Choosing the correct leash will either make walking your Malamute easy or hard. There are many different views on what type of leash works best for Malamutes, so I will first address that issue. I will then run through the best leashes for a Alaskan Malamute.
For those who don’t want to read the full article, here’s a quick snapshot of our overall winners. If you want to know a little more about each leash, continue reading! 👍
| Leash | Type | Rating | Price |
| MayPaw Heavy Duty Rope Dog Leash See Leash | Rope | A* | $ |
| Mendota Products Slip 6ft Leash See Leash | Rope | A | $$ |
| Flexi Giant Retractable Tape Leash See Leash | Retractable | A* | $$$ |
| TUG 360 Retractable Tape Leash See Leash | Retractable | A | $$ |
| SparklyPets Hands-Free Dog Leash See Leash | Bungee | A | $$ |
It’s always good to do a little research before making a purchase, but sometimes you come across contrasting opinions that do not help in making a decision.
When it comes leashes you have some owners promoting how good retractable leashes are, and others who apparently hate them.
So what’s right? Should a Malamute walk with a retractable leash? rope leash, or bungee leash?
Well, the truth is that all Malamutes and owners are different. A retractable leash may work well for your Malamute and you, but not for someone else. The only way to really know is to try each one for yourself.
The good old standard leash remains to be the most widely used kind of leash.
There are different styles of the standard leash. You can get rope leashes, flat leashes, nylon leashes, rubber leashes and they also come in various fixed lengths.
The most common length for a standard leash is 6ft or 10ft, but you can get longer options. Longer options can be used when training your Malamute to go-off leash.
The rope leash is my personal preference due to their simplicity and durability. A good rope leash could last years before needing to be replaced. But not all people think the same, for many owners, there are a few fundamental issues with the standard kind of leash.
Perhaps the main issue with standard leashes is that they do not give any kind of cushioning if your Malamute pulls.
For puppies, who aren’t yet very strong, a standard leash is perfect, but for adult Malamutes who aren’t particularly well-behaved one big pull could cause you or them serious injury.
And lastly, if you ever want a longer or shorter leash, you’re going to need to buy another one. As standard leashes are fixed and not retractable.
Pros
Cons
Retractable leashes are next on the list.
The first and most obvious benefit of a retractable leash is the fact that it’s retractable. The leash will automatically extend out when your Malamute wants to walk a little further, and it will also retract back in when your Malamute comes back to you. You can also set the retractable leash to hold the same length at any given point.
Avoiding the slack is particularly helpful when it comes to getting tangled up. Malamutes love to run around so whenever they quickly run back on themself, the leash will automatically adjust, leaving no chance of getting caught up.
Despite the clear benefits and functionality, there are some very strong opinions about why retractable leads are dangerous. So let’s take a look at that.
Retractables are a little difficult to use. Switching between the lock and unlocked feature is something you constantly have to do. When walking by a busy road it’s up to you to remember to put the lock on for safety reasons. Just like when you reach a wide-open space, if your Malamute decides to run and you haven’t taken the lock off, you’re in for a big shock!
Retractable leashes require constant awareness and you must be reading your Malamute at all times.
Another issue that many have with retractable leashes is that they are quite weak and if your Malamute decides to give you one big pull, it could break. This is a clear safety hazard that could have many big consequences.
Strength and durability will change depending on the brand you opt for, but it’s something to be taken seriously.
Pros
Cons
Bungee leashes or otherwise known as waist/hands-free leashes are ideal for those who like to run or jog with their Malamute. But in recent times they have become popular for just regular walks too.
Bungee leashes come with a belt, that belt goes around your waist, this is connected to a bungee that connects to your Malamute.
The two main features are that you don’t need to hold the leash with your hands, and secondly, the bungee takes away all yanking due to its elasticity.
The amazing part is that when your Malamute pulls, it gradually stretches and applies increasing pressure to him before it does with you. Your Malamute will feel the resistance first and (hopefully) stop pulling before you get pulled at all.
