How to pick the right retractable leash size

Most people buy the wrong retractable leash for one of two reasons: the tape is too light for the dog, or the handle is too small for the person. Size is not a style choice. It is a weight rating plus a grip that you can actually hold when the dog hits the end of the line.

Use the chart below, then sanity-check the handle in your own hand. If those two things line up, the leash will feel like it belongs on the walk.

The official TUG size chart

This is the same selection guide we use on our retractable product pages. Weights are maximums, not “ideal dog size.” If your dog is near the top of a range, go up a size.

• Tiny — 10 ft tape, up to 26 lbs. Shortest line, smallest handle (tiny hands or four fingers).
• Small — 16 ft tape, up to 35 lbs. Small handle.
• Medium — 16 ft tape, up to 55 lbs. The default for most dogs and most hands.
• Large — 16 ft tape, up to 110 lbs. Same reach as Medium, wider tape, bigger housing.
• XL — 26 ft tape, up to 110 lbs. Extra length, not extra dog weight. Large and XL housings are bigger than people expect. Check the photos before you order.

Your hand matters as much as the dog

Tiny and Small handles are built for small hands. If you have average or large hands, skip them even if the dog is under 35 lbs. Buy Medium. You will have a better brake and a better lock when it counts.

If two people walk the same dog, size the handle for the larger hand, not the smaller dog.

Which TUG line to start with

Original is the only line with Tiny and XL, so it covers the widest size spread. Oval and Quest are Small / Medium / Large, with Oval adding a built-in bag dispenser.

All of them use a 360° tape so the line does not twist around the housing. None of them are chew-proof. If your dog mouths the tape, use a short fixed leash or add an anti-chew extension.

A quick pick

Dog under 26 lbs and you have small hands: Tiny Original. Dog under 35 lbs and you have small hands: Small. Most other dogs: Medium. Strong puller or dog near 55–110 lbs: Large. Need more than 16 ft of room in an open area: XL Original, same 110 lb cap as Large.

Still unsure? Email support@tugleash.com with your dog’s weight and who usually holds the leash. We would rather size it once than have you send it back.