special?

1. It’s the first ever Hands-Free Leash with TWO ways to wear that fits any size person and dog: over-the-shoulder or as a belt around the waist
2. When worn over-the-shoulder, this leash has TWO length options
3. The Atlas Leash™ can be configured from EITHER END so you can find the perfect arrangement for you and your dog

• 15% of each purchase is donated to Atlas Assistance Dogs; Learn more at atlasdog.org

Warranty and details about our leather and width/size can be found below.

Features and Benefits

Five O-rings are strategically placed along the length of this leash to offer the most configurations possible. This means that you can take the snap at either end of the leash and clip it to any of the O-rings to make your leash nearly any length you need! “Double Up” the leash by clipping TWO rings at once for even more variations.

• 112 inches (2.85 meters) in overall length
• Makes a 4 ft, 6 ft, 7 ft and 8-foot-long leash
• The belt feature utilizes an adjustable-ring-fob that allows the leash adjusted to fit any size
• When worn over-the-shoulder, this leash:
• Fits people of all sizes and heights
• Can be shortened while wearing
• Use one end to create a smaller cross-body-loop with 58 inches of leash from your hip to the dog; it shortens to 23 inches
• Configure from the other end to create a larger cross-body-loop, with 54 inches of leash from your hip to the dog; it shortens to 28 inches
• Walk 2 dogs (Traffic Lead, available separately makes a great handle) 

• Use for dual-control: clip both ends to a harness (front and back); or clip one end to the regular collar, and the other end to a training harness or halter.

Videos

The 8-Way Lead™ is our most popular leash design for people who are serious about quality dog gear. This European style, multi-functional lead is so versatile it’s like having eight leashes in one!

Our 8-Way Leads features a bolt snap at each end, 3 fixed rings, and one loose ring. This leash does NOT HAVE A FIXED LOOP HANDLE, rather, it has a bolt snap at each end so you can use the leash in any configuration. This means that you can form a loop handle by clipping the bolt snap at the "handle-end" onto the first fixed ring. As with all leashes handcrafted in our own workshop, the 8-Way comes with our unmatched Lifetime Warranty.

6 ft. 8-Way Functionality Highlights

• Just over six feet long at approximately 82 inches/208 cm long from bolt snap to bolt snap.
• Can be shortened or lengthened to make variable lengths (6, 4 ½, or 3 ½ foot lead)
• Excellent as a hands-free leash that can be worn across your body by placing the leash over your shoulder (6 ft. version is approximately 4.5 ft. from your shoulder to the dog)
• Dual Control Option: you can connect one end of the leash to a training collar, and one to a regular collar
• Great for obedience training, service dogs, pet dogs, and for use with head collars or harnesses
• This multi-functional lead can be clipped to a collar or harness, or may be used as a slip-collar for effective yet gentle training

8 ft. long 8×8 Lead™

The 8 ft. long 8×8 Lead™ has all the same features, but is eight feet long with the handle configured, and approximately 105"/266 cm from bolt snap to bolt snap.

• This extra-long lead is designed for tall or larger people and/or short or small breed dogs
• It shortens to a 6, or 4 1/2-foot lead
• When worn hands-free over the shoulder, it’s approximately 6 ft. from your shoulder to the dog

Info about warranty, leather and width/size can be found below

Videos

Custom Options

1) Would you prefer a different hardware color? Check the box to have your leash made with the "other" hardware color. Examples:

• Tan Leather comes with brass - Change to tan with stainless steel hardware
• Black Leather comes with stainless stee - Change to black with solid brass hardware
  

2) Would you like a belt option? Check the box to add an Adjustable Ring Fob to the center segment to wear the leash around your waist.

3) Does your dog chew or bite the leash? Have your leash made with a premium flat link stainless steel chain at the dog-end of the leash. Loose ring for slip collar will be omitted. Only available on XL 3/4" size, heavy-duty chain (all hardware will be silver). 

A BLD exclusive design helps you travel effortlessly and avoid the pat down at TSA.

This versatile, metal-free, premium leather slip lead is ideal for frequent flyers who travel with service/assistance dogs or pets permitted to fly aboard airplanes. It's perfect for working dog handlers who visit secure sites including courthouses.

• Versatile, hardware-free all-in-one leash/collar design ideal for traveling
• Conveniently pass right through security checkpoints and metal detectors
• Dog remains safely leashed while your belongings are screened separately
• Can be worn as a harness by looping the lead under the dog’s chest and back through the collar for more control
• Easy to use slip-collar and leash combo fits any size dog
  
• Artisan handcrafted in Colorado, USA from premium, full grain leather
• Lifetime warranty

6 foot long, 1/2 and 5/8 inch widths are IN STOCK and ship quickly! Please allow 3-5 business days for other sizes to be made-to-order. 

