An animal control apparatus includes a belt to be removably secured about the midsection of a user and a strap attached to the belt at first and second attachment locations on an outside surface of the belt such that a portion of the strap extends along a portion of the outside surface of the belt between the first and second attachment locations. Spacing the first attachment location from the second attachment location creates a loop between the portion of the belt and the portion of the strap. The loop may receive a linking device attached to a lead of an animal such that the user of the apparatus may control the animal in a hands-free manner while allowing the animal a degree of freedom as a result of the linking device sliding along the strap between the first and second attachment locations of the loop.