The LifeHandle leash system can be a great way to keep your canine companion safe in the field. (Photo By: Kali Parmley)
Not all leashes are created equal—I’ve learned that notion plenty of times over the years. Too short, too long, too thin, too heavy. I’ve also learned—the hard way at times—how difficult it is to carry gear to the field all while trying to wrangle a rambunctious young bird dog—or two.
In the early stages of training both my Lab and English setter, my go-to was a slip lead leash for quick corrections with the ultimate goal of eventually being able to use a hands-free leash. Once my dogs learned that pulling on a leash wasn’t acceptable and the “heel” command must be obeyed, I turned to finding a hands-free alternative when my dogs absolutely had to be leashed—think pit stops while on the road during hunting season, field trials, around your neighborhood, etc.
The LifeHandle Hands-Free leash system is the perfect pairing to any canine field kit and fits easily inside your bird hunting vest between uses. (Photo By: Kali Parmley) A hands-free leash allowed a few things for me: The obvious being that it freed up my two hands to carry gear or just have free hands for numerous tasks; and it also helped greatly while learning to handle two dogs at once. I had my older Lab who understood walking at heel, while my young setter was just learning. I could leash my Lab with a hands-free leash, freeing my hands to hold my pup’s slip lead for quick corrections.
After many trial and error leash purchases, I found a system that worked for me in the LifeHandle Hands-Free Dog Leash system.
(Watch the video to see the LifeHandle Hands-Free leash system in action).
It’s all in the Details My dogs aren’t perfect, and sometimes a squirrel gets the best of them. Traditional hands-free leashes lack the proper padding, handles, and give that is needed when those unexpected pulls happen.
The Hands-Free Leash System from LifeHandle starts with a padded sling that goes over your shoulder and across your upper torso to help distribute force on the leash evenly across your core. This helps keep pressure off your shoulder or hips to prevent injury when your dog pulls your body when you least expect it.
One of the great features of the LifeHandle system is that the leash can be connected or quickly disconnected from the sling for double the use thanks to a connection point found on both the sling and leash. Unlike other hands-free leashes that feature no handles, the LifeHandle leash has two loop handles placed near the sling and at the midway point of the leash to help issue corrections to your dog whether you’re utilizing the hands-free sling or as a standalone leash. The loop handle can handle up to 25 pounds of pull force, meaning the leash can handle your 40-pound setter all the way up to your larger Labs.
The LifeHandle Hands-Free leash system is both stylish and functional. (Photo By: Kali Parmley) In the Field The leash doesn’t look like a traditional sporting dog leash as it lacks leather and gold hooks, however, don’t let that turn you away.
The sling comfortably fit over my hunting strap vest, making it easy to leash my dog (or dogs) when heading from the truck to my hunting spot. This freed up my hands to carry my over/under, store my keys in a secure pocket, and hook my e-collar transmitter to my vest—all with my dog leashed at my side.
The LifeHandle Hands-Free leash system is comfortable for both you and your gun dog. (Photo By: Kali Parmley) The LifeHandle system packs down enough to easily store in my vest’s game bag while afield, or in my dog’s gear bag that stays in the bed of my truck. I’ve utilized the LifeHandle for multiple hunts this season and found that it’s a leash system that will stay in my kit for easily handling of my two bird dogs.
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