Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

i have one.
i prefer the tape leash (sometimes called a belt leash) over the cord leash.
mine is 25ft.

i would not use one for training, in the presence of lots of people or other dogs, or for dogs with a really high prey drive and poor recall.

cons would be the obvious lesser amount of control, and the possibility for injury which is why i listed the circumstances in which i wouldn't recommend them. i've seen dogs get tangled in them and panic... i've also seen dogs over estimate their "freedom" and receive a very painful awakening when reaching the end of the line.

at the time that i purchased mine, my female was having some unexplained lameness in her rear and the "spasms" would hit at any moment w/o proper warning. since she loved to swim, but refused to swim with a life jacket - i used the leash as a line between me in her in the event that her legs went lame while out swimming. i rarely use it now for normal use, but when i do - i start off with her regular leather leash... then bring out the retractable leash when we reach the area in which i wish to use it.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I use a corded 25 foot retractable leash when(if I can find it) I'm walking chrono. He's very tall and heels so nicely and close to me that the cord doesn't even come out of the retractable leash. I like it because then I don't have to carry 5 feet of a 6 foot leash. If I have problems with him wandering or if I see a good distraction I just lock it. Sometimes I have it locked to the shortest it can possibly be from the very beginning.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I use one when I am in an area that will give my boy space to roam out from me. I will click it or hit the stop before I let him hit the end of it though as a warning. He now knows when I tap it to slow down or stop..

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

Anyone ever have a retractable leash "pop"(the rachet mechanism break) on them from their dog lunging at something?

I ask because I used to think these were a novel idea, now I'm not so sure.

I read a few dog training experts dislike retractables for this reason. The scenario being if you are walking your pup along a road and it lunges for an animal it sees across the street, your dog is now in the middle of traffic. The author of the book I'm reading now claims she knows 3 dogs killed this way.

Of course this is not an issue if you are walking out in the woods. I suppose a retractable is fine when you are away from automobiles. Where I live, I'll need to use a 6' leash and carry a seperate long line in order to walk along the roadways to get to a field to train.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I walk on a regular leash, but carry one of these so that my girls can stretch out a bit when we reach certain areas (large fields usually) where they are not allowed to be off leash. Both have great recalls, so the flexi leash is not used as a tool for keeping them with me, rather for obeying the law.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

Not any more. I did for quite a while, but when I had a strong male go after a rabbit, breaking the leash and leaving me holding the plastic casing, I pretty much said that's it. Plus they are no good at all for training. I now use a 15ft RamTech leash - it's a synthetic material which looks and feels like soft leather, but with zero maintenance. I absolutely love it, it gives them the freedom to run out a bit, but you can maintain control at all times. You can purchase it from http://www.rayallen.com

_____________________________________________
Susan

Anja GSD
Conor GSD - adopted from this Board
Blue GSD - at the Bridge

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I prefer a 20 ot 30 foot webbed long line. My dog knows when she is on it I will either say 'go walk' which means she can wander, or 'by me' which means stay in heel position.

I have a lot of deer, rabbits, squirrels etc in my area and don't trust a flexi with an over excited dog. I also find them awkward, but that is just me.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I have several and LOVE them!!

But just like any tool you need to know how to use them correctly.

If my dog is out at the end of the leash and I need them back by my side I give the Heel command. If the dog doesn't return to my side it's not the fault of the leash - it's the fault of ME for not training them correctly.

I use nail polish - bright red - and I mark the line about 3 feet from the end that is INSIDE the base. That way I have a visual clue on how much leash is left - if the dog takes off.

If the dog DOES take off I give a corrective warning WHILE I am swinging my arm as far BEHIND me as I can. Once I get as far back as I can I lock down the leash.

This allows me some control over the dog hitting the end of the leash. The dog doesn't jerk the base out of my hand and it doesn't rip my arm out of the socket.

Again - proper use and training.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I use a retractable leash. Forget what brand but it's the one with the Consumer's Digest Best Buy sticker on it. It is a tape and not a cord. I have never had any problems with the mechanism and Heidi has lunged pretty hard at some dogs that bark at her or rabbits.

The main thing I like about it is that when the situation calls for it, I can put her one a 2 foot leash for a very close heel.

She also knows the thumb brake sound pretty well.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

Todd, can you let me know what brand it is? I need one for Otto that's strong, price is a non issue. I just don't want it to break when he's on the beach.

Some of the beaches around here require a leash so last summer I finally got Morgan one for the beach. I used to use a 30' marine line that floats but I got the retractable after one day of sitting at the playground with the kids holding onto that much gunky line and getting my shorts all nasty.

