Retractable leash?

They are not so great when your around other dogs and people but when your out hiking or in the open they can be nice to have if your afrade of your dog getting away from you.

I bought a cheep one any my dog just pulled the sting right out of the plastic.  Sometimes the buttion didn't work when I pressed it and other times it locked when I didn't want it to.  Then to add to that the only thing holding my dog was a string not even as strong as a shoe sting.  If you get one at the very lest get a high quality one.

For the most part I just like to have controll over my dog when I'm walking her and a retractable leash doesn't give me that controll.  It's to easy for your dog to do something your going to regreat latter.  A 6ft leather lead works just fine for me and my dog.  I belive that owners of small dogs should have the same amount of controle over their dogs as large dogs.  Too often I see little dog missbehaving on a retractable leash and the owner has no idea what to do.  My dog's trainer call the leash the "life line" and you are in controll of your dogs life with that line. 

There's only one thing I like retractable leashes for, and that's teaching GSD puppies to go out to the end of a leash against resistance.
 
Other than that, I think they suck, mostly because people don't know how to use them!  There was a moron of a woman at Petsmart about a month ago who had two Labradors, each disgustingly obese (we're talking about 130 pounds here), snarling and snapping at my GSD.  Both were on flexi-leads, both were PULLING this old Lady along, and both seemed rather intent on eating my dog.
 
The woman didn't even know how to reel the blasted dogs in.  If you don't know how to use one, you shouldn't have one, and most people shouldn't have one.

I used one for years with no problem - on a dog who stayed very nicely by my side and only went a little ways off the path to sniff/pee/explore, etc. For those types of dogs, they're fine.  I learned the hard way that they couldn't be used with a dog that pulls.  I had Max on the flexi when he was only about 5 or 6 months old (I figured it would be OK as the leash was for dogs up to 100 lbs. and Max was still under 30 lbs.) when he spotted a squirrel running up a tree and took off after it.  He pulled the leash out to the full 16ft., pulling me over on the bike bath face first, skinning both my knees and breaking my sunglasses. [] I'll tell you, I am waaaay too old to be running around with skinned knees. That's when I discovered that the flexi is OK for some dogs, but not all.  Also, if you happen to drop it, the handle will reel up quickly and smack the dog in the head or leg ... and if the cord should snap, as they sometimes do, you can lose a finger. Max now walks on a 6 ft. leather leash and that's plenty of freedom for him.

Joyce

I have two retractable leashes, and I know exactly how to use them (however I don't always use them).  I hate when people let the dog way out at the end of the leash when I'm walking with my dog.

I also hate when people think "Oh those spikes are going to hurt my poor dog" when they look at prong collars.  One of my friends has a Miniature Poodle who pulls on the leash until his eyes bulge out.  I told her to get a prong collar, but she said "I don't want anything that will pinch my Codykins." 
 
Prong collars are actually safer because it puts the pressure around the neck, instead of just a the trachea.
 
That's what I like about Cairns, they're small, but large enought to wear a training collar.

I use a prong with great success.  I was taught how to use it by a trainer and it was fitted to my dog.  I think a prong is a more human way to walk a dog then the tipical choak chain or even a regular collar that choakes the dog as it pulls.  It quickly teaches the dog not to pull by tighting around the neck without choacking the dog.  If used correctly a prong will never hurt a dog.

I know, I never see correctly fitted training collars!!!
 
[linkhttp://www.leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm]http://www.leerburg.com/fit-prong.htm[/link]

I like the flexi-leads.  I know how to use them and I like to think I use them responsibly.
 
When a friend of mine walked the dogs with me, he kept complaining that "when I'm walking on a path most dog owners won't stay to one side of the path, why do we have to do it with your dogs?"  I explained that alot of people are scared or just don't like dogs or are intimidated by two red dogs with pointy ears in the middle of the path.  Further, as a dog owner, I need to spread good will and show that I respect other's individual right to walk unmolested on the trails. 
 
So when I see another trail walker, or another person walking their dogs, I retract the leash and put my dogs into a controllable (loose lead or heel) position and we veer to the left side of the path. 
 
We never use the Flexi inside of stores, nor in crowd situations where the dogs need to be very controllable.

Thanks for posting that.  I can see now that the prong Max has needs to have a link or two taken out. It's riding way too low.

Joyce

The way Leerburg fits prong collars is designed to elicit a pain response. Not necessary, not recommended for any kind of reactive or fearful dog.

I love my flexi-lead! Mainy because it gives me such flexablity. I walk my dog in many different places. From the beginning of our walk to the end we may find ourselves on busy sidewalks, isolated ravines, open fields and/or quiet neighborhoods etc. I use a harness and a flexi-lead, which allows my dog sniff and wander for 26 ft when I'm in a large open field. If we'er on a busy sidewalk I can shorten it to zero ft. if I have to without having to somehow contain all that unused leash. When I do use a regular 6ft leash, it seems to be always loose and slopping around or I'm constantly wrapping and unwrapping it around my hand.

Mind you, it does take some getting used to and if you haven't got it locked you better keep alert!

If I had a sighthound, I would figure out a good way to use a flexi-lead...

But seriously, I like a 30' cotton training lead better. I never have felt like I have any control using a flexi lead, and the cord is so thin most of the time that it can be painful or dangerous to grab. That contraption on the end is not user-friendly to me... I would rather do the work of managing a long lead and know that I can put my hands on it, anywhere at any time, without having to find a handle or that little locking button.

What I am doing with my puppy, who is not old enough to be trusted off-lead yet, is letting him drag a bright red 30' lead while I am at the park. Makes getting him back a breeze, but admittedly not the best solution for confined dog runs.

Besides, I have gotten a couple of deep cuts in my legs from people who are not controling their dogs on them.

Max isn't fearful or reactive at all.  He's just a strong puller.  I don't think I want to actually cause him pain ... just a little discomfort when he pulls should be enough. So ... do you think I should remove a link or two or just leave well enough alone?

Joyce

I have a very split mind, and can never make a final decision.  I have a prong collar, three 6-foot nylon leashes, and two 16-foot retractable leashes.