Rigby man created leash that gives customers more control of their dog. Here’s how it works

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BIZ BUZZ

RIGBY

Local company makes leash that prevents dogs from crushing owner’s hand

RIGBY—Thomas Nelson was tired of his hand getting crushed and the constant tug and pull every time he took his labrador for a walk, so he created a special leash to solve that problem.

The 39-year-old Rigby man launched his hands-free dog leash in February. It comes in blue or black and is designed to give the pet owner a little more control. It has a solid handle with an adjustable strap to wrap it around your waist. A built-in bungee feature on the end absorbs the shock from your dog’s tugging and pulling so you don’t feel it.

“The buckle was hand-picked so that when you pull, it (the leash) can tighten. But if you’re wearing it, it won’t cinch up on you,” Nelson tells EastIdahoNews.com. “There’s a carabiner-style clasp at the end, so it just snaps onto the collar. It has a lock on it, too, so the dog doesn’t get loose.”

The leash stretches up to 9 feet and has reflective strips on it for walking at night. See what it’s like in the video above.

The product is the first one made under the PawForm Pet Products brand, which Nelson launched in 2023.

“It’s just leashes for now, but we do have a running belt. It’s like a thin fanny pack that you can tuck your keys, wallet or phone in as the dog leash attaches to it,” Nelson tells EastIdahoNews.com. “We want to expand (and) end up doing collars, harnesses, maybe some chew toys. We want to keep it simple.”

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Nelson’s idea for this product stemmed from his experience with a hyper Labrador that was hard to control. He came up with a design using parts of existing leashes and buckles from old backpacks.

After a lot of tweaks and refining, Nelson is pleased to offer a product customers are happy with. In the last three months, he’s gotten a lot of positive feedback.

“Incredible leash!” once customer writes on Amazon. “Wish I would have known about it sooner. Easy to use, and love how you can make it compact or bigger depending on what I want. And the best part being able to wrap it around my waist! Making it hands free!”

Nelson is hoping to make the leash available in local stores like CAL Ranch and other retailers. He says several Utah businesses have expressed interest in carrying them.

He’s also planning to attend home and garden shows this summer to spread the word about his product.

“I would love to sell these out of the garage and send them all over the country,” he says. “It would be great if this became (a full-time venture).”

The leash is available on Amazon here. Visit the Instagram page for more information.

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