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 Veterinarians, dog trainers and dog walkers  have all seen the negative side of the retractable leash. It might seem like a great idea at first but here are some reasons why we don’t like them:

  1. Dogs should walk beside you, not 20 plus feet ahead. It is way too easy for a dog to dash into the street or walk onto a neighbor’s property and encounter an unfriendly dog.
  2. The handles on the leashes are not ideal for control. If your pup suddenly goes after a squirrel it’s likely the handle will pull right out of your hand.
  3. They malfunction. The button to retract can get stuck, resulting in complete loss of control. If you try to pull on the cord it can result in serious injury to your hand.
  4. Should the leash pull out of your hand, it will drag along the ground making quite a bit of noise. This can scare a dog into thinking he is being chased and he might continue to run.
  5. Dogs that suddenly run out of leash have injured their necks and tracheas, resulting in an emergency visit to the vet. 

If you own a well trained dog who NEVER chases bikes, bunnies, squirrels or cars, the retractable leash might be the right choice for you, but it’s always a good idea to have backup leash for your walker just in case!

 

 

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