Abstract: A device for rolling up and unwinding a leash, comprising a housing, a leash, a coil within the housing and embodied for rolling up the leash around the coil, an opening for guiding the leash in and out of the housing, a spring acting upon the coil for rolling up the leash by means of spring force and for unwinding the leash against the spring force. The device further comprises a retaining means coupled to the leash within the housing that is adjustable between a leash coupling state and a disconnected state, wherein the device comprises a catch means near the opening for catching the retaining means when unwinding the leash.