The Hack That'll Free Up Your Hands Next Time You Walk Your Dog

Walking a dog can be an enjoyable experience. For one, you have the opportunity to bond and spend quality time with your pup, and you both can enjoy some fresh air and light exercise. It can also provide mental stimulation for your dog. One of the few downsides, though, is having only one free hand while the other holds the leash. This can pose an inconvenience if you need to use your phone or are pushing a stroller during the walk. However, you can solve this problem by using a carabiner to attach the leash loop handle to the belt loop on your pants.

This method can work well with various types of dog leashes. Carabiners, like the CampTek D-Ring Shape Carabiner, come in various sizes, so be sure to purchase one that will fit over your dog's leash loop. You can also attach the carabiner to the portion of the leash directly under the handle if the handle is padded and too thick to accommodate a carabiner. Using this clip connects the leash to your waist, allowing you to be hands-free while you walk your dog. However, there are risks to consider, especially if you have a large dog or one that isn't fully leash-trained.

Many dogs want to explore everything within 5 feet of their walking path and to stroll faster than their owners' preferred walking speed, leading to pulling behaviors. Some also attempt to sprint toward any other animal they see along their path. If you're holding the leash while your dog attempts to pull or run, you'll obviously feel the tug — or yank — on your arm. But if the leash is attached to your waist, the sensation will be very different.

Having a dog pull away from you while the leash is attached to your waist likely won't create any problems if you have a small dog that weighs under, say, 10 pounds, or one that's 5 or 10 pounds heavier (depending on your weight and strength level). At most, you'll feel a minor tug but not enough to change your gait. For slightly larger breeds, simply planting both of your feet on the ground and using your body weight as resistance should be enough to prevent your pup from pulling you forward.

If you have a medium or large breed of dog (there's a difference!) that pulls, however, being hands-free could be problematic and even dangerous. You could lose your balance and fall, be forced to run to keep up with them, or worse. Sadly, one woman even lost her life after having her dog tethered to her waist before boarding a train, with her being yanked onto the tracks (via the New York Post). So, be sure to avoid the hands-free technique near trains, buses, elevators, and automatic doors to keep yourself and your doggo safe. Outside of these places, you can test walking hands-free with your larger dog to see how they fare before committing to this hack as your full-time walking style.

Now, be sure to read up on how exactly to leash-train your dog.