Minecraft wiki entry for Lead, associated text: A lead is broken by pressing the use item control on the mob again, hitting the knot, or removing the attached fence post. Leads also break when hit by projectiles. Whenever a lead is removed or broken, it drops as an item at the location of the mob. However, it does not drop when unleashed in Creative mode.‌[Java Edition only][2] A lead does not break if the attached animal dies.