I have not personally tried a bungee leash but I hear many good things about them. People often refer to bungee leashes as the middle ground between standard leashes and retractable leashes.
However, like with the other leashes, there are also some drawbacks. For me the main issue with these leashes would be when in an emergency, sometimes you do need to have a strong no-give hold on your dog, this could be to stop them from running into a dangerous situation. A bungee cord would be the worst type of leash to deal with in an emergency situation.
Secondly, it just seems a little inconvenient when you want to hold or grab your Malamute for any reason. The leash is not near your hands when you need it to be.
Pros
Cons
Below are my top picks for leashes that best suit a Malamute. These are considered to be overall winners and the benefits of each one don’t really outweigh that of another one.
I have included the best leashes of each kind because not all of you may want to try the same kind of leash. That’s completely fine! If you would like to check the customer reviews of each leash, I recommend clicking through to the product page to see them.
Key Features:
✔️ Thick 1/2 Inch Diameter Nylon Rope
✔️ Soft foam hand to prevent rubbing
✔️ 360° Heavy Duty Rotation Clip
✔️ 6ft Length for close control
✔️ Multiple Colors
If you’re considering a rope leash then I really recommend the heavy-duty 6ft rope leash from May Paw on Amazon. For me, this is the best rope leash for a Malamute on the market today.
It’s inexpensive, extremely durable, and comes with a foam handle padding which will stop the rope rubbing in your hands.
This thick rope leash will last you a long time and is made specifically for strong medium to large-sized dogs.
With hundreds of 5-star reviews and an affordable price tag, it’s hard to go wrong. I really recommend checking it out on Amazon.
Key Features:
✔️ Very well made
✔️ Thoroughly inspected for safety
✔️ Applies sight tension at all times which encourages your Malamute not to pull (unlike many other retractables)
✔️ Tape leash is strong and durable
✔️ 26ft flesh. Good for off-leash progression training
If you want to try a retractable leash, I recommend the Flexi Giant. For a long time, I recommended the TUG 360° and I still do, but I have recently heard so many positive things about the Flexi Giant I just can’t ignore it! so for now this is the best retractable leash for a Malamute on the market.
For myself and many others, the best part of the leash is just how well-made it is. From the handle to the tape leash and the strong clips, this leash doesn’t have many reports of breaking.
I also like the fact that the strong spring inside keeps a little bit of tension on your Malamute at all times. This encourages him not to pull and also keeps the tape leash tight without slack. Having slack is really frustrating and will often get caught up in your Malamute’s legs.
Related: Best Brushes for a Alaskan Malamute
When it comes to Malamute puppies it’s important to remember a few things: Malamute puppies are still small, they are not strong like an adult and they love to dash around fast.
Puppies are easily spooked by leashes if they drag on the floor behind them or if they get caught up in their legs.
Training your puppy to walk properly and sensibly on the leash is a serious part of his training and isn’t to be overlooked. Developing good walking habits young will result in greater obedience when out on walks in the future.
For Malamute puppies, I recommend either a short 5ft or 6ft standard leash, or a short retractable leash. The bonus of walking a puppy is that they are not strong and they can’t really pull you, so that’s nothing to worry about.
One important thing to remember is to keep up the slack when you walk your puppy. Puppies are crazy little creatures and will suddenly dash out in a random direction. If you have a long leash with a lot of slack, your puppy could zoom off away from you, this could be very dangerous, so keep the slack maintained and your puppy close to you.
While your puppy is young, it’s the perfect time to train him to walk close to you and there’s no better way to do this other than by using a leash that’s short.
So there you have it! The best leash for a Malamute depends on you and your Malamute! There are pros and cons to all the different types of leashes and one that works well for you, may not work well for someone else. The only true way to know is to try them all out.
I have reviewed some of the best leashes for your Malamute above and this should help you make a good choice when purchasing your next leash. If you currently use any of the leashes above it would be awesome to hear what you think about them!