i really want a leather leash that is butter soft and strong as steel. i have been looking online but have to rely on the written descriptions of the items. have any of you ordered a leash like this and reccommned the place you got it? if not, and your leashes have gotten the "old leather" feel quickly by "product" what did you use on it?

I love the leashes here.....

www.boldleaddesigns.com

The leather leashes are butter soft and just keep getting better.

I love the braided leads from here.

http://www.onlead.biz/

I have the red and black one for Luke and the black and purple for Raven. The girl that makes them is in the training class before us on Tuesday nights.

I LOVE the show leash I use to show Nikon. It's from Alpha1. Mine is short (UKC rings are small) but I think you can order any length. It's very soft, malleable, feels almost rubbery, but is super strong. I was going between showing and lure coursing the other day and he lunges nonstop waiting for his turn to course and the leash held up. This is by far the softest (and probably the strongest) of all my leads and I have some from several more popular working/Schutzhund suppliers.

I picked up a leash we have used on Gidget the past two years. It is harness leather, but the loop where your hand goes is lined with deerskin. Over the past two years, the leather has softened, but the leash is still just as strong. It also has brass hardware. I think it was $20 at Pet Supermarket though I can't remember the name of it now :\

I had a thin, light weight training leash custom made for 17 lbs Chipster, and now use it with large dogs, too, for the better connection and feel:
Deluxe Do It All Leather Dog Leash
http://www.ldsleather.com/leashes.html#european
I called them and spoke with the cobbler herself and she recommended a super butter soft leather. It has been fantastic from the first moment on. Almost five years now, and like new. It's been envied many times!

Suzanne Clothier offers this style of leash now, too, in many variations:
flyingdogpress.com/clothier/QCLeads2010.pdf
http://flyingdogpress.com/Merchant2/merc...tegory_Code=QCL

Beyond training needs, I love leashes that I can clip to my belt or wear around my waist so I can walk my trained dogs hands free in areas with leash laws.

I love my Leerburg leashes! They start out quite stiff, but soften up quickly with use and become quite flexible. No stretching, no fading, and they look as good as new, even when wet sandy dogs lay on them in the car on the way home from the beach, or they get muddy at Point Isabel. They are fairly thick though, so I don't know if that's what you're looking for. I've never treated them with any products.

My previous leashes stretched, the tan one stained, they'd get stiff from saltwater, and the hardware seized up on one of them, making it almost impossible to get it on or off. The quality of my Leerburg leashes is SO much better!

oddly i have the leerburg leashes. they are now 2.5 years.i have a 1/2 inch nad a 3/4 inch. i find they are getting "furry" on the underside and although they were soft when i got them, they are now ruff no matter how i try to soften them.


thanks all for the suggestions!!t

I've handled/used both of these (not mine) and they are both amazingly soft and supple on the hands. I've only used the top, braided one on small dogs though so not sure how strong. I *know* Lies' lead is strong and I love how it feels - I'm looking into getting one if I'm going to continue to show Kastle in UKC...

The ones from LeatherNature.com are the softest leather leashes i've found.

I ordered this thin one for Jazz, 3/8" here:
http://www.allk-9.com/super-soft-premium-leather-dog-leash-with-braided-ends-p-829.html

Unfortunately, while it was 3/8", it was double layered, which you can kinda see in the pic now if you look, o too heavy for a small dog. It is soooo soft though. I would have had no heitation using this leash for Max, it's a nice leash, particularly for the price! It does have a slightly longer hand loop than most, and it's not riveted, which one review says it is. If it weren't for the thickness, it would have been be the perfect leash.

I was able to get a new thin leather leash through the women that makes them for my trainer, but she is going out of business, so I stocked up on a few extra.

Here is the link to their website.. http://www.leathernature.com/, I forgot to put it in my other post. Sorry!

I use to use my old horse riens Draft or riding I found them soft supple and strong Had very good communication with them

I also use leather horse reins and parts off leather bridle. Our families horses are deceased. And I like remember them When I use them.