retractable leashes; anything we can do?

We probably couldn't do anything but, oh well, it was just a thought.

 Why don't you like them; we've used one for Jessie for over seven years and love them. She is a Shepherd mix the size of a Lab and we use the flexi to walk her on trails in state parks every weekend and in the parks in the area.  She is obedience trained though and if a jogger or biker is passing by she will do a sit stay on command even when the leash is extended the full 26 feet. If I see someone approaching with another dog I simply retract the leash so she walks next to me.

If I see someone approaching with another dog I simply retract the leash so she walks next to me.

 
A number of people don't retract. The leash itself is not bad, it's, as usual, the human at the other end of it that either knows how to use it properly, or doesn't. Heck, I have a 15 foot lead I sometimes use but that doesn't stop me from winding it around my hand, when necessary. To me, the whole idea of having a retractible leash is to allow various freedom at certain instances.
 
You are a success with your leash because you use proper training, not just the leash. So, your dog is well-behaved, even if you were just using a piece of rope.

You are a success with your leash because you use proper training, not just the leash. So, your dog is well-behaved, even if you were just using a piece of rope.

 
   It's been my experience that people with larger dogs have done some training with them; most of the larger dogs we meet are well behaved. I worry more when Jessie meets a smaller dog because their owners (and everyone else) think it's cute when the dog is pulling at the end of the leash while growling and barking. Jessie has been bit on the nose by a Shnauzer (sp?) and on the legs by an off leash Chihuahua. Luckily for them she's very good natured and didn't retaliate. I love the flexi because it allows her to run back and forth exploring while we walk a steady pace but we always retract it when coming upon other people because it's just good manners.

The problem with larger dogs on flexis is that they can break. Yes, even the ones that say they are safe for large dogs. I had one break with my akita mix and I never got another one because if one broke, who's to say another wouldn't break and someplace unsafe?
 
I have a 30 foot nylon leash that I use when I'm someplace where one of the dogs can have more freedom safely and without bothering anyone else. I can hold on to the loop easly even with gloves on, there's no fumbling, and it won't break. Otherwise, 4 feet is quite enough for where we usually walk. Marlowe is normally walked on a 1 foot tab leash. Walks are for walking, not exploring. When we get to where we're going and it's safe, then I can switch to the 30 foot.
 
In my observations, it is just entirely too tempting for most people to have a flexi and not just obliviously let their untrained dog just do whatever on it. I live in a city and I'm sorry, but there are almost no areas here where a felxi is even remotely necessary or appropriate. Yet lots of people have them. Makes it easier for the dog to get right up to someone's front door and poop so the owner can claim ignorance and not clean it up.

You're right; but that's not it.  It's the fact that it teaches bad leash manners and dogs can be hit by cars.  Also, dogs sometimes show up around corners where I live!  Not cool; a bad surprise!  People are also amputated by them [:'(] and they can burn you.  The handle is bulky, ect. 
 
Anyways, I guess the people that use them make me think that they're bad.  At least around here, anyway.  They never actually retract them!  I think that's why they are called retractable leashes!

The problem with larger dogs on flexis is that they can break.

 
Yep. I mentioned in another thread how I took Cherokee to the beach once on a retractable leash. A dog ran by her, and she tried to run after it. The leash was locked really short, but the lock broke when she pulled, and when she got to the end of the rope, the whole thing just pulled out of the handle, and there I stood with the stupid plastic handle in my hand, and my (sometimes aggressive) dog tearing off across the beach. Luckily some surfer dude reached out and somehow caught the dinky little rope til I got over there. But yeah, I have never and will never, use that type of leash again.

ORIGINAL: chelsea_b

The problem with larger dogs on flexis is that they can break.

Yep. I mentioned in another thread how I took Cherokee to the beach once on a retractable leash. A dog ran by her, and she tried to run after it. The leash was locked really short, but the lock broke when she pulled, and when she got to the end of the rope, the whole thing just pulled out of the handle, and there I stood with the stupid plastic handle in my hand, and my (sometimes aggressive) dog tearing off across the beach. Luckily some surfer dude reached out and somehow caught the dinky little rope til I got over there. But yeah, I have never and will never, use that type of leash again.

Students of mine have been cut by these things, and I've seen those big fat handles pulled out of the owner's hands - then the dog has this thing "chasing" him!  It can freak out a timid dog really badly.

It's been my experience that people with larger dogs have done some training with them; most of the larger dogs we meet are well behaved. I worry more when Jessie meets a smaller dog because their owners (and everyone else) think it's cute when the dog is pulling at the end of the leash while growling and barking

 
That's been my experience, too. When owning a large dog, it is readily apparent the damage they could do if they are not trained. So, people train large dogs. Others think little dogs are just so cute and don't feel the need to train them with manners. Which leads to a problem, because they will send dominant and aggressive signals and maybe bite off more than they can chew and get in trouble with a larger dog. Then the larger dog gets blamed for responding to the threat.