A handle having a gripping member. A base can be attached to a guidance device worn by an animal A retractable pulley assembly connects the base to the handle. A braking assembly has a trigger and a braking member. The retractable pulley assembly includes a spool, a wheel, an anchor, and a flexible member having a first end and a second end with the flexible member extending from the base to the handle, around the wheel, and to the anchor and with the flexible member being fixedly attached to the spool at the first end and to the anchor at the second end. The trigger actuates the braking member to frictionally engage the flexible member at an intermediate point between the flexible member first end and the flexible member second end to fix the distance between the handle and the base when the flexible member is pulled taut.