The Best Luxury Dog Leashes: A Guide to the 2.8 Collection

A leash is the one accessory you actually hold. A collar sits on the dog; a bed stays in the corner; a leash is in your hand twice a day, every day, for years. That daily contact is the whole argument for buying a good one — the weight of it, the way the leather softens, whether the hardware still runs smoothly after two winters.

We make several, and they are not variations on one idea. Each answers a different kind of walk. This guide is here to help you choose between them, and to point you to the collar that matches.

The Short Version

Each is covered below, with the collar that goes with it.

The Classic: Ferdinando Braided Leather

If you buy one leash to keep, this is it. The Ferdinando braided leather leash is the piece the collection was built around — hand-braided nappa leather, vegetable-tanned in the Veneto, 120 cm long, with matte metal hardware. It comes in two diameters: the 13 mm for larger dogs, the 10 mm for smaller ones, so the leash is proportioned to the dog rather than sold in one size.

Braided leather does something plain leather does not: it softens without going slack, and the braid gives the hand something to hold. It ages the way good leather should, taking on the marks of use rather than wearing out. In seven or eight colours, depending on the season.

It pairs with the Ferdinando braided collar — the same braided nappa, rounded so it sits softly against the coat, and engravable with your dog's name or a number. Leash and collar in the same colour is the classic 2.8 walking set, and the one most people start with.

Hands-Free and Adjustable: Gabriele and Mario

Two leashes share this job, and they are close cousins — both long, adjustable, and wearable across the body for a walk where you would rather not hold anything. Between them it comes down to personal taste in style more than function. The Gabriele adjustable leash (240 cm) has a slightly more formal look; the Mario leather leash (200 cm) is a touch more understated. Both are smooth nappa with multiple fastening rings that let you shorten or lengthen as you go, and both can be worn cross-body.

A note on cross-body wear for both: it depends on the height of you and your dog. It works well for a taller person with a smaller dog, less so the other way round. If you are unsure, write to us.

Casual and Light: Franco

The Franco leash is the most relaxed of the set — striped cotton ribbon with natural leather ends and silver hardware, 265 cm long with multiple fastening rings, so it can be worn crossbody or held, shortened or let out as you go. It is the lightest and the least formal, the one for a country walk rather than a city one, and the leather ends darken and take on a patina with use.

It has a matching Franco collar in the same ribbon and leather, for a walking set with a more casual register than the Ferdinando.

Animal-Free and Easy-Care: Ferdinando Microfiber

Not everyone wants leather, and this is not a compromise version for those who don't. The Ferdinando microfiber leash is made from a braided animal-free textile with a velvety hand — water-repellent, stain-removable, machine-washable, and fully recyclable. It keeps the braided Ferdinando shape and the 120 cm length in two diameters, but in a material that shrugs off mud and wet.

It is the practical choice for a dog who finds every puddle, and the considered choice for anyone who would rather not buy leather at all. You will find it, and the rest of the animal-free pieces, in the vegan collection.

Understated and Modern: Ferdinando Dark Hardware

The Ferdinando dark hardware leash is the same braided nappa as the classic, with one change: the hardware is black satin rather than gold. It reads more contemporary and a little more restrained — the right choice if gold hardware isn't your register, or if you want the Ferdinando quality in a quieter key.

How to Choose

If you want one leash for the life of the dog, the Ferdinando braided is the answer, and the reason the collection exists.

If your hands are always full, Gabriele or Mario — much the same leash, with Gabriele the more formal-looking of the two.

If your walks are muddy and informal, Franco for the look or the microfiber Ferdinando for the easy care.

And if gold hardware isn't for you, the dark hardware Ferdinando gives you the classic in a quieter finish.

Every one is handmade in Italy, and every one has a matching collar. The full range of leashes and collars is on the site — and if you are choosing between two and can't decide, write to us and tell us about your dog and your walk. We will help.

Common Questions

What is the best luxury dog leash?

The one that suits your walk. For a lifelong leather piece, the Ferdinando braided; for hands-free walking, the Gabriele; for casual use, the Franco; for easy care, the microfiber Ferdinando. All are handmade in Italy from the same standard of materials.

How long should a dog leash be?

The Ferdinando is 120 cm, a standard city length. The adjustable leashes — Gabriele, Mario, Franco — run to 200–265 cm and can be shortened, which is why they also work worn across the body.

Which leash is best for training?

Either the Mario or the Gabriele — both have multiple fastening rings and adjustable length, so you can vary your dog's range as you go. Gabriele has the more formal look of the two.

Do you make a leash without leather?

Yes — the Ferdinando microfiber leash is animal-free, made from a recyclable, machine-washable textile, in the same braided shape as the leather original.

Can I match the leash to a collar?

Every leash here has a matching collar. Ferdinando with Ferdinando, Franco with Franco — same material, same colour, bought as a set.

Explore the full collection of leashes and collars, all handmade in Italy. If you would like help choosing, write to us and tell us about your dog.