Absolutely not. We’re runners, and we designed our leashes for running, but we love them so much that we use them for everything. Whether we’re going on walks in busy places like the Farmer's Market, hiking up in the fresh air of the mountains, or just relaxing outside, we’ve yet to find a situation where an Iron Doggy™ Hands-Free Leash won't do its job. 🐾

Picking the right leash depends mainly on your dog(s) and how you prefer to run with them. If you have an energetic dog who likes to pull and wants to be out in front of you or tends to cross back and forth when you're running, the Runner's Choice is the leash for you. It's uniquely designed with a heavy-duty (marine-grade) bungee and is optimized to absorb any shock from a sharp or unexpected pull.

It’s also long enough to keep a safe distance between you and your dog when running or walking. If a leash is too short and your dog is in front of you, you'll be running way too close for comfort. The length of the Runner's Choice can be adjusted quickly and easily to different settings because we know there will be times when you'll need to keep your dog closer to you. There are two uniquely designed "control" handles and specially placed hold-knots that can be grabbed quickly and easily whenever the moment arises.

The SideKick is perfect for dogs trained to "heel" or stay right by your side when you run (or are positioned to the side and slightly ahead of you). This leash doesn't offer the flexibility of multiple-length settings, but it weighs less than the Runner's Choice. It uses a slightly thinner bungee, which is still very strong, but a big dog that pulls a lot will eventually stretch it over time. If your dog doesn't have issues with pulling and is good about staying by your side, you'll love the shorter length and lighter weight of the SideKick. Learn more about how and why the SideKick was designed. 

Since all Iron Doggy™ products are handcrafted right here in the United States, someday they may be available in a store near you. For the time being, they are available by ordering directly online. We are also available on Amazon if you prefer making your purchase there. 

We’re happy being a small "local" company with an intense focus on quality and design. All of our leashes are meticulously handcrafted in the United States (in Denver, Colorado). By resisting the urge to outsource, or sell through larger retail locations, we can keep a firm grip on our relentless commitment to quality, design, and the ability to continue donating a portion of net proceeds to help the Animal Rescue community. 🐾

For two (or more) dogs, you will want to order two (or more) leashes and one Iron Doggy™ Belt. For instance, you could order a Runner's Choice (with belt) and a Runner's Choice Extra Leash (without belt).

You can easily select which Extra Leash you prefer (e.g. Runner's Choice or SideKick) by clicking on the drop-down menu (under the pricing on the Extra Iron Doggy™ Leash page) before adding it to your order.

When it comes to deciding which leash to use, most of our customers buy two of the Runner's Choice leashes. Part of the reason is that two dogs side by side often end up in front of the runner. We also have customers who buy one Runner's Choice and one SideKick. This combination is good if you have two dogs that want to run on one side of you, or one dog in front and one to your side.

If you have two or more dogs, we recommend adding a carabiner. Most of our customers prefer this option (so both leashes don't have to connect to the same point on the Iron Doggy™ Belt). 

If you decide to give this a try, know that you can always exchange a leash if the initial combination is not right.

The Iron Doggy™ Belt is the same one that comes with your Iron Doggy™ Hands-Free Leash (w Belt) and is adjustable to fit around your waist (preferably your hips). 

Your Iron Doggy™ Belt is designed to work best when positioned snuggly around your hips (as opposed to loosely around your waist). This position lets you apply maximum counterweight to your dog’s pull and drastically increases your comfort level. 

It is important to remember this as it makes a noticeable difference in maintaining comfort and control.

Besides ensuring it’s positioned around your hips (not your waist), it’s also best to slide the (black) belt clip to your right side, so it is just above the middle of your right hip. If you are facing forward, the belt clip (the two black pieces that you slowly clip together to wear the belt) should be rotated to your right side (a 90º turn) from the very front of your body.

This way (with our "easy-glide" snap hook) your dog can easily move from side to side in front of you, without you, or the belt, changing direction.

Please note for clarification: The Iron Doggy™ Belt is required to connect to your new leash in order to become hands-free (and is different from the Large Pocket SPIbelt, which is a separate accessory). 

The Solo-Pocket is a smaller "pocket" that attaches easily to your Iron Doggy™ Belt, and it expands to hold your personal items (doggy bags, ID, mobile phone, treats).

The Large Pocket SPIbelt is a separate professional runner's belt (accessory) that also expands to hold "larger" items (as outlined on the product page). 

Both are made to be bounce-free (this is accomplished by adjusting it snuggly around your hips).

For best results, make sure the zipper is aligned in the center of the pocket instead of having the zipper at the top. Stack items from largest to smallest from bottom to top. The Large Pocket SPIbelt can be worn high or low on the hips. We find most people prefer it lower on the hips (a few inches below the navel). Don’t forget to make sure that the elastic is snug! The heavier the items the more snuggly you’ll want to adjust the elastic on your Large Pocket SPIbelt.

The Large Pocket SPIbelt is a separate "belt" from the Iron Doggy™ Belt (and does not connect to any of the Iron Doggy™ leashes). 