Again like Lauri said, obedience is KEY. The retractable Morgan is only rated for a 75lb dog (she's 70lbs) I wouldn't trust her on it if she didn't have an iron recall.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

Originally Posted By: SunCzarinaTodd, can you let me know what brand it is? I need one for Otto that's strong, price is a non issue. I just don't want it to break when he's on the beach.

Googled it and came up with the <u>Flexi Leash.</u> Appears to come in either tape or corded leashes.

Not a huge fan, probably because a see too many folks (unlike all of you here!) who don't seem to have the sense of where it's appropriate to really use them effectively. But we have used them in classes with some dogs when starting folks and their dogs with recall exercises.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I'm not a huge fan either for the same reason - too many people unable to control their dogs on 16 foot of leash. I only like it for the beach for the times I don't want to go in (like May when the water isn't that warm yet!)

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I have one that is 14 years old. It is safe for dogs up to 100 pounds and is an actual nylon leash. It's made by Flexi and has held up amazingly well over the years. I bought it for Chama b/c there were situations where it was not safe to let her off leash when she was younger (she has off the charts prey drive) but I needed to be able to let her run around.

Over the years I've used it for fosters and new adoptees. The only problem with it is that it is heavy but I'm assuming they've probably gotten lighter over the years.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

my husband got a 35 ft retractable leash about 7 years ago (we still have it and works great) for our first german shepherd she ended up being 90 lbs and we use it for all the other dogs with no problems we got ours from petsmart use it for walks all the time has a button where you can lock the leash to where you want or release for the whole 35

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

also, if you don't mind the cord type - Target sells the same FLEXI brand as Petco/Petsmart for half the price if not more. i was shocked to see these things are now going for $50 bucks general retail. i have not seen the tape/belt type (also made by FLEXI) at Target yet. i'd definitely look for a sale or make an online purchase.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

Mine cost $50 14 years ago but it still works great--even the lock still works!

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

Originally Posted By: BowWowMeowMine cost $50 14 years ago but it still works great--even the lock still works!

Wow!
mine was in the $35 range - up to 110lbs.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

Mine is the nylon leash one. It's 20 feet long and it was made in Germany. I think it was the original one.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

Originally Posted By: MassiChewSitsThe scenario being if you are walking your pup along a road and it lunges for an animal it sees across the street, your dog is now in the middle of traffic. The author of the book I'm reading now claims she knows 3 dogs killed this way.

Ugh, I see people walking their dogs down the street like this all the time - the dog is far enough ahead that if they did veer to one side they'd be right in the middle of the road. I've also seen people crossing driveways into businesses with their dogs way ahead of them. A car could easily take that dog out, never having seen it, because the people walking it were still 15 feet from the driveway.

While I can see some circumstances where they'd be useful as others have mentioned, I would NEVER use one for walking around in town. It seems like most people who do never bother to teach their dogs proper leash skills either, so it's an untrained dog walking way ahead of the owner in a risky situation.

Personally, I'd rather use a long line than a flexi, but my dogs are either on a 4 or 6 foot leash, or totally off leash at the park so I rarely use either.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I hate retractable leashes because so many people abuse them. Used responsibly, I'd have no problem. However, almost everyone I see walking with a retractable leash has their dog zigzagging 15 ft in front of them down the road, or lets the dog walk in other people's yards. It pisses me off so much. There are a bunch of people around here who seem to think it is acceptable for them to stand on the street and then let their dog walk way into my yard and take a crap. And obviously they don't pick up after their dogs either.

Ok, I'm done with my rant now.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

No. I do not use them. I feel they require the dog to pull to get more line. This teaches them to pull.

I also feel that if you do need control, the retractable leashes will be seriously put to the test. For example if your dog sees another dog, you see your dog start to lunge and you jam your thumb on the locking mechanism. You would like to hold him closer, but you do not want to release the trigger to give him more room.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I hate them too. Mostly because most people do not use them properly and so the dog ends up in control the walk and learns to pull. I've even seen a case where the dog was out of control and the owner ended up with severe burns on the legs from the cord when they got tangled up. Very dangerous for children. Give me a nice leather 6' leash any day.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

I love our retractables, don't know what I'd do without one. I have the cord. I used a tape that someone had, and seemed so heavy......

Lauri, great tip on marking that 3 foot spot.

Also, when you slightly depress the lock for the retractable, it makes a noise, and they get to know what that noise means and they have some warning.

 

Re: Does anyone use a retractable dog lead for wal

nope no retractables..just a 3' and 6' leather lead. also have a 4' chain leash just because.

 

I sometimes use a retractable for walks but ONLY on fully trained dogs with no behavioral issues and only in situations where there are not many people or other dogs going to be around (on walks where we might see/pass a few people or dogs.)
If a dog needs the leash for control (such as you might have to pull on the leash to get the dog back to your side or that sort of thing) personally I would not use a retractable leash.