Retractable leash?

The funny thing is, they do make flexis that say "for dogs up to 100 lbs." but I agree - I can't imagine a really big dog on a flexi.  And if you're going to keep it reeled in and locked all the time, you may as well have a nice, soft 6ft. leather one. Much easier on your hands.

Joyce

We use one for our smaller dog (terrier mix), and I'm pretty adept at reeling him in when necessary (all those years of fishing with my dad I think!), but have gotten a couple of nasty rope burns! As for our larger dog (68 pounds of shepherd/cattle dog/ridgeback??) . . .I used it once when I couldn't find her regular lead, then she saw a rabbit or a cat or something and out it went of my hands, my arm felt like it was being pulled from the socket and was sore for two days, and I had a merry chase after the dog in the dark! So never again with the big dog!!!

I don't think they should be used around other people.  My friend and I were hiking and her dog went around me and I had a burn from the wire like part of the flexi.  I told her what happened and her response was "oh yeah that happened to a little girl once."  I refuse to hike with her again if she will use that leash.  That burn mark was there at least a week and since it was right behind my knee, it hurt every time I bent my leg.

I do not like to use a retractable leash, only because Cody will pull all the way to the end of it, and keep pulling.  I use a 6 foot blue nylon leash.  I suppose if he walked properly I would use one.

The only time I use a flexi is when rollerblading (so if she stops suddenly or turns the wrong way I have more time to stop/slow/correct before she gets jerked around or I fall over) and when hiking in wide open fields. All other times I have a wonderful 6ft leather or nylon european lead.

Speaking of flexis; I saw the second worst case the other day (the first would have to be the neopolitan on a flexi) at one of those box stores. Guy being pulled into the store by his husky on a harness and a flexi. All he could do was ball up the flexi lead in his hands trying to pull this dog back.

I didn't say anything because I'm trying not to run around telling people what to do. But boy did I roll my eyes.

Paula

ORIGINAL: fuzzy_dogs_mom

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 think you should try an Easy Walk Harness, or leave the prong alone.  Leerburg's advice will cause more pain for your dog.  And, frankly, if he's already pain-insensitive enough that you feel like increasing the penalty, it's probably ineffective anyway...better to get some leverage by using the harness, or even a Gentle Leader or Halti.
Why not invest in trying to clicker train a nice "heel".  Is he motivated by food, or by toys? 
[linkhttp://www.clickersolutions.com]www.clickersolutions.com[/link] has some good articles, if you're interested.

As to Flexi's, I *detest* them - they teach dogs to pull, they cut people's legs, and they injure dogs.  How many dips^^ts have I seen on the beach already this season who let their dogs go up to strange dogs with the leash still attached, and now the thin little line is getting the dogs all tangled up. [:@]

I don't let anyone within 50' of my dogs with one of those stupid things.

Anne, thanks for that link.  I checked it out ... and the list of books and articles is overwhelming.  Do you have any in particular that you'd recommend?  I did take one link out of the prong because it really was very loose, and it's still not tight. But I don't think I want to make it any tighter or have it ride up high, even though when he sees a squirrel he's still able to take quite a lunge. He used to have a SENSE-ation harness but grew out of it and I never replaced it.  Maybe it's time to try another one. [] Periodically we try just the flat collar, but he goes nuts with the pulling because he thinks he's going to the dog park. I can definitely see that we need to get back to the "watch me, click, treat" stuff.

Joyce

I personally don't like the flexi for myself.  For many of the reasons stated above, I hate the handle, too clunky for me, I don't like the retractable cord, I know I would get a rope burn from that! []  While I am sure there are plenty of people who can control their dogs on flexi's, I have yet to come across one.[] Every dog I have seen on a flexi as had some knukle head on the other end getting dragged down the street. I keep my dogs far away from those situations. []

thought of this thread today... I saw a huge standard poodle all the way at the end of a retractable leash with a Gentle Leader.

Of course the owner was on a cellphone and completely oblivious, and like Paula I am trying not to be such a busybody, so I saved it for here. Ugh!

