Retractable Leashes 101
So I tried to make it last until Saturday. We like to go then because it's adoption day ...more doggies to play. RIGHT before we left to go... Yuki saw the girl I watch, yanked on the leash, and while FULLY extended, it flung back to my cheek! OWIE OWIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the hook part didn't stay attached to her collar, I'm sure it would have taken my eye out! Lesson learned about using a half broken leash. I got a new one for 110lb dogs. We seem to buy them regularly, but never kept using a broken one. Of course the best solution would be not to use this type of leash, but... I guess for us, the pros outweigh the swollen face.   |
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| OWWWW sorry that happened to you! Good warning too ..those things always scare me as I worry about getting palm burns if my hand is too close when it retracts.
Yuki, Lil J and the other critters should kiss it and make it feel better. 
Marianne and the boys |
| I don't know how to use them....
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OUCH!  I've always had a (I THOUGHT) paranoid fear of that happening!
My favorite retractable leash is one that is a wider "tape" cord...so it at least seems a bit safer. |
| Those leashes are a ticking time bomb for accidents. I've never seen anyone using one of those where the dog wasn't walking the people instead of the other way around. |
ButtersStotch wrote: I've never seen anyone using one of those where the dog wasn't walking the people instead of the other way around.
That was my problem with it.  My Boxer's use to drag me down the street.
I had one for Pepsi I used it as a tie out in our campground when we went camping. We had been loading the car, when I went to load Pepsi into the car I realized he had chewed throught it and was sitting there not attached to anything. |
| I've never had a problem with retractables with Abby or Spencer...but then neither of them pull at ALL, I have to actually encourage Abby to go out a ways away from my knee! With Bert though (as he is still learning) I never use them. |
| I agree with all its hazards, and it's awful if you're training.
...but it's great for when it's cold outside and we take hikes, walks, etc... Yuki can go off, but we can drag her back when a bike is coming or BEAR.
The longer I use it, the more I love it since I always hated that Mr. J wanted to use one. We hook the gentle leader, so there's no pulling or anything. ...but gives her room to go if we allow her. |
| That's terrible! I'm glad you're OK.
I've used a retractable leash in special circumstances -- namely we had a foster dog who didn't want to go potty anywhere near us, and we didn't want to have a 30 foot leash all the time. However I was always petrified of that thing taking my thumb or a finger off if it got wrapped and the dog took off. Once in a campground in Maine, a man had one of them with his little ankle-biting dog. The dog ran around behind me and I got a very nasty (deep) rope burn on the back of my leg. I avoid these if at all possible. |
| A friend of a friend was blinded in one eye when it snapped. I never use them. Too risky. I do like to give Chum an extra bit of freedom to roam and for her, the bungee cord leash works pretty well. |
| ^^
WOW
there's a huge swollen mark on my face along with some blood vessels popped under my eye (what I'm guessing). I've never heard of the bungee leash. hmmm.. maybe I will look now! Quote: My favorite retractable leash is one that is a wider "tape" cord...so it at least seems a bit safer.
I'm not 100%, but I think that's what I was using. ...not b/c it was safer, but it was my only option every time we've gone to the store. I know the label says "tape" cord, but I don't know if there's a wider one. You should see Mr. J and I switch off on holding the leash if we each have one end. We each give several warnings.. him: "got it?" me: okay. him: okay? me: okay. him: i'm letting go... me: okay. |
| OWW! I have never had that happen, but I don't use ours very often.
I keep one in the car when travelling -kind of an emergency do all lead. Mainly I use them for my students in school (OK, it IS dog school!). It is a nice transition step to off lead for recalls. They are there , but are light weight. It also retracts neatly as the dog comes, instead of tangling in their feet. It helps the nervous students get started with long recalls. |
I mostly use mine for trail walks (for the same reasons Joah listed...By the way, Ms. J, are you also carrying pepper spray and bells in case of bears? ) But I'm also curious, now, about this "bungee leash"...Val, do you have a link or photo for it, by any chance?  |
I typed bungee leash in google, and then hit images, but couldn't find any that were close to 16' (the shortest retractable I have). I will keep looking though or just hoping nothing serious happens.  Yuki normally doesn't pull hard enough for it to ever break since we have the gentle leader also on. Hopefully we will be getting a fence soon. It's on potty breaks that I attach retractable straight to collar.
No.. no sprays or anything. One time we kept hearing noises that I think even Mr. J was spooked. We rushed back to the car to go home (making tons of noise along the way). My husband had lil J on his back in one of those back-carrying things. |
| OUCH!!! I hope you are ok...That sounds really painful.
I've heard a lot of horror stories about those retractable leashes. I just don't trust them. That's just me though... I would have to agree with Butterscotch ...I feel the same way. However, there are people that I know of that swear by them. |
| Not just bears, but moose! Those beasts are really nasty and have no fear of wandering into town........
I quit using a Flexi Lead. I hated the quick rewind, the dogs hated the jerk. I understand with Little J or something else in one's other hand, a single hand retractable is helpful, but personally I prefer the two hand extra lead walking. I'm old fashion, I guess. |
SheepieBoss wrote: Not just bears, but moose! Those beasts are really nasty and have no fear of wandering into town........
Yup...Moose are actually MORE of a threat for dogs...especially herding breeds, who sometimes feel that moose should be "herded" A friend of mine's Blue Heeler had a bad habit of "bringing" moose to Mom and Dad!  |
| That isn't funny, but it is
Sure trumps a sissy mouse offering from the cat. I'm thinking it was some Alaskan city that had a moose set up residence in the park thus all but closing the park. Old Bullwinkle has no problem with stomping you into the ground, slicing you open with the horns. In fact, they are rather ill tempered to begin with. |
| OH JO! OWCHIE OWCHIE OUCH!!!!!
Hope the cheek gets better fast. I've never used a retracto leash with Pip ... but he did just break his leather leash the other day, and Mike had to chase him down |
| I think you just need to get use to them. I have used one for years (I only use our regular leash when we are going to the vet). It is all in the timing. I know about how far it will go out and when my guy is about to get to that point. Our only trouble with it is when you have the dogs doing the butt sniff meet and greet circle dance. Thats when you have to be qucik before you have woven a nice little leash web.
FYI, for the larger dogs they no longer make them out of cable. The leash part is made out of nylon ribbon. So that can cut down on the leg burns. |
| I can just picture a sheepie herding moose!
Yuki's mom, I hope your "boo boo" gets better quickly, or Mr. J might get into trouble for something he didn't do! 
Personally, I am not a fan of the retractable leash. For folks in rural areas, or hiking out somewhere, it probably makes more sense, but here in the suburbs, that kind of leash just doesn't give me enough control over any situation..... aggressive dogs, cars, people, etc. There is just too much going on that can distract the human or the pet. While driving, my friend saw a jogger running with her dog on a retractable leash. The woman stopped at the busy crosswalk, but didn't click the button on the leash in time and her dog ran right out into traffic.  Not sure if the dog survived.
That was enough to make me turn in my retractable leash forever. I'm now into leather. 
Laurie |
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