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My Blog Entry
Why No Retractable/Flexi?
WHAT? Is she nuts? I loved my retractables. Our trainer gave us a choice at the second class: donate our retractable leads or toss them in trash. Back when we had just Rudy and Mack, we attended basic obedience training. The flexi enabled Rudy, (more active) to get a lot more exercise (or so I thought). Rolling my eyes, I begrudgingly placed them into the donation bin. She gave us six foot leads. The boys now had to stay next to us, under control. No, it was not immediate. It required time, training and attention; the very basics of responsible dog ownership. With the loop of the leash over my wrist, I felt safer. Now, even if I accidentally dropped the lead, we would still be attached. That “crazy” trainer’s lesson has been reaffirmed for me, many times. Last year, during a K9 demonstration at a pet event, an air gun fired. Two retractable handles were ripped from the owners’ hands. Like the bulls of Spain’s San Fermin festival, two large dogs charged, through the crowd, toward traffic. The clanking of the plastic case on the pavement behind them scared them even more. They ran faster. My heart nearly stopped. Luckily, we stopped them before they met a terrible fate. Weeks later, at another event, a car backfired, BOOM. Terrified, a little dog (on a retractable), took off. She was stopped, just in time. No one needs this kind of adrenalin rush. It is a continual argument with my own mother. When she walks her two yorkies, she has a hand for each leash case, no hands available. We now have five aussies. I can put them all on their leads and still have one free hand, for poop patrol, treats, etc. Most retractable leash packaging now includes a warning to not use this type of leash, especially around children or infants. Did you ever notice that many people, especially at increasingly popular pet events, whose dogs are on retractables, are not paying close attention? As they chat or eat, their dog is ten plus feet away. Usually, my leg receives a nice cable burn. People can get tripped by other’s unlocked retractables. They get tangled with other dogs, easily. “By using a retractable, the handler loses the opportunity to educate their dog on how to walk properly on lead. The dog loses the association with its handler because they can get (and stay) far away”, states Madison Moore, a positive dog trainer. “Retractable leads foster the dog’s disassociation with the handler, the exact opposite of what we strive for in our relationship with our dogs.” As an event coordinator/consultant, I want you (and your dog) to have a great and safe time; which is why, we ask:
No females in season—it may cause males to fight over her, needless to mention an “oops” litter. No puppies under four months old—they haven’t had all their shots or built up immunities. They can pick up some nasty things from other dogs. We know you want to socialize and show off your new baby, but it’s NOT worth the risk. At events, your retractable will be replaced by a standard six foot lead, to enter. Swap back, when you leave.
PLEASE! Don’t use retractable leashes. No dog lover/responsible owner wants to see a dog get hurt or needs another scar on our legs!
©Tina Valant-Siebelts
Blog Barks
Good story. Why is it any surprise that dogs are so uncontrollable on retractables? They are out on the end of...what is it, 20'...doing what ever they want! I think Astrid's lead is 6 or 7' for our 'nice walking' and I keep the second handle at 3.5'. At any moment, she is right next to me and I have full control. I also wonder when I see these people being dragged down the street on those long leads, where are their math skills? The further away from the fulcrum the more power there is going to be. Can't you sort of consider your hand the 'fulcrum' and the further way from that the dog is, the more uncontrollable his/her weight? Oh crap....maybe I'm just old and cranky.
33 days ago by Astrid
ANOTHER follow-up story.....at the last Meet for Treats yappy hour, this lady rushes up to me, hugs and thanks me. I vaguely recognized her 
I look down, see her golden retriever, and remembered.......
At the first yappy hour, she was there with the pup, and her 10 y/o son. The dog was on a flexi. I gave her the magazine with my article on retractables. She said, she got around to reading it a month later, went out and bought a regular 6' lead.
The next week, her son used the old (flexi) lead ~ the cable snapped at the dog's collar, boomeranged right back at him. It hit him on the arm and he had a nasty welt. Luckily it didn;t get him in the face. She confided that her dog is much more responsive on lead, and she now tells everyone about the DANGERS of retractables!!!
33 days ago by TinaValant
Amen ~ A lot of retractable packaging now includes a warning to NOT use around small kids and also an amputation warning!!! I also have a nice scar behind my knee from a flexi-burn. tina
33 days ago by TinaValant
My neighborhood is full of old people with their little dogs on retractable leads. Even just one or two 12# dogs on these 20' strings is enough to drag these already unsteady individuals down the street. Put that together with the fact that they don't seem to see the need to teach little dogs any social skills and its like a train wreck waiting to happen. More often than I care to think about, little dogs drag their owners towards Astrid. I'm keeping her on the shortest lead possible (there are two handle choices on her lead) and watching her every move for the slightest bit of agitation as these dogs wind themselves around her legs, stand underneath her....all Astrid's favorite things in life (right!). Somehow, it is assumed that because she is a BIG dog she is going to remain benevolent towards them the whole time. I try to keep a friendly demeanor in the neighborhood...for my sake AND big, black rottie/mix Astrid's, but oh how I wish these people would control their dog and allow only nose to nose greetings, Astrid's preferred mode while restrained on a leash. Retractable leashes are just the stupidest invention ever! My husband says 'stupidest' isn't a word. I think it is appropriate when it comes to retractable leads.
Astrid's mom
33 days ago by Astrid
omg! that would have made my heart wrench!
i got tangled in a few at the park on sunday. boy was it a mess!!! i was going over and under them the whole time. please people stop using them!!
306 days ago by haasmoredarl...
This is from my pal, Dawn in Wisconsin:
There was an article in the Madison newspaper about a woman at Monona Terrace (convention center). She was sitting outside on a bench with her back to a low sea wall. On the other side of the sea wall, is a straight 40' drop down into Lake Monona. Her playful 40# dog took a flying leap up and over the sea wall. She managed to hold on to the retractable leash....so he was dangling by the neck. With him struggling, she couldn't pull him up. A nearby man saw what was happening and ran over to help. He was able to pull him up. But just as Bowser was close enough to grab....the leash snapped. And down he plunged....The guy called 911 and there happened to be a police boat nearby on the lake. They came over and found him floating. They thought he was dead...and rushed him to a vet. He did survive.
306 days ago by TinaValant
I do not own a retractable lead. Sid and I went to behavioral class and we were told that you could get more cable burns from them then rope burns from a leash because they are a little difficult to get the hang of especially in excitable situations. I have my 6ft leash and a 50ft leash. The 50ft one is for training and park trips (when no one is there) so Sid can do "ZOOMIES" and still be connected to me. :)
309 days ago by ChowAmbassadors
I have never liked retractables. When my first puppy pitbull Kane used one he ripped it right out of the device and that was the thick one for adult dogs. I use the leash that's like less then a foot long and a chocker with the teeth that go on the inside. Now I can walk Kane with no problem of pulling my arm off or going nutz when he sees another dog walking. I know some experts say that those aren't the best collars to train on but I think different. I have used that chocker on all four of my pitbulls and they listen good and will not fight me.
313 days ago by Kaneskennels
I haven't had a problem with retractables and my dogs are just fine. :) - I do not use them around other people simply because it is harder to control (that silly lock). Our park requires "dog on leash" which, of course, is no fun for poor Nuke and Malice. When it's just us and the big guy, I think retractables are superb. Although, sometimes I reattach my 4ft leads and let go. Just so if anyone tells me to get my dog on the leash, I can tell them that they are. Haha. :P
324 days ago by Unbeliever
i had no idea retractables were that bad. i bought one for my parents' aussie when we first got her (they don't use it but i did) guess you could say i learned something new today
324 days ago by haasmoredarl...
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