choosing a leash
this is easier than choosing a collar, I promise!!
DISCLAIMER: When selecting a leash, the most important thing to consider is how much strain your dog will be putting on the leather. If you have a 10 pound, senior dog or a perfectly well-behaved big dog, you can easily go with a 1/2" leash. If you need something that will be used as a tow strap behind your tank of a dog, a leather leash might not safely meet your needs. Leather is a natural material that cannot have a guaranteed load rating the same way a uniformly manufactured, synthetic material can. If you have an aggressive, reactive, or otherwise potentially dangerous dog who needs a safety net, please choose a material with a load rating, like nylon or biothane.
The thickness of leash you choose depends both on what you like the feel of in your hand, and what you need for your dog's safety needs. Both are important. If it doesn't feel right, it won't get used, and if it can't do a safe job, it shouldn't be used.
LEASH OPTIONS
An O-ring, floating on the handle or attached at the rivet, gives you something to clip the snap to, so you can wear you leash across your chest or around your back when your dog is off-leash (hopefully abiding by any off-leash bylaws!).
LEASH EMBELISHMENTS
You can have your leash match your collar, with crystals in a row at both the snap and handle ends. You can choose if you want alternating crystals/studs, or all of one or the other. If you want a leash that will match everything, consider getting one in black, with matching hardware. Black matches everything.
CUSTOMIZE YOUR LEASH A LITTLE FURTHER..
Hand-stamping is available for your O-ring. Have it personalized with your or your dog's name, a short phrase, your phone number, or any other words that are special to you. While this isn't a super obvious decoration, it is nice knowing it's there.
OUR DOGS' LEASHES...
Our 12 year old, 60lb old girl has a 1/2" leash, because her pulling days are pretty much over, but she needs a leash to keep from wandering off (her obedience days are pretty much over, too).
Our 2 year old 55lb Malinois has a 3/4" leash, because he is still in the "data acquisition" phase of his life, and I also like the way a 3/4" leash feels in my hand with him.
I prefer the o-ring to be attached instead of floating, so it doesn't move around when I have my wrist through the handle. It doesn't hang as nice across your body this way, but for me, that's a fair trade.