Please note: Six foot long leashes are made with two pieces of leather braided together 24 inches below the handle due to the inherent size limitation of leather hides.

Video

Sizing

Width:

• Small (3/8” / 7mm. width): Best for smaller and medium sized dogs.
• Medium (1/2” / 11mm. width): Great for medium sized dogs, yet sturdy enough for large dogs. *Most popular choice! *
• Large (5/8” / 14mm. width): Great for larger dogs, or those that like a heavier, sturdy feeling leash.

Length:

Choose the overall length of the leash: 4 or 6 feet. Remember your dog’s neck will use some of the length so the functional leash will be shorter. Six foot leashes will be made with two pieces of leather, with a braided splice 2 ft. below the handle.

Black leather collar and leash combination shown as a slip-collar on a mannequin dog, made with no metal for TSA-friendly, easy security screening.

Short and simple, this Traffic Lead is ideal for heeling or walking a big dog in public. 

The short length allows direct control over the dog when a long leash is just too much. When attached to a collar or harness, it is just the right length to walk comfortably without a long leash to manage.

Makes a great leash to use with a coupler, or to add a handle to a specialty design like our Wheelchair Leashes.

This is the best quality dog leash you will find anywhere. We use only the best and most durable leather that is always soft to the touch and only improves with age. All edges are beveled for a smooth feel and each leash features top quality hardware that ensures strength and durability. 

Sizing

Select Length:

• Loop style: 12″ 
• Short Leash style: 18″, 24″, or 30″
  

Choose the width:

• ½” wide (12.7 mm): Great for medium sized dogs, yet sturdy enough for larger dogs. Great for people with petite hands, or who prefer a lighter weight leash. Medium sized hardware. Short lead styles are braided at both ends.
• ¾” wide (19 mm): Sized for large, giant, and very strong dogs. Great for people who like a big, sturdy leash. Heavy duty hardware. Crafted with screw posts at the “dog end” of the lead for durability.

Leather & Hardware Options

Standard Leather and Hardware Color:

• Black leather with stainless steel/silver color hardware
• Tan leather with solid brass (gold color)

*If you'd like to change the hardware color - select “Make with OTHER Color Hardware” in the "Customize It!" section. *Note: brass hardware on collars can stain white/light coated dogs. Sometimes the oil in dogs’ coats can create tarnish, a harmless chemical reaction. 

Double-ended safety cord serves as a back-up attachment for your leash. 

Use with head halters, prong collars, martingales, front clip harnesses, or any type of training tool as a fallback plan. Just in case. Why? Because sometimes you need peace of mind by having two points of attachment. Excellent option for Houdini dogs who somehow wriggle their way out of their gear or shake loose from the leash or harness.

BLD’s Leather Safety Cords are designed for use with head halters, training collars, martingales, front clip harnesses, or any type of training tool as a fallback plan to ensure your dog stays securely connected.

Size/Style Options

1) Braided Leather Safety Cord is made with double-braided leather and two bolt snaps

• Small: Approx. 7.5 inches (20 cm) long, is made from 3/8″ width leather and small hardware
• Medium: Approx. 9 inches (26 cm) long, is made from 1/2″ width leather and medium hardware
  
  

2) Ultimate Safety Connectors are made with our special Locking Carabiner Snaps (LCS) that securely lock closed. Choose single or double carabiners. ONLY AVAILABLE IN BRASS

• XL Ultimate: 3/4″ wide leather connector is approximately 7.5″ long (20 cm)
  
  • Double Locking Carabiner Snap 
  • Single LCS, one bolt snap
• Small Ultimate: 3/8" wide leather, approximately 5.5" long
  • Double Locking Carabiner Snap 
  • Single LCS, one bolt snap

Using Carabiners

How to use Locking Carabiner Snap:

1. Spin the lock to open (clockwise) and release the gate
2. Snap onto the dog’s collar or harness
3. Spin the lock closed (counterclockwise) to secure the gate
4. Always spin the lock completely closed when in use on the dog’s collar or leash to ensure the snap is locked

Caution! Locking Carabiner snaps must be fully locked closed when in use. Failure to spin the gate lock closed may cause the hook to bend out of alignment and fail. The lock sheath reinforces the hook part of the snap to make it secure. BLD’s leash warranty assumes proper use of this snap.

