Do you like retractable dog leashes?
Some people don’t like them and I don’t know why. Do you know why someone wouldn’t like retractable leashes?
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39 Answers
No I don’t like them.
In some jurisdictions there is a maximum length (like 5 feet) that includes retractable leashes with 15 feet cords. No leashes over 5 feet.
I don’t like them.
Your dog is either with you and under control, or off leash in the woods/fenced in yard or dog park. Those long sharp leashes don’t really provide any control, and will only cause problems, like allowing a dog to shit up on someone’s lawn. They are also a bit dangerous, as they are sharp and can clothesline people when the dog freaks out and there is a person in the middle.
Here, by city code, they are illegal. Only leashes that are no longer than 6’ are allowed. Not that you could tell from all of the retractable ones I see…
There are good reasons not to like them. For example, they literally teach dogs to pull. It’s much more comfortable to have a dog that knows how to walk by your side.
They can also provide a false sense of security – I often see dogs “attached” like that running into the street.
That said, there are specific areas where I will use a retractable leash for dogs that have already mastered the skill of walking calmly. A wooded area full of interesting smells that’s next to railroad tracks, for example. The risk of letting even a well-trained dog off leash close to such danger is too high for my tastes, but I feel equally bad about spoiling a dog’s chance to sniff. Retractable leashes can be a good compromise for those situations.
@longgone Awww…you’re a good doggie owner. }8^)
Cato actually jerked me off my feet a while back. I have him on the leash going to and from the car. We were walking to the back door to go in when he saw the cat and lunged for it. Ow.
I was on my knees in the snow and Cato is all in my face like “What’s wrong???”
At the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco they are not considered appropriate. When the Master says “stay”, an obedient submissive stays put.
I don’t like them because they are rigid and uncomfortable to hold. If I need the dog to be closer, I shorten the lead in my hand. I teach my dogs to not pull so hard they jerk me off my feet. A 6’ distance (plus arm length) is more than enough for a tethered walk.
I like them because it it lets Cato explore what he wants to explore and he doesn’t get all tangled up in the leash.
From what I understand, dog trainers don’t allow them in obedience classes because you have no control over the dog. When the dog starts running, you’re trying to click and the dog gets away faster than you can click.
@Dutchess_III I walked my cat on a retractable leash; like dogs, she loved exploring and those leashes kept her from getting her legs caught up.
I’ve never used one, but for no other reason than I just never bought one.
I like them because I can set the length with the button. I also use a gentle leader. It worked great for me. It also keeps the leash tidy when you hang it up.
Hate them, threw mine away.
They are known to severely cut dogs when retracting.
I like the retractable leash when I walk my neighbor’s dog. This is a quiet neighborhood with few cars and almost no people walking on the road.
I use the leash fully extended to run with the dog. He can suddenly stop and sniff something in the weeds without knocking me over. I can retract it and pull him in if I need to but otherwise he has the freedom to run at his own pace – as long as it is close to mine. .
They feel awkward and uncomfortable in my hand. The mechanism is clunky and hard to use IMO.
How would the leash cut the dog when retracting @KNOWITALL? It doesn’t touch the dog. And it doesn’t retract wildly and out of control, like a measuring tape.
Just took Cato for another walk. I appreciate the leash. He doesn’t get it tangled all around his feet like he does with a regular leash.
Thanks for the article. It makes sense. Long story short, use ya head. I wouldn’t dream of not locking the leash at the vets. That’s just asking for trouble. Common sense will tell you that.
@Dutchess Probably so. :)
When we go for a walk I go down the 3 camper steps then lean in to the camper to put the leash on. I’m afraid if I put it on before hand he’ll run down the steps and take me with him!
I don’t like them because I feel as if the leash controls me and not the dog for some reason. I’m just not that comfortable using it so I use a regular old-fashioned leash.
Well, it controls the dog in the end (ha ha) but doesn’t microcontrol him the whole walk. It gives him some freedom to do what he wants to do. Stay the hell away from other people and you shouldn’t have problem with him running up on people.
I use something like this, horse lead because you can’t control and pull back a dog at full extention on a retractable lead.
I have one and used it today. My dog wears a walking harness, btw, not just a collar. While I like the control a regular leash gives me in crowded situations, it’s great for walks here near the house. We don’t get much traffic on our street or the next one over, so I can relax and bit and give the dog a bit more room to roam on its own. She loves to sorta zigzag back and forth across the street, which works in this location, without me having to zig and zag with her. But, if needed, I can, so to speak, reel her in easily. I will note, too, that I bought one designed for dogs much larger than mine, so it’s essentially a strap, not a cord, hence easy to grab with the free hand, too, if necessary. Fortunately, given my relatively traffic free area, I’ve only had to do that a couple times but it worked fine as the nylon strap/band was easy to grab and hold. Again, while I prefer the leash at the park when it’s crowded, the retractable one has its value, too.
For the record, I would never use a retractable leash on a collar. That would be very dangerous. I don’t use collars at all, these days.
@smudges Thanks, that’s nice of you.
There is a time to lock the retractable leashes. Otherwise the dog is simply free walking. And I’ve never had a dog who didn’t know where the end of the leash was, and they never pulled to go beyond that.
@Dutchess_III I always kept mine locked. I just liked the flexibility of having a longer/shorter leash depending on circumstances.
We’re walking Cato 3 times a day. We’re in a park. So much to see and smell!!
@Dutchess_III Lucky pup – good momma and dad. What kind of dog is she/he?
We have the poor energetic guy trapped in a camper..
Oh gosh. He ain’t nothing but a pound dog. They carried him as boxer / lab, but they don’t really know. He’s a very handsome boi.
He wakes me up by LICKING THE BOTTOM OF MY BARE FEET!!
He woke me up about 4 the other morning to go outside to pee. Ugh. It’s like having a baby.
I miss my fenced yard.
I’ll bet you miss that yard! I’ll bet he’s a sweetheart, and with boxer in him, I can totally understand the energy.
And lab. He was so cool and “Wasup?” at the pound. OMG!
OK. I give. He did it AGAIN. We were walking and some kids nearby kicked a ball and Cato took off. I saw it coming and all I could do is watch helplessly as the leash rapidly unzipped. I somehow managed to stay on my feet this time, but no more. The leash is locked from now on. At least until he gets older.
I have not had any fingers amputated BECAUSE I’M NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO HANG ON TO THE RIBBON AND NOT THE HANDLE!
BTW…all of those dire warnings come with the pamphlet that comes with the leash.
If you’re locking it, why use a retractable leash at all?
I’d get a wide (padded) nylon leash that’s adjustable in length. Then use that with a front-leading harness for really good control.
Because that’s all I have.
@Dutchess_III I have a front leading harness for my dog. If Cato were wearing it when he took off, he’d be instantly flipped around and be facing you. It immediately takes their attention off of what had attracted them in the first place, and it works. Ours is made out of nylon webbing with a non-stretchy padding at the chest area.
Another option is an “easy leader”. It’s a head harness, and basically does the same thing. I’ll hunt around and see what I can find.
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