Why Switch to a Figure of 8 Lead?
Most people don’t start with a figure of 8 lead. They become frustrated after trying collars, harnesses, and different leads that don’t quite solve the problem.
The difference with a figure of 8 dog lead is how it changes the dynamic straight away:
- You don’t get dragged forward
- You don’t need constant tension on the lead
- Your dog becomes more aware of you
- Walks feel calmer and more controlled
It’s a small change, but it makes a noticeable difference quite quickly.
How Head Collars Work
The lead forms a simple loop over the nose and another behind the head.
When your dog pulls forward, the lead gently turns their head back towards you. That breaks their forward momentum. No yanking, no fighting against them. If you also buy our Teaching your Dog to Walk on a Lead PDF, you can learn more about this.
Because dogs naturally follow where their head goes, it encourages them to stay in line with you instead of charging ahead.
Is It Right for Every Dog?
Not every dog needs one, but for strong pullers or dogs that ignore standard leads, it’s often a practical solution.
It’s especially useful if:
- Your dog leans into a collar or harness
- Walks feel like a constant battle
- You want more control without switching to harsh equipment
Used properly, it’s a straightforward and humane option.
Getting the Best Out of a Figure of 8 Lead
This isn’t about tightening it and hoping for the best.
Keep it fitted correctly, keep your handling light, and let the design do the work. The more relaxed you are on the lead, the better it performs.
Most people notice the difference within the first walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a figure of 8 dog lead?
A figure of 8 dog lead is a training lead that loops around a dog’s nose and behind the head to give gentle control. It helps guide the dog’s direction by influencing head movement, making it easier to manage pulling without relying on force through the neck or body.
How does a figure of 8 dog lead work?
A figure of 8 dog lead works by controlling the dog’s head rather than its body, which reduces pulling strength. The loop sits over the nose and behind the ears, so when the dog pulls, their head turns slightly, naturally discouraging forward pulling and encouraging calmer walking.
Are figure of 8 dog leads cruel?
A figure of 8 dog lead is not cruel when fitted and used correctly, as it applies gentle guidance rather than pressure or pain. It is designed as a humane alternative to traditional collars, helping reduce pulling through control of head movement rather than force on the neck.
How do you use a figure of 8 dog lead correctly?
A figure of 8 dog lead should be fitted so one loop sits comfortably over the dog’s nose and the other behind the ears, without being tight. Use light guidance rather than pulling, allowing the lead to redirect the dog’s head and encourage loose lead walking naturally.
Is a figure of 8 dog lead good for stopping pulling?
A figure of 8 dog lead is effective for stopping pulling because it reduces the dog’s ability to put full weight into the lead. By guiding the head, it breaks the forward momentum that causes pulling, making walks more controlled and easier to manage for most dogs.









R Tetchall –
Such a simple yet effective design thank you Sarah
C Hutchinson –
Best thing since sliced bread lol
C Derin –
Brilliant basic bit of kit and also affordable.
Finola T –
Basic but amazing. Stopped our dog pulling immediately and he loves wearing it!
Judy Trellice –
Smashing collar!
Maureen Attenborough –
The greatest head collar we’ve ever bought, simple and effective.
Sarah Jarvis –
Brilliant and affordable, just as good as the more expensive head collars.
moedavewridge –
Walking 10 month Working Cocker was a tug of war, received the figure of 8 and life is so much better for him and me I now have a smile on my face.
Wonderful Product and will recommend.
Sarah Gleave –
Morning Moe, thanks for this, I’ve replied to your email this morning.
Jan Amos –
My young collie is very strong and because she was pulling so hard it aggravated the arthritis in my elbow which became painful and swollen
At my wits end and having seen the reviews for this I decided that it was worth a try and ordered one. It’s been miraculous, whilst not cheap it is worth every penny, I can now walk a well behaved dog and it’s a pleasure not a trial. Thank you Sarah.
P Hood –
Figure eight dog Lead. Thank you, your lead transformed my life. Broken ankles going out at 5AM And midnight to avoid anything that moved. Till your Lead.
Cal –
Up untill today i was using it just round the garden till she got use to it along with(treats)i put it to the test properly today omg it was heaven i really enjoyed the walk she was like a diffrent dog she tried to jump up at somebody had a slight struggle but when she relised it was getting her no where she settled down i cant explain the pleasure i got from no pulling im taking her out soon near traffic which she dont like & usually pulls more so fingers crossed it will go fine i cant believe how it transformed her this morning i would like to say a massive thank you for your help & advice THANK YOU.