When an ordinary leash just won't do, BLD's Leather Tracking Lead is custom-made to your specifications. 

Choose from four widths and various lengths to ensure the right size for both you and your dog. Handmade in Colorado, USA, and backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

Premium Quality: Crafted from durable, high-end full grain American leather that becomes more supple with use.

Comfortable Grip: Expertly beveled edges ensure a smooth, comfortable hold

Reliable Hardware: We use only premium stainless steel and solid brass hardware, so you can trust your leash for lasting performance

Built to Last: No stitching or rivets to wear out, ensuring long-term durability and consistent function

Thoughtful Design:  smaller widths feature elegant leather braids at both ends, adding a touch of sophistication, while larger widths feature a braided handle and are reinforced with sturdy screw posts at the dog-end.

Customization

Choose the hardware color, handle style, assembly style, and make other notes to customize your leash!

• For the handle end, indicate if you’d like a regular handle loop fastened with a braid (standard option if not specified), screw posts, or NO handle at all. You can add a ring to the handle if you desire.
• Tracking Leads are made with a splice. Since the length of a single leather strap is limited by the length of a leather hide. In most cases, we splice the leather at 5-6 foot increments
• Braided splice is standard (as shown) and is the strongest option. If you have a specific location you’d like the splices, let us know (braided splices make excellent grips or distance gauges).
• Larger widths (L 5/8″ & XL 3/4″) are made with screw posts at the dog end for durability. Braids are used at other splice points. You can request no braids if you prefer screw posts.
• Smaller widths (S 3/8″ & M 1/2″) are always braided at the ends and splices.

Handcrafted in own workshop!

Sizing

Length:

Available in lengths ranging from 8ft to 20ft.

Choose Width Size:

• Small (3/8” / 7mm. width)— Best for smaller and medium sized dogs. Braided at both ends and at each spot where two straps of material meet. This narrow width is very secure and has small yet strong hardware.  Always braided at the ends and splices.
• Medium (1/2” / 11mm. width)— Most popular choice! Great for medium sized dogs, yet sturdy enough for larger dogs. Great for people with petite hands, or who prefer a lighter weight leash. Always braided at the ends and splices.
• Large (5/8” / 14mm. width)— Sized for larger dogs. Fits well in your hands. A good sturdy weight with larger hardware. Made with screw posts at the dog end for durability & braids are used at other splice points. You can request no braids if you prefer screw posts.
• Extra Large (3/4” / 17mm. width)— Sized for large, giant, and very strong dogs. Great for people who like a big, sturdy leash. Heavy duty hardware. Made with screw posts at the dog end for durability & braids are used at other splice points. You can request no braids if you prefer screw posts. *TAN HEAVY WEIGHT option is available by request if you need a monster leash.
• Heavy Duty (1″ wide / 24mm. width)— A monster leash. Seriously, It’s gigantic and super heavy.  ONLY made with screw posts for durability–Braids NOT available for this size.

*Note: Smaller widths (S 3/8″ & M 1/2″) are always braided at the ends and splices.

*Larger widths (L 5/8″ & XL 3/4″) are made with screw posts at the dog end for durability and braids are used at other splice points. You can request no braids if you prefer screw posts.

Looking for a continuous length or a longer lead? Checkout our Brahma Leads here.

Leather & Hardware Options

Hardware Options:

Hardware Options:

Bolt snaps, as shown, are the most reliable hardware we’ve found for this leash. Choose solid brass or stainless steel.

Our exclusive swivel Shackle Snap is now available! See details here.

Alternate hardware is available for the XL 3/4″ width if desired. Sorry, no other hardware selections available for the XXL 1″ width. 

About our leather:

BLACK LATIGO leather

Our latigo is a lovely deep black and superior to ordinary leather in texture and quality. Latigo has a high tensile strength and tanned specifically for quality horse tack and premium pet products. Your leash will start out a bit firm yet flexible and will very quickly soften with just a few uses and continues to get better with age. The rich black color will not bleed or fade because it is struck through the leather in the tanning process, not just dyed on the surface. Made in North America from select heavy US native steer hides.

English Bridle Leather in LONDON TAN

English bridle has a supple, satin-smooth finish  and satisfying hand feel that is simply unmatched. This high-end leather in London Tan, cherished in the 19th century for the finest horse tack, ages to a warm patina while keeping its light brown and orange tones. This full grain leather is 100% veg tanned with no metals or harsh chemicals from only the best North American cow hides. ("English" refers to the style of tanning rather than a location. It does not darken the same our oiled golden tan leather.)

