A bungee dog lead is a leash which has an elastic portion which allows the lead to extend when it’s pulled, operating in a similar way to a bungee cord. This helps to relieve tension when your dog pulls and stops any jolting feeling if they lunge at something, which reduces the risk of injury to you and your dog.
Are bungee leads good for dogs that pull?
They can work really well for dogs that are prone to pulling. When they go past the initial length of the lead, it will extend further but will apply some resistance which is often enough to stop them from pulling further, making for a more relaxing walk. The further they pull away, the more resistance the lead will apply. If they go too far, of course the lead will reach it’s full extended length and they won’t be able to go any further, so you’re still in full control.
However, some dogs won’t be deterred by the initial resistance of the lead so they may be inclined to push through it. This isn’t really a problem though if you are using an appropriate sized lead as they can still only go as far as the lead allows. The other potential drawback is if you’re trying to keep close control, the bounce that these leads provide may mean they can drift off a little further than you anticipated, but a bit of practice to get used to the limits of the lead should fix this.
Or you can look for a bungee lead with a close control handle like ours which solves this problem and gives you even more control.
Are bungee leads good for dogs that lunge?
Yes! This is where bungee dog leads shine as the repetitive motion of your dog lunging isn’t good for their neck if using a collar, or their body if using a harness. It’s also not great for our shoulders if we have a strong dog. The bungee lead absorbs most of the shock from this jolting motion which makes it safer for you and your dog.
The only drawback here, much like before, is that you do have slightly less control as your lead will allow a bit of give, so you will want to be a bit more vigilant of your dog’s triggers until you get used to using the bungee lead.
Conclusion:
Bungee dog leads are a great tool and can help with some issues you may be facing, but it is also important to be aware of their limitations as they're not a quick fix for behavioural issues.
Overall we are fans of bungee dog leads here at Snootiful Hound, and you can check out our bungee dog lead here which also features a second handle for close control, which fixes the drawbacks we discussed above.