Cal
Dave S –
After reading the reviews i was a little sceptical the figure 8 lead could produce such profound results across such a cross section of big & small dogs. Boy was i wrong!! We have a 17 week working cocker pup who is all muscle and pulls worse then i can recall our German Shepherd ever doing!! The figure 8 lead has dramatically reduced his pulling and along with other reviews he isn’t mega keen on having it on at times but it has revolutionised our walking experience. Excellent british made product that i will recommend to anyone that asks!
Jason Cooper –
We have a 7 month old Springer Spaniel pup, as you can imagine, very boisterous but loads of fun. However when it came to walking him as he has got older, his pulling takes us off our feet.
But not anymore, not since I purchased the “Figure 8 Dog Lead”, this is an absolute game changer.
Easy to put on with comfy material against your dogs face and head, dont get me wrong he did try and scrape it off his nose the first few times but with perseverance he now walks with his head held high and no pulling. Dont get me wrong, he is still a mad pup, so he does dive about for a leaf in the wind now and again.
Walking the dog is now effortless, I could hold the lead with one finger and my five year old grandson loves being able to join in.
If you have a dog that pulls, please consider purchasing one of these leads, I’m sure you will have the same positive outcome as we have.
I have already passed on details of your leads to friends, please keep up the great work
Sarah Gleave –
I was looking forward to your review Jason after our telephone conversation. I was blown away by your kindness of not only taking the time to call me with praise but of your success with the figure 8 dog lead. May you have many more walks like this and also that anyone reading your review (and that of others) will use one of my leads and see the benefits you have too. I should add that Jason purchased the basic lead and not any of the more expensive headcollars. Thanks again, Jason ~ Sarah
ruthgsd2107 –
My figure of eight head collar arrive very quickly and was well packaged it is beautifully made. My dogs love them, they walk beautifully on them with no pulling. I have had many head collars but I have to say these 2 are the best, thank you for a great product I would highly recommend this product and will order again in the future.
lisa.g101 –
Received our lead today and very pleased with it. Super fast service and very helpful. The lead quality is really good. Thank you so much guys, highly recommend.
Regards Mrs Lisa Griffin ….
Katherine –
I recently bought a figure of eight lead for my puppy. I am really pleased with it. The best of its kind I have come across. It is easy to fit on my active, wriggly puppy.
The quality of the lead is first class and good value for money. The service provided by Sarah was excellent, prompt and helpful. I have no hesitation in recommending the figure of eight lead and Sarah’s service.
Helen Fry –
Thank you so much for your help last night when I struggled to get the website to cooperate. Nothing was too much trouble… The Figure8 arrived stupidly fast and is a game changer for our stubborn girl. She called me a few rude names for 5 minutes, and was walking on a loose lead straight afterwards. Excellent as I had my granddaughter in the pram too.
It’s a pleasure to do business with you, and the product is excellent.
Ken Lockyer –
Hi,
Love the lead, it is light, doesn’t mark the muzzle like rope figure of eights. Good stitch work. Nice work, thanks.
Ken Lockyer
John Rands –
Hi Sarah,
The lead was perfect and as described, excellent service was a bonus.
Regards
John & Toby
Sarah Howell –
Lovely leads. I bought 8 Figure of 8, different colours and sizes. Arrived very quickly. I will return.
bootsandpaws27 –
Love the figure 8, its been an absolute god send whilst training my large and very strong Belgian Malinois to walk loose lead. due to his nature of being high drive and head strong its been hard to walk him (due to having a back injury) So i decided to buy the Figure 8 fro Megheath and within a few days it was here. the difference was immediate and i was able to walk him with no stress to me or him. plus the price is great too. highly recommended.
Sasha W –
Ordered one of these Wednesday night and it arrived by Friday morning! Good length in the lead, not too long but enough that my dog can sniff around a bit of desired! Comfortable material, my dog doesn’t object to it (he has been trained to accept muzzles and headcollar) due to the soft material and it comes in bright colours! Very pleased.
Anna Roberts –
It’s like walking a different dog, using the figure 8 head collar need another for my dog.
Anna
Kate & Bob –
We are more than pleased with the new lead and the control it has given us, Dexter is less than convinced!
Dave Allen –
Our 10month old Great Dane Tyson is too friendly, and as soon as he sees another dog or person
he pulls like crazy. We tried several leads on him with no effect, and finally got a figure of 8 to try.
This worked better but was too short, so I still ended up either running at 40mph or on my face in the mud.
I searched the internet but all the leads were the same length. Finally I spotted the MegHeath Dogleads website and contacted Sarah. What a find.
The lead arrived very quickly and was superbly made and of great quality.
I have just ordered my second figure of 8 lead and will order again in the future.
Very highly recommended.