Retractable Leashes? SHARE YOUR REVIEWS PLEASE!

[stedmansmommy]

Ok...I also posted this in the Yorkie Products & Reviews section, but then figured that I would probably get more responses here - so here goes

I just bought the babies their Retractable Leashes and was wondering if I got good ones as I know nothing about these things (I haven't used them as of yet).

I bought them the Flexi (brand) Standard. I was going to get the Tiny one (or whatever the smallest size is called - I can't remember) but instead I got the size Small which says it is for dogs up to 26 lbs....and the only reason I got this size is because the handle part that you hold on to had a bigger opening on this size...and I thought that it would be more comfortable for my hubby and I (he has BIG hands!!) and we will be able to fit all 4 fingers through the handle on this one comfortably...whereas the Tiny size or whatever it was called, I figured that I would probably only be able to get 3 fingers in (which didn't seem comfy or secure to me IMO) and my hubby I doubt would even be able to use it because his hands are so big lol. And of course...I needed 2 of them, one for each baby - so I had to make sure that these would work for when my hubby uses them as well.

Anyway, these expand out to 16 FT in length and of course have the stop-and-lock feature on them as well

So...I was wondering, have any of you used this brand (Flexi) Standard....in this size for your babies?? And if so, are they any good? Just kind of wanting some reviews on these if possible. Thanks guys!

[TinyBit]

I've been thinking of getting some also, now that I have two Yorkies to walk.
Looking frward to comments from owners who use them as well.
Do they still wrap around each other and you while walking?

[rrosenberry]

I use one on Bailey when we go for walks.. he leads and it helps cause on a regular leash he pulls so much to be " lead dog" and I hated that. The one I have does not pull at all on his neck.
Alot of people don't like it cause they can get out to far, but you can lock it so they don't or.. pay attention at streets and crossings or if other dogs are coming.

One problem I've experienced.. twice.. I dropped the handle thing and it bounced on the street and scared him and he kept running to get away from it.. I thought it was never gonna end but I caught him. SO keep a good grip on it or put a velcro strap to it and your wrist..that is what I did.

[TinyBit]

Originally Posted by rrosenberry

One problem I've experienced.. twice.. I dropped the handle thing and it bounced on the street and scared him and he kept running to get away from it.. I thought it was never gonna end but I caught him. SO keep a good grip on it or put a velcro strap to it and your wrist..that is what I did.

Thanks for sharing that.
I'd hate to scare them by dropping it.

[Betty'sMom]

We have 2 different ones. The bigger one (for the Border Collie) has "Standard 2" written on it. The smaller one has "Classic 1" written on it. I much prefer the "classic 1" for my Yorkies because it is plenty big for them and it is comfortable for my hand. I do not have a problem fitting 4 fingers into it. It also feels lighter, which I preferred. Betty (Miss 9 1/2 lb Teapot ) runs and pulls when it reaches it's full 16 ft. Sometimes it's a jolt, but it handles her fine. Little Juju is like a feather on the end of it If you are both more comfy with the larger one, then I'd get that one. But if you feel comfy with the smaller handle, I'd get one of each. The smaller one feels a lot lighter but is ample for your babies!

[Yorkieluv]

We have two of those retractable leashes as well and have used them with all of our dogs. We also purchased the small instead of the tiny size for comfort. I attach it to their harness, and we're good to go!
I like the fact that I can choose how far they can walk ahead of me or beside me. For example, if they're on the grass where there are obviously no cars, I let it out to as long as it will go and we run together. The only thing you have to get used to (if you have only been using regular leashes) is the little button. I usually hold down the little button at the length that I want(I don't usually use the lock feature), and release the button as I see fit to let them go a little further.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by Betty'sMom

We have 2 different ones. The bigger one (for the Border Collie) has "Standard 2" written on it. The smaller one has "Classic 1" written on it. I much prefer the "classic 1" for my Yorkies because it is plenty big for them and it is comfortable for my hand. I do not have a problem fitting 4 fingers into it. It also feels lighter, which I preferred. Betty (Miss 9 1/2 lb Teapot ) runs and pulls when it reaches it's full 16 ft. Sometimes it's a jolt, but it handles her fine. Little Juju is like a feather on the end of it If you are both more comfy with the larger one, then I'd get that one. But if you feel comfy with the smaller handle, I'd get one of each. The smaller one feels a lot lighter but is ample for your babies!

Thank you so much girl The ones I got actually say "Standard 1" on them - so I think it will be good The smaller one down from this was VERY SMALL....it could literally fit in your pocket And the handle part on it that you hold on to and put your fingers in was very very small - which is the ONLY reason I didn't choose it. If the handle part was bigger for your hands/fingers - I would have went with that one (I think it only expanded to 10 FT, but that would have been ok for my babies). I just knew that my hubby wouldn't be able to walk them with that thing because the handle on it was sooo small.

