Retractable Leashes, What do you think?

I highly discourage most of my client from using them.  They are horrible and unreliable.  You should never have your dog more then 6 ft away from you anyway when walking in an urban area with leash laws.  You just don’t have control over the dog in any way and one snap on the thin string and the dog is gone.  I've also seen a 30 lb cattle dog run to the end and snap the sting out of the plastic then kept on going.  I will never use one again after that.

That being said, I have used one, but, only in rare places where I can be in complete control of my dog.  Like when I went to White Sands, which is a giant sand dune park and it stretched for miles.  There was no one else around.  I could never trust Gizmo 100% off leash, even in the middle of the desert, so it allowed me to at least hold onto her so she could run around.  If I was to do it again I would rather go with a 25ft nylon lead instead.

I haven't owned one for a long long time. I still bear the childhood scar in which one got wrapped around my ankle by a dog, and the dog did what dogs do - wrap around the object you are caught on, repeatedly.  Ouch.

While I'm sure they "can" be used somewhat responsibly, in my experience the amount it is used in that way - in open spaces, where it won't get caught, away from other animals and people (and only used with one dog - other dogs in the picture create HUGE risks) - is minimal. Moreso I see dogs that are not under any sort of control, that are running wildly too and fro, whose owners are not really even paying attention to their dog, and who have horrible timing with reeling their dog back in. For some reason, in my business I also see a correlation between the use of Flexi-leads and lack of training overall (ie: rude, pushy, out of control dogs).  I also see people walking their dogs on Flexi's with head halters on, and that scares the heck out of me.

I recommend a four or six-foot sturdy leash for any dog, and for off-leash training or on-leash freedom, long lines.

I think they're a pretty bad idea for most people and most situations. But for us, walking in the park when nobody else is around, we LOVE it!

Yep, I've got scars too from OTHER peoples dogs on a flexi!  Plus the tooth marks from the rotti on a flexi and a PRONG collar who snuck up behind me and took a large bite of my leg on the inside of my knee.

A flexi teaches dogs to pull.  The tug a bit, mom lets out more lead.  Cause and affect.  Dog thinks hmmm, I pull, I get to go further ahead.

In short....don't like 'em, never used one and never WILL use one.

I think it kind of depends on the dog.  The dog I had before Max used one quite well, but he wasn't a puller and was content to walk right beside me.  Sometimes I let him reel it out if he was exploring bushes but if dogs or bicycles were coming toward us, I could reel it all the way in and lock it.  Max is a puller, big time.  I stupidly used it on him when he was just a pup and he took off after a squirrel and pulled me over face first on the bike path.

Joyce

glenmar

A flexi teaches dogs to pull.  The tug a bit, mom lets out more lead.  Cause and affect.

Only when used incorrectly which is how most people use them, incorrectly.  

I do stay away from most dogs on a flexi unless I see that the owner knows how to use one and their dog is under their control.

I've seen dogs break all sorts of lines if they decide to bolt.  I've seen people with broken fingers because they thought they could hold onto their dog on a regular line or lead.  I've seen people with dislocated shoulders and neck injuries due to a dog hitting the end of a line that didn't break and the owner being jerked off their feet.  A flexi is just another tool but one that takes practice to use correctly and a dog who is under voice control.

 I don't use them, don't trust them for dogs my dogs' size/strength.  If I want a long line, I use a long line.

I know *how* to use it but quite honeslty, I just plain can NOT be that coordinated (I'll blame arthritis, but honestly? I think I'm just clumsy with them.).  I'm too focused on what the dog is doing and I then can't react fast enough to figure out what's locked or unlocked quick enough.  I also find them difficult to hold cos you can't loop it over your wrist (I usually loop it over my wrist and then HOLD the leash itself -- near the head with the hand on the "heel" side and the excess in my right hand - gives me extra control if the leash slips).

So -- I'm in the "burn them" class. 

I walk Sandy on it mostly and keep it locked at 4ft when in buildings and crowded areas. Maze doesn't walk on one because she is reactive

 I live in an apartment. Dogs must be on leash at all times, for potty breaks the flexi is great for this. It also helps that I have a 0 prey drive dog, so her darting after something is nil. That being said, I use a 4ft, leather leash for normal walks. I tried the 6 ft. one, but since she doesn't leave my side it was way to much slack.