An animal leash such as, for example, for dogs, may include an elongated flexible sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the sleeve is configured to be held by a hand of a user and includes an opening for accessing an interior pocket of the sleeve. A rigid rod may be removably received within the interior pocket of the flexible sleeve through the opening to optionally make the animal leash rigid for training and/or controlling an animal (e.g., a dog) releasably attached to the leash. An attachment portion may be coupled at or near the distal end of the sleeve and may be configured to be releasably attached to a collar or harness on the animal.