[chachi]

Ive got the very same one for Chachi. I want to get another one for Jewels. I love it for Chachi because he used to pull on a regular leash. I give him a little more leash with the retactable. Ive had mine for close to 3 yrs and have never had any troubles with it and I use it alot like every day once or twice a day for walks

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by rrosenberry

I use one on Bailey when we go for walks.. he leads and it helps cause on a regular leash he pulls so much to be " lead dog" and I hated that. The one I have does not pull at all on his neck.
Alot of people don't like it cause they can get out to far, but you can lock it so they don't or.. pay attention at streets and crossings or if other dogs are coming.

One problem I've experienced.. twice.. I dropped the handle thing and it bounced on the street and scared him and he kept running to get away from it.. I thought it was never gonna end but I caught him. SO keep a good grip on it or put a velcro strap to it and your wrist..that is what I did.

OH NO! Thank you for mentioning this...very good info I will make sure that I hold on to them for dear life LOL.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

We have two of those retractable leashes as well and have used them with all of our dogs. We also purchased the small instead of the tiny size for comfort. I attach it to their harness, and we're good to go!
I like the fact that I can choose how far they can walk ahead of me or beside me. For example, if they're on the grass where there are obviously no cars, I let it out to as long as it will go and we run together. The only thing you have to get used to (if you have only been using regular leashes) is the little button. I usually hold down the little button at the length that I want(I don't usually use the lock feature), and release the button as I see fit to let them go a little further.

Oh good - I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who bought this size for the comfort factor I did like the smaller one, and it would have been good for my babies because they are so small (especially Tatum) BUT - I just wouldn't of felt safe not being able to hold on to the handle with a full grip - and my hubby as well...I don't even think he would have been able to use the small one - handle was just way too tiny.

I did practice with it out in the backyard (I want to get used to it before I take them for walks with it on the sidewalk, near the streets) and I just LOVED it! I am so glad that I bought them. I will probably do the same as you and not use the lock feature on it a whole lot, but rather just press the button myself

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by chachi

Ive got the very same one for Chachi. I want to get another one for Jewels. I love it for Chachi because he used to pull on a regular leash. I give him a little more leash with the retactable. Ive had mine for close to 3 yrs and have never had any troubles with it and I use it alot like every day once or twice a day for walks

Well, I wanted a Lime Green one for Steddy (I saw one on eBay but had never heard of the brand and I like to really LOOK them over before I buy them as I want to make sure they are super safe for my babies) - but of course I couldn't find a Lime Green one here...so Steddy has a blue, and Tate has pink of course lol So glad I went when I did - I bought the LAST pink one!

[Yorkiekids]

I don't have any, just the regular leash that hooks onto the halter, but I think I'll look into it.

[stedmansmommy]

Originally Posted by Yorkiekids

I don't have any, just the regular leash that hooks onto the halter, but I think I'll look into it.

That's what I have been using for all of my babies...all of my life - but I see SO many owners that use these retractable dog leashes, I mean...just about every dog owner I see has their babies on one of these things (at least here they do) - and so I thought....well, I MUST be missing SOMETHING good lol.

Then yesterday when we were out of town and in Petsmart, I was talking to a lady who had her little Yorkie there with her (a total cutie pie by the way!! ) and he too was on a retractable dog leash...so I was talking to her about them and she said that she just loved them. So today I decided that I had better go look at them and ended up buying one

So glad I did! For the short time that I used it in the backyard just a little while ago, I just loved it!

[yorkiesmiles]

I love the ease of the retractable leash, but I have found one problem.

I don't think mine is the Flexi brand. I adopted my dogs and the leashes came with them, so I'm not sure where they were bought.

And I'm still at work so I can't check the brand name. But anyway the ones I have are just a thin cord and one time I had gone to pick my daughter up from a big state park where she was with a bunch of kids from youth group.

So, of course I took the dogs out to walk around the park & then some boys were chasing each other & they couldn't/didn't see the thin cord hooked to Bubba. One boy tripped on it - he was fine - but Bubba went flying through the air.

Somehow, thank God, my little angel was unhurt. He was a little heavier (okay maybe 6 -7pounds, instead of the almost 4.5 he is now) then - all I could think "what if it had been little 3 1/2 pound Roxie that went thru the air & down again?"

So now I'm really careful if there are very many people around. I don't want anyone to miss seeing that thin cord again!!

yorkiesmiles

[altigger74]

I used to have one for Cody. I had him outside with it on and my husband called to him, Cody ran to him and pulled the handle out of my hand, WELL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, poor Cody ran as fast as his little legs could take him, yelling and growling at this "thing" that was chasing him and attacking his butt, I couldn't catch him 'cause he was running like crazy. He ran up on the front porch where that "thing" was banging on the porch and bouncing everywhere! I felt so bad for him but I couldn't help crying (and almost wetting myself). So needless to say, we don't use the retractable leash anymore, Cody runs and hides when he sees the "thing".