Over the last few years retractable leashes (or flexi-leashes) have become all the rage in the dog world. However, you should be made aware of the downfalls of this latest fad. 1- Your dog never learns where the end of the leash is because it constantly changes. I have seen dogs choke themselves again and again by running away from their owners only to be gagged by reaching the end of the leash. 2- Dogs that meet each other while on a flexi-leash will surely entangle themselves and their owners with the thin retractable leash, causing confusion, and danger. 3- The thin leashes can break, resulting in a dog on the loose and an owner without a workable leash on hand. 4- Some have tried to stop their dogs from running away by grabbing the retractable part of the leash itself. This can cause a severe rope burn to the owner. 5- It is very difficult to control your dog from 20 feet away. If your dog is meeting a new dog and they get into a fight while you are still 20 feet back, it is very difficult for you to intervene quickly.6- Dogs get used to pulling when they are attached to a flexi-leash because it, in a sense, rewards a dog with “freedom” when he pulls.
Finally, please keep in mind that if your dog is in front of you, you are not being a pack leader; you are being a follower. Make your dog a happy follower by leading him! Put those flexi-leashes away, teach your dog to heel and deepen your relationship with your pooch. Lead Your Dog!
May 3, 2010 at 9:35 am
Okay, that’s makes sense…
What length of leash would you recommend then? And, do you apply this same standard to those of us that have to clean up after our pets at apartment buildings? I don’t like to stand right behind him (or especially down wind…) as he’s pooping, that’s where a nice long leash comes in handy.
May 3, 2010 at 10:38 am
I use about a 5 foot leash. Long enough to let the dog go a little ways away from me to poop, but not too long to loop up and hold loosely in one hand.
September 11, 2011 at 9:40 pm
[...] steps. First, make sure your dog is exercised. Second, place a leash on your dog (preferable not a flexi-leash since you cannot give a proper leash correction with one easily). Third, purposefully create the [...]