Alpha Pet Leash is a company dedicated to creating innovative and safe pet products, with its flagship item being the Alpha Leash that just recently launched. Edward, the inventor and a seasoned mechanical engineer with automotive experience focuses on improving pet care products through advanced design and technology.
About the Alpha Retractable Leash
So how is this retractable leash different from all others on the market?
The Alpha Leash is designed to address safety concerns associated with leashes that we have also discussed in this detailed article about the dangers and proper use of retractable leashes.
The Alpha leash has three safety features that make it stand out on the market:
- Variable Braking System allows for smooth and gradual deceleration, preventing sudden jerks that can harm both dogs and their owners. This lets you slow down the dog (leash) the same way as you stop the car: you can gently press the handle to slow down the dog gradually or can also press it all the way if you need to lock it immediately. You can see their video on how this stops a dog compared to the traditional leashed. While most retractable leashes have a button to press, this leash has a big handle so you don’t need to open your palm to brake/stop.
- There is also a leash end warning - a red tape on the last 2 feet of the leash, so you see when it’s time to break and slow the dog before they suddenly reach the end of the leash. One of the problems with retractable leashes is that neither the dog nor the owner knows when they are reaching the end exactly so the sudden stops come unexpectedly making walks more stressful than needs to be.
- The leash lock switch (the little toggle on the left side of the leash) allows it to function as a fixed leash and it provides nine times the stopping power for better control.
The Alpha Leash Team took 6 years to design the final model while they went through 5 design revisions and 100s of prototypes. The final product is designed to last and went through rigorous testing processes before releasing. They do a 100 lbs pull-strength test with every single leash before sending them out but they also did an automated test to apply a stopping force of 45 lbs over 5,000 times.
The leash has hardened steel and stainless steel brake components that did not show any wear after testing. The swivel carabiner is added to minimize tangling and rotation on the tape leash that would cause it to get stuck when retracting.
Alpha Retractable Leash Review
Using the Alpha Leash has been a good experience - it is a creative and innovative solution in the dog product market.
The leash end warning feature is great, providing a simple yet effective solution to a common problem with retractable leashes. Now let’s talk about cons.
The 3D-printed quality of the leash, especially the exterior and handle, lacks the smooth finish of more commercial products but that’s only a small aesthetical note.
We also experienced that the tape leash occasionally gets stuck, requiring manual adjustment to pull it back out before it could retract. However, I want to note that I had this experience with all tape retractable leashes we have used so far - especially if the dog gets behind you so the leash is rolled back at an angle when they pass you again.
While the brake handle is comfortable and intuitive for speed adjustments, it doesn’t seem to lock completely when first pressed, allowing the dog to pull out a little more leash. (Update: This should have been updated with their newest prodcucts and the handle should fully lock now). The lock switch fully locks the leash and works very well even if the dog starts pulling to say hi to someone but the brake handle on the back is not practical for these scenarios as clenching your palm hard over a long period gets straining.
In practice, this means that I engaged the switch lock when passing people/dogs or being at a busy place over handling that situation with the handle break and only used the handle for speed adjustments while on sniffy walks. Basically, there are two different use cases for the two breaks while on other leashes the brake functionality and strength are the same when you press or lock the brake.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the Alpha Leash is excellent for casual walks, well-behaved dogs, or when teaching dogs the use of a retractable leash. I do appreciate the features research and testing that went into creating this leash and I hope this is moving the retractable leash market in a safer direction.
Alpha Leash
Made in Canada by a small company
An innovative solution making the use of retractable leashes safer for both dogs and humans.
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