A Dog-Joggers Review of the Ruffwear Roamer Jogging Leash

Today I tried out my new "Roamer" leash by Ruffwear dog products. It features an extra long bunjie leash which can extend to approximately 5 or 6 feet. The handle is soft and can be opened with a pinch clasp and enlargened to wrap around your waist. The clip for attachment to a collar is a heavy "talon" for single handed use.

I have been jogging with Benji for a couple of months now. We have a pretty good routine down. I communicate with him which direction to turn (Left, Benji!, Right, Benji!), when to stop ("Hold up Benji!"), and when to proceed (ok, let's go Benji!). I also use some hand signals telling him to sit down as we wait at a light or a little tug on the leash to slow down. My commands are both for his safety and my sanity, but one thing I do know is that he would love to be smelling the grass and the bushes, splashing in the puddles, and chasing the butterflies.

So, we tried out the roamer leash on our five mile run today. I have to say, overall I am impressed. There are a few positive and a few negative points.

First off, Benji didn't seem to love the leash and was trying to carry it, but once he became more comfortable he started taking advantage of the extra length. He was doing all those things he always wants to do, smelling all the bushes, splashing in the puddles, and chasing the butterflies....and the squirrels.....and the birds...you get the picture :) Normally, these things would have made my run a complete disaster, but with the bunjie leash it was no problem! There were a few instances that I had to reel him in a bit, but he is a really great listener on our runs, so problems were minimal. I love the bunjie effect of the leash. When I pulled on him, he wasn't being yanked. He was simply reminded that he needs to get moving without it hurting him. The only thing I didn't like about the leash itself, is the weight of it. it seemed heavy, and when you are running you don't really want to carry a big, heavy leash.

Secondly, the handle is very soft and comfortable, and I like that I can extend it to wrap around my waist, something that I have wished I could find in the past. On my run, though, I did not enjoy wrapping it around my waist as I felt like I didn't have much control. I was running on sidewalks so this may have played a factor with the length of the leash. I wanted a little more control. I can see it being very useful in big open spaces like the beach and trail runs, though. One downfall of the handle is that the material does not stay cool like the nylon leashes. I found my hands becoming sweaty and had to switch off several times.

Lastly, the "talon" hook to the harness was ok. It was very easy to use, and very strong. This is definitely a benefit for larger dogs, but Benji is only 30 lbs and I think the weight of it bothered him.

This leash was definitely a great purchase. We both were able to enjoy our run the way we like. The bunjie kept him moving without hurting him. The handle is expandable to wrap around your waist, which is not seen in most leashes. The "talon" hook is easy to use. Aside from the weight of the leash and my sweaty hands from the fabric, this running leash is great. It would be fantastic for a run on the beach or a wilderness trail. It works well for jogging around town if your dog responds to your communication well. Although, it could be dangerous if your dog does not know to stay off the street because you may not be able to react quickly enough to save him from a car.

If I had to give a rating, it would be 4 out of 5 stars. I will be using my new leash on all my runs and hikes with Benji.