Question About Retractable Leashes

[lute]

Beanie broke one a few years ago. it was cheap and old. it wasn't a real big deal though. i have like 5 retractable leashes.

[pnance]

I've had 2 break...I don't usually use them when I'm walking the dogs in the neighborhood or public places, way to easy to loose control or get tangled. I do use them when hiking or walking a trail we sometimes use where no one else is around.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

I've had one break and luckily, Tango was on it at the time as she's the only one of my dogs who can be trusted off leash and actually behaves better without a leash. I don't care for them, but I do occasionally use one with Tango when I'm at the river in the summer or walking through the forested area on my Aunt's land. I'd never use one in the city though. I much prefer regular leashes.

[Suki Wingy]

no, but he's broken a chain leash and a tie out before lunging at our old neighbor. (He gets really mad that she's scared of him.) I use one occasionally when we run in the field that is meant for 45 lb dogs and he's 55 lbs.

[bckrazy]

I bought this really awesome flexi when Gonzo was less than 1 year old, I only use it on trails/open areas, not in or near the street. But, when I got home from vaccation one night, he was super excited so I just took him for a run on his flexi (there are no cars anywhere in my town after 9 PM ), and he was so hyped up that he ran around a tree and came racing back to me and snapped the flexi! It lasted 3 years, though, and it only cost $25-ish. I would never use one anywhere near busy roads, ever. It does come in handy when you don't want to walk off-leash but there is space for them to roam.

[vinjashira]

Snowy's old retractable leashes broke not long ago after almost 2 years. It was a cord one for dogs up to 15kg (Snowy is less than 5kg). I bought a new one which is a webbing one for dogs up to 35kg which will hopefully last longer. I like the new one as the webbing is easier to hold or pull when I have to.

I disagree strongly that retractable leashes are the worst leashes, I salute the people who invented them. Walking Snowy in the summer, when people are picnicking everywhere and leave the food lying around, or on places that you are legally bound to use a leash, or on new places you're not so sure whether they are safe or not, couldn't be better without a retractable leash. She still has a degree of freedom and yet I still have the full control.

[anna_66]

I have three, one for each dog (since they are different weights) and I've never had one break, not even with my 150+ lb dog Bon. But then again we don't go too many places we could use them much.
I like the fact if we're somewhere they could roam a little I can let them with the flexi leash.

[GreyhoundDaddy]

See what I mean about presumptuousness?

Fact of the matter is is that retractable leashes are not effective as has been proven by this thread. Just about every single person who has replied has stated that at one time or another their "flxi-lead" has broken on them

I own a 70lb retired racing American Greyhound, an 81lbs active racer and a 61lbs active racer. All of them are walked on 6ft leather leads and are always in complete control when on walks. They neither stray into people's yards, picnics, streets.. their leads don't entangle people's or other dogs legs and they DONT BREAK.

[lisahumphreys882]

I was walking someone elses dog and the leash snapped. Personally from what a lot of people are saying on here about the leash falling out of their hands and it snapping i don't think they're all that great

[ParNone]

elizabethann writes:

That 30 ft lead is cool. But what's the difference between a lead & a leash? Are you on the other end of the 30ft lead with a handle in your hand? That would be cool for Fenway at the beach or on a super long hike.

Oh I use lead and leash interchangeably. The 30ft lead or leash is no different from a normal leash. It has a metal clip at one end and a loop to hold onto at the other.

I can't remember if Judes is holding onto Idgie in that shot. Since I'm right there at the other end taking a picture, she might not have been. We'd never let Idgie get ahead of both of us though, without holding onto the leash, cuz off she'd go. "Come" is not in her vocabulary. We joked that one thing we needed to train Oz to do was go get the leash and bring her back to us.

Par...