I have never been able to articulate why I detest these things, and now you have done it perfectly for me! Aside from offering no control for safety, they can cause severe rope burns if wrapped around an ankle. A poodle at the park once gave me a perfect “burned-in” ankle bracelet. I was not amused!

This article is now required reading for my clients.

KP-

I'm forwarding this to my dad. I've been trying to get him to get rid of his retractable leash for a while and he thinks I'm just being a pain. Maybe if he hears it from someone else he'll listen. Thanks!

Thank you so much for bringing this up! Retractable leashes have always seemed hazardous to me due to all of the reasons you point out but they were so popular I thought that they MUST be safer than they seemed, right? Well, I had a terribly frightening experience while walking my stepmother's dog on a retractable leash - he had an intense hatred of motorcycles and ran out into a busy street to chase one. I was totally helpless because there was no way for me to reel him back to safety. I ended up having to wrap the leash around my arm and hand to be able to quickly pull him out of traffic. I am thankful he wasn't hit by a car and that I only ended up with bruises and friction burns. It could have ended tragically.

I HAD NO IDEA!!!! A!AHH! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE BEEN USING A RETRACTABLE LEASH!!!

I can't thank you enough for postig this. The dangers you mentioned never crossed my mind.

My neighborhood is very walk-your-dog friendly. Every single person has a retractable leash. I am definitely spreading the word.

I'm throwing the evil thing away.

Also, if you drop the leash, it will bounce along "chasing" the dog as they run away in terror. Worst invention ever.

I've used a retractable leash for close to 10 years and have never had any problem, but that comes with some caveats:

First, 30 ft is truly a ridiculous length (I didn't even know they came that long); mine's 16' which makes things easier. I extend it only on trails and park-like areas. It's a simple matter to lock it down and keep your companion closer to you when you're on the street or busy areas.

Also, as a guy with a 21 lb dog, I have no problem controlling him. I agree people should never use one if they have a heavy and/or overly-excitable dog, whom they feel uncomfortable controlling (and certainly not a 30' length).

I love giving my companion a bit more freedom at parks and beaches, and with appropriate attention and precautions I think it's okay to use one.

Thank you KP for talking about this! I am totally making the switch now. Do you possibly have the links to any articles about people loosing their eyes? How scary!

Hi Amanda!
Here's one: http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/oft/oftweb.nsf/Web+Pages/625B374549D140B44A257233000EFF9C?OpenDocument.
KP

I keep a 15-foot nylon leash in my car. That way, if we stop at a park or a beach I can give my dog romping room without the inherent problems of a retractable leash. 30' really is silly... if you're willing to have your dog that far from you just train them to be dependable off-leash.

Campion has a good point about being careful and being able to control your dog.

When I take Pepper out, I am almost always walking with his friends. What's the first thing Pepper does when he sees his friends? He runs excitedly to meet them and they all start jumping around and they all get tangled up. I'm now afraid the cord may wrap around a leg or a neck.

Plus, when we are all walking our dogs together, the dogs start acting and thinking as a pack. One barks and starts chasing a squirrel, all the others follow suit.

I think in my situation, I'm best with a good ol' basic leash.

I don't think retractable leashes are inherently evil, like spike/pinch collars or electric collars. However, it is a good idea to offer cautions about their use and shortcomings.

I tried a 32 foot retractable leash and it was like flying a kite! No control whatsoever over my dog. However, I usually use a 14 foot retractable and rarely ever let it out its full distance, never where there is vehicle or human traffic. If we approach busy areas, I retract the leash so it is much shorter.

Over the years, my dog has learned to respond to the click when the brake is engaged, so she doesn't pull against the leash. If I drop the leash, she stops and waits for me to pick it up again. I can set the leash at five or six feet and tell her "short leash" and she won't pull against it.

I find the retractable leash particularly beneficial when I want my dog to go swimming, but I want to be able to keep her from roaming. With a long leash, she can swim but still be under my control.

Keeping control of ones dog and keeping the dog safe is a primary concern, but not one that totally excludes using a retractable leash; even if that means that the retractable is only used in open fields.

je trouva dans la vie que l'homme esr le plus asasin et agressive pour tout le monds
j'ai la preuve

i do agree, those kinds of leashes are TERRIBLE. i had one one time, because my little Boston Terrier loved to run through fields all the time and i thought that would be a good idea. a long leash for a long run without me being out of breath. but it ended up slipping out of my hand, due to lack of control, and flying full speed straight towards my little dog. it ended up flying into her, and she refused to go near that leash again.

but one thing i do not agree with is, turning this tragic story into a "learning experience." someone's beloved dog just died a tragic death, and other people are making assumptions as to what leash the man was using and then saying that it was wrong. that was his LOVED pet and i just don't find that to be in the actions of a dog lover to say what was just said in this blog. not to mention, the dog was near the owners car and on the way in. thus, the retractable leash would have been probably at a minimun length. i also feel it was not the fault of the man or his leash or anything that he was doing, it was the street sweeper drivers fault.

I appreciate this blog very much and will consider everything said about retractables.

I am a totaly animal activist and I've used retractables on my smallish dogs for years. They have served me well. One thing I love about them is they allow my dogs to go sniff here and there (their greatest joy) instead of just keeping them on sidewalk. I feel like it helps them experience more fun and joy.

I like regular leashes but I feel more likely to trip over them because they have so much slack.

However, I would not use one if my dogs were hyper and a body part could get entangled.

My retractables are not hugely long at all...in fact, I am pretty sure they are not even 15 ft...have to go check though.

I would only ever use a retractable leash (of certainly no more than 15ft) on a terrier in open field so that they could have a bit more freedom without the risk of running after a rabbit and never coming back. Apart from that I hate the things! Like the first comment given, I've never liked retractable leashes but was never really able to explain why - but this sums it up brilliantly. Dog owners should use a regular leash to make sure they have full control at all times, and teach their dog to roam off lead dependably in suitable areas - after all being on a retractable leash means they'll never learn to be good walkers and as I've experienced with these leads on many dogs - not only are they dangerous and give your dog conflicting messages, many dogs reach the end of the lead and then just carry on pulling!!!! In my view, that just completely ruins the whole point of the retractable leash!

I have encouraged my local rescue center, where I am a volunteer, not to recommend retractable leashes to new owners. Fortunately, the home already has a policy against volunteer dog walkers using retractables.

They are the lazy dog owners way to avoid training their dog properly, and giving it sufficient exercise.