How our leads are made

Every rope lead has at least two joins. One where the rope loops back to form the handle, one where it wraps around the clip. Those joins are the weakest point in the lead, which is why we don't take shortcuts with them.

Spliced, not knotted

Ours are spliced. No knots, no glue, no crimped metal sleeve. A splice joins rope or forms a loop by threading the rope's own strands back through itself, rather than tying a knot. It keeps 90 percent or more of the rope's original strength, sits flat enough to pass cleanly through hardware.

A knot costs a rope around half its strength. A splice keeps almost all of it. Joe splices every lead by hand, using techniques from the sailing industry.

Read the full explanation: Spliced, Not Knotted

The numbers

• Rope: 8mm double braid, 1,500kg breaking strength
• Clip: 400kg
• Weight: only around 100g - 180g

Light enough for a Whippet. Strong enough for anything that pulls.

Which lead do you need?

Most people buy a lead based on how it looks, then discover six months later that it is the wrong one for the walks they actually do. It is worth starting with the walk instead.

Everyday walks

A standard rope lead is what you will reach for most days. The wrist loop is 350mm around, so it sits close and stays put. No large padded handle sliding off your hand halfway down the street.

Most people are best served by 1.4m, but length changes how a walk feels. Shorter keeps your dog close for town footpaths and busy places. Longer gives them room to wander and sniff. We have broken it down properly in [our guide to lead lengths].

If you are buying your first Woofo lead, start here.

Recall training and open spaces

A long line gives your dog the feeling of being off lead while you keep a connection. It is for paddocks, beaches, and anywhere you are building recall in a new environment.

Our Long lines are made from a lighter 6mm rope rather than the 8mm we use for everyday leads, so five metres of it does not drag on your dog. 

We recommend 5m as the standard, plenty of customers move up to 8m or 10m as their training progresses.

Do I need one? What length should I buy?

Running, hiking and hands free

A double ended lead clips at both ends, so you can wear it across your body, shorten it, or clip it to a fence post. Useful when you want your hands for something other than a lead. A hands-free lead is designed for versatility, it adapts effortlessly to your needs. 

The natural flexibility of rope makes it easy to create custom knots and loops. 

Training and everything else

A few leads do a more specific job. A 3m scent work lead is designed for dog sports such as scent work/ nose work that require a leash without a handle. A slip lead that goes over the head in one movement, no collar needed. A traffic handle lead allows you to keep your pup at your side when visiting or walking through high-traffic areas.

Made to order

Every rope lead is spliced by hand once you order, so we are not limited to the lengths listed. If you want a length that is not there, tell us when you order and we will make it. There is no surcharge for a custom length. You pay for the length you order, the same as any other lead.

 

Care and replacement

Washing

Rinse in fresh water after the beach or anywhere salty, then hang to dry. Polyester does not hold water, so it dries quickly. For a proper clean, use warm water and mild soap by hand, then let it dry fully before use.

Look after the clip

This is the part most people get backwards. The rope will almost always outlive the hardware. Sand, salt and grit work into the moving parts of a clip and wear the spring long before the rope shows any real damage.

After sand or salt water, rinse it under clean water and work the gate a few times to flush the mechanism, then dry it properly. Finish with a drop of duck oil or machine oil, or a quick spray of WD40, to displace any water left inside.

When to replace

Signs the rope needs attention:

• The cover fraying so the core shows through
• A section gone noticeably thin or fluffy
• Any movement or looseness in a splice

We can replace the clip

If the clip is failing but the rope is still sound, email us before you buy a new lead. Depending on the condition of the rope we can often replace the clip for a small fee and give you back a lead that is as good as it was.

Send a photo to info@woofo.nz and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth doing.