Flexileashes.... I wonder if the criminal mind that invented them and released them into the mainstream has been put in a maximum security facility of some sort....

Is it just me or they always go hand in hand with obnoxious out of control dogs that are conected by these contraptions to their clueless owners?

I just have an issue with them because people tend to not know how to use them. 

ORIGINAL: fisher6000

thought of this thread today... I saw a huge standard poodle all the way at the end of a retractable leash with a Gentle Leader.

Of course the owner was on a cellphone and completely oblivious, and like Paula I am trying not to be such a busybody, so I saved it for here. Ugh!

That must be one of those people who make up the statistical quantity of people whose dogs are injured on Gentle Leaders.  Using a GL and a Flexi together is absolute idiocy.  The GL is meant to be used while walking the dog close to the handler, and dogs should never be allowed to be on a long lead while wearing one - too easy for them to twist their neck if they come to a dead stop at the end of the line.


Joyce, if you scroll down, there are a few on loose leash walking.  I think you should just read some of them and figure out if you think they'd be good for your particular dog.  There is a book called "Clicker Training for Obedience" that has instructions on the obedience heel in it.  Probably can get it on dogwise.com.

As to Flexi's, I *detest* them - they teach dogs to pull, they cut people's legs, and they injure dogs.  How many dips^^ts have I seen on the beach already this season who let their dogs go up to strange dogs with the leash still attached, and now the thin little line is getting the dogs all tangled up. [:@]

 
Once again, it is the people using these tools and not the tools. If your going to let your dog by other dogs,,,it doesn't take a Flexi to do it,,,it takes an owner that lets their dog by other dogs.
The retractible is GREAT for Bubblegum when we go for walks, but we don't pass too many people or dogs. If I were taking her to someplace like PetSmart (which I wouldn't) it would NOT be on a Flexi leash,,,but for a walk its great. IF we run into people I bring her close to me on it and lock it. Of course a Dane can unlock a Flexi, but I keep her attention and talk her "by" the people without incindent!  If I feel there is going to be problems,,,I walk around the problems,,,perhaps in the street.  But most of the time no one is around and she can run ahead and sniff the ground which dogs love to do,,,she can hang back a while until I get well past her and then she can run to catch up and run right by me. She gets more exercise that way because she gets to run a  little on her walk.  I would not use the ones with a cord, they are too dangerous. But I have the leash type.

ORIGINAL: dyan

As to Flexi's, I *detest* them - they teach dogs to pull, they cut people's legs, and they injure dogs.  How many dips^^ts have I seen on the beach already this season who let their dogs go up to strange dogs with the leash still attached, and now the thin little line is getting the dogs all tangled up. [:@]

Once again, it is the people using these tools and not the tools. If your going to let your dog by other dogs,,,it doesn't take a Flexi to do it,,,it takes an owner that lets their dog by other dogs.
The retractible is GREAT for Bubblegum when we go for walks, but we don't pass too many people or dogs. If I were taking her to someplace like PetSmart (which I wouldn't) it would NOT be on a Flexi leash,,,but for a walk its great. IF we run into people I bring her close to me on it and lock it. Of course a Dane can unlock a Flexi, but I keep her attention and talk her "by" the people without incindent!  If I feel there is going to be problems,,,I walk around the problems,,,perhaps in the street.  But most of the time no one is around and she can run ahead and sniff the ground which dogs love to do,,,she can hang back a while until I get well past her and then she can run to catch up and run right by me. She gets more exercise that way because she gets to run a  little on her walk.  I would not use the ones with a cord, they are too dangerous. But I have the leash type.

Here's my personal concern about big dogs on flexis; I feel like big dog owners like myself must strive to make our dogs diplomats -to put others at ease. Just because people worry about big dogs. So even if I absolutely trusted my dogs on a flexi (which I don't because they are sighthounds), and even if I actually liked the flexi, I wouldn't use it because the dog would appear to be less than under my control. That's just a personal thing mind. But secondly if your big dog bolts on a flexi for whatever reason, that flexi is not going to hold your dog.

JMO
Paula