Golden TAN BRIDLE leather

This lovely brown 100% American vegetable-tanned leather, made with NO dyes or toxic metallic chemicals. Reminiscent of fine English horse tack. Every golden tan leash is HAND-OILED to bring out the softness, so your leash arrives supple and feels great in your hands immediately and only improves with age. The color will darken with use and age. This is our choice leather for products where a lighter weight material with excellent strength is necessary.

Leather Care

Leather care is easy! Don’t worry too much, and don’t be afraid to use your items — we promise leather is incredibly resilient, and regular weather won’t hurt it. If you think your item looks dirty, dry, or just need a little extra love, pouring a little leather conditioner on a cloth, and rubbing it in like lotion will usually do the trick. Baths and a jaunt in the river are just fine, but you might want to offer a little conditioner to your products afterwards. Saltwater can be harsh, so after a visit to the ocean, a good rinse in fresh water and proper conditioning will help preserve and protect your treasured leash or collar. See our Leather Care page for more specific information.

Warranty

We stand behind the quality of our products. Bold Lead Designs’ handcrafted leather & Brahma products that we make in our workshop are guaranteed against defects in materials and craftsmanship for life!

If your leather or Brahma leash, training equipment, or harness ever breaks or is damaged from regular use, simply contact Bold Lead Designs for a replacement or repair at no charge. There is no time limit. This is the best warranty in the industry.

Warranty is limited to replacement or repair of covered product only, and does not cover things outside of our control such as chewing, neglect, misuse, normal wear, external trauma or damage from an accident, or customer alterations. Customer is responsible for all related shipping costs.

FYI: Even if the item is not covered it often can be made functional again with a repair for a reasonable cost.

Exclusions: Items we don’t make in our workshop, such as accessories and consumable items, and items made of cloth/fabric are excluded. Non-leather and non-Brahma items, bldBASICS, any item sold  "as-is", used, on clearance, that is imperfect and any item marked with a star is excluded from this warranty or guarantee. Some customized options may be excluded from warranty; such excluded items will be sold with information indicating a warranty is not included. 

This is THE OFFICIAL guide dog leash specifically designed for guide dog users and is trusted by some of the best-known guide dog training schools in the country.

BLD’s Guide Dog Lead is a 2-position multi-functional leash and is a perfect choice for anyone who prefers a simple, versatile, yet no-nonsense leash. This leash has bolt snaps on each end and can be configured into a long and short length.

Our Guide Dog Leads are crafted with a special braid pattern for reliability (no rivets or stitching to wear out).

Length:

This leash is 63 inches (160 cm) in overall length including snaps and can be adjusted to make a 52 inch and 34 inch long leash (132 cm and 86 cm). 

Hardware

Hardware:

Guide Dog Leads come standard with premium stainless steel bolt snaps (shown). They are the highest quality and most reliable snaps we’ve found. Special hardware or modification is available by request. Contact us for a custom order!

Need something different?

Custom orders are available! Guide Dog Leads can be made in other lengths, widths, and with different hardware. Contact us and let us know what you need.

Width/Size and Hardware

Material and Width Options:

• The Chestnut Guide Dog Leash comes in 9/16 inch width (14.3 mm) with stainless steel hardware, with a LARGE SNAP at the dog end and medium size bolt snap at the handle end.
• The London Tan comes in 1/2 width (12.7 mm) and has medium size snaps solid brass snaps at both ends
• The Black latigo leather comes in 1/2 width (12.7 mm) and has medium size, stainless steel snaps at both ends

CHESTNUT English Bridle Leather in 9/16 inch width (14.3 mm) Chestnut is a rich red-ish brown color, and the texture and feel of English bridle leather is of unmistakable quality. It has the same characteristics as our London Tan. All hardware is stainless steel.

Our English Bridle Leather in LONDON TAN in 1/2 width has a supple, satin-smooth finish and satisfying hand feel that is simply unmatched. This high-end leather in London Tan, cherished in the 19th century for the finest horse tack, ages to a warm patina while keeping its light brown and orange tones. This full grain leather is 100% veg tanned with no metals or harsh chemicals from only the best North American cow hides. (“English” refers to the style of tanning rather than a location. Solid brass (gold colored) hardware is standard.

Our lovely BLACK LATIGO leather is solid black, and superior to ordinary leashes in texture and quality, cut from select from USA hides. It is incredibly durable, yet is very flexible. Feels great in your hands and will simply get better with age.