I myself don’t own a dog but I like to think of forever friend to Pawesome, Otis, as not only one of my favorite New York City pooches, but also my work’s unofficial mascot. So when the call came that there was a leash to test out I jumped at the chance to get Otis out and about and see what he thought about 26 Bars & A Band ‘s Meet Matte Retractable Leash.

Katie did a piece on the first round of Avant Garde Retractable Leashes that 26 Bars & A Band released in January. The new collection has an upgraded handle with a polarized coating that is meant to feel rubber-like, making it a little easier to grip during long walks. The Meet Matte series also has four new decorative designs, which include an adaption of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster, a monochromatic cityscape, a “Home Is Where the Dog Is” illustration, and the pup-centric crossword puzzle shown above.

Knowing Otis as long as I have, there are two things that are quite apparent about him: 1. He’s so cute you want to snack on him for breakfast, lunch, lupper & dinner and 2. He is not so much a fan of walking as he is a fan of walking three to five feet, calling it a day and then being dragged around the block a few times.

With that in mind, the leash was strong enough to hold Otis but the brake and release button, which helps keep the lead in check, on the top of the handle made it tricky to stop and go as much as Otis would have liked. I had to continuously click the button from brake to release (and vice versa) in order to keep up with Otis’ ever changing mind. Not really a flaw of the leash, but a reminder that retractable leashes aren’t for all dogs.

One issue I did have with the design of the leash is that it’s switch-style button made it hard to go from stop to go quickly. My thumb had a hard time moving up and down easily, and when you have to release and stop the leash ever 30 seconds, as is the case with dear Otis, it can get tiring quickly. It may have been easier if the button was situated horizontally so my thumb could move from left to right, a slightly more natural motion.

With the right dog, a pup who’s a dream on any leash, the Meet Matte Retractable Leash is an adorable option whose polarized coating is a nice change from the standard plastic handles scouted out and about. And at $30, it’s not too pricey for a leash that may help you get conversations started at the dog park.

Images: Kelly Novitski

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