The Large Pocket SPIbelt and Solo-Pocket are also both washable. Hand wash only with a mild detergent and hang to dry.

Care concerns: Machine washing and drying your SPIbelt® may lead to fabric snags and broken plastic. 

SPIbelt® products are not completely waterproof. Items may be exposed to moisture. We recommend the use of a waterproof resealable bag if using with electronics or other small personal items that must remain completely dry.

We admire your enthusiasm, but you should be careful not to start too early. Our vet advised us to wait a full year before starting to run with our dog. It has something to do with their tiny little, fragile, immature bones. The last thing you want to do is cause injury to your new puppy, so why not focus on training, playing, and getting to know your pup? It’s best to confirm with your vet (based on your pups’ breed). 

It really depends on your dog and your running style. If your dog is good about healing and isn't a strong puller, the SideKick is probably your best choice. This shorter leash won't let your dog get out in front of your stroller and is more likely to stay next to you, on your side, as you run. 

Some runners who run with a stroller prefer the Runner's Choice (if their dog tends to pull a lot) and they want the flexibility to easily make adjustments to the length. It's really up to you and your personal preference. Here's a short article about reinventing your runs, once a stroller is in the mix.

We’ve tried really hard to find a lighter snap hook to attach to our leashes. The problem is that lighter hooks either break easily, don't last, or are cost-prohibitive. We care so much about this that we actually hired a metallurgist to stress test our rotating snap hook, and several possible replacements.

What we learned was that all the potential replacements broke too easily. Until we can find a high-performance snap hook that’s equally strong, durable enough to last, and safe for our dog, we'll continue using the current one. It has proved to be extremely reliable (based on our customers' feedback).

All new Iron Doggy™ orders are processed and shipped the same day when placed Monday-Saturday by 10 am CST (Central Standard Time/US). Otherwise, your new gear will quickly ship on the following business day.

Once shipped, your new Iron Doggy™ gear will arrive quickly (within 2 to 4 days) for all USPS domestic orders (which includes all 50 states and all APO/FPOs, or U.S. Territories).

During checkout, UPS® and USPS Priority Express will also display as options (should you require even faster delivery). 

No, at this time we're unable to ship internationally. We're sorry!

As soon as your new Iron Doggy™ order ships, we'll send you an email that provides your unique shipping and tracking information. Using the tracking number (and a one-click link provided), you can easily track your order on the carrier's website. If you still have questions, feel free to contact us.

Iron Doggy™ will not be able to ship on the following dates in 2024 due to company (or shipping carrier) holidays.

Please note, shipping will resume the following business day. 🙂

Company (or carrier) Holidays:

New Year's Day: Tuesday, Jan 2

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 15

Presidents' Day: Monday, Feb. 19

Earth Day: Monday, April 22 🌲 🐾

Memorial Day: Monday, May 27

Juneteenth: Wednesday, June 19

Independence Day: Thursday, July 4

Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 2

Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 14

Veterans Day: Monday, Nov. 11

Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 28

Christmas: Wednesday, December 25

New Year's Day (2025): Wednesday, Jan 1

* Please see the next few FAQs (below) for specific USPS® and UPS® shipping holidays throughout 2024.

The United States Postal Service (USPS®) will not be shipping on the following days in 2024:

New Year's Day: Monday, Jan 1

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 15

Presidents' Day: Monday, Feb. 19

Memorial Day: Monday, May 27

Juneteenth: Wednesday, June 19

Independence Day: Thursday, July 4

Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 2

Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 14

Veterans Day: Monday, Nov. 11

Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 28

Christmas: Wednesday, December 25

New Year's Day (2025): Wednesday, Jan 1

DHL (Worldwide / International)will not be shipping on the following days in 2024:

New Year's Day: Monday, Jan 1

Martin Luther King Day:Monday, January 15th

Easter:Sunday, March 31

Memorial Day: Monday, May 27

Independence Day: Thursday, July 4

Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 2

Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 28

Christmas: Wednesday, December 25

New Year's Day (2025): Wednesday, Jan 1

Absolutely. To keep things simple from an accounting perspective we’ll issue a refund on your original leash after helping you place a new order for your new leash (applicable return shipping costs may apply).

Learn more on our Return policy page. We will always work hard to make things simple and right for you and your pup. 🐾

Yes, and we're always happy to help! 🙂

We want you and your pup to enjoy your Iron Doggy™ experience. If you are not completely satisfied with your Iron Doggy™ gear and need to return it for whatever reason, you can return it for a full refund within 30 days of receiving your order.

To be eligible for a refund, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. Once return eligibility is confirmed, we will email a prepaid return label (return authorization) with instructions for sending the item back to us. Once we receive your return, we will quickly notify you via email that your return has been processed. Please note: refunds do not include shipping costs paid on the original order (if applicable).

Learn more on our Return policy page. Thank you.

Please email us if you are interested in learning more. We'd be happy to learn more about you.  

🐾