I admit that I use retractable 12' leashes with the girls, but I don't let them get too far out when we are around anything, only when we get to the open area for dogs that we have at our condos do I let them run it out to the end of the leash.

Agreed. And in my original note, I meant pitbull, not pitfall! :p

I am so afraid of those retractable leashes!

Because I wanted my babies to be able to run around the park freely but worried they aren't 100% good with recall, I bought a retractable once. I read up on all the precautions on losing fingers etc. I tried it out once at an open park. Ended up returning it because it was just too stressful using it! They love to run in circles and the last thing I was is to be wrapped up in the retractable! Granted...I didn't give myself enough time to get used to it yet.

My friend used to use a retractable leash too. Her dog, as friendly as he is, loves to greet everyone during walks and is walked in a way where he can go where he pleases. Well, we live in a very busy area with lots of bicycles, dogs, and pedestrians. Once day, he darted in front of an oncoming cyclist and tripped the guy, who fell off the bike. Yikes! I would be so infuriated if I was the cyclist. I ended up buying her a nice leather leash, which she now loves. :)

Now, when I want my two to run around in the park, I tie a very long rope to both of their harnesses. They're essentially taking each other for a run around. It's super cute.

A friend of mine just told me some lady had a big dog on a retractable leash, it darted out between parked cars and he almost hit the dog. It is ppl like this irresponsible lady that makes ppl hate retractable leashes. They are fantastic in the proper area, a busy area with ppl, cars, bicycles is not the place to use one.

Leash or tether??
 

I guess as I read all of the comments in this thread the point I get is that there is a big difference between walking a leashed dog and tethering a dog so it can run around.
If you are walking your dog on a leash that implies the dog is trained to walk with you - kind of like old-fashioned dancing - the owner leads and the dog follows.
When you are taking your dog out for a run and just want to limit the distance, the dog is tethered - could be tethered to you or a tree or a car bumper. The dog is leading and the owner doesn't even need to follow as the dog will just be limited in range but not behavior.
I think the purpose of "leash laws" is that the owner is to be leading - or in control - of the dog as opposed to the dog tethered to an object.

I think there is a time and place for retractable leads. I have one for Chewie but it's only certain locations that I allow him to have this one on. This is mainly for training reasons. He knows that in certain locations he's only allowed to walk at heel so he gets his regular soft 1M lead, such as on the streets, areas with roads etc. And then we only have two locations where he has the retractable and that's at the nearby field where it's unlocked so he can run ahead if he wants, and we then let him off when we get away from the field entrance but he is always popped back on lead and short locked for walking past other dogs and the other is at work. Chewie comes to work with me, and we're currently working in a film studio, no cars or traffic and he's very well behaved and doesn't stray very far but just gives him that bit of independence to say hello to people who invite him over. I never let him run to anyone who doesn't invite him.

To be honest I have a lot of praise for the retractable in our situation as at the field we only ever used that lead and now we have come to the point where his recall is very good and we have started to have the confidence to let him off, he actually now only goes as far as the lead would have let him prior to that. So he's never too far away so has worked wonders with our training.

In saying that, when I have encountered other dogs on retractable I have often had a wire wrapped around my legs and putting me in an awkward situation and potentially a dangerous one so I think they have to be used with training. I don't think it's something you should just chuck on and let your dog run crazy. But also dogs off lead altogether stresses me out as Chewie is extremely nervous of bigger dogs, and has had way to many bound over to him and trample him. Just makes his nerves worse and his confidence isn't having chance to grow.

Thoughtful, smart approach..
 

I have seen few, if any, dog owners who have demonstrated the skill you have in using the retractable as a true leash/lead. Maybe depends on the style of the retractable - needs to have a portion that is like a leash? Mostly I see dogs wandering, pulling to the end without direction. Anyway, sounds like Chewie is wonderfully trained!

I use a retractable leash when we are out for potty time. We do not have a fenced yard so it has worked for us in that instance. There are other dogs in the neighborhood and I am watchful but understand the risks. In a public setting Emma is on a regular leash. I'm one to agree that there is a time in place where they are appropriate.

We used to use one for our mini-dachshund in the motorhome. She could go down the stairs and just within our campsite to potty and then come back in - similar to the unfenced yard. During the day we would leash her and go out, but at night we let her go down the stairs by herself on the retractable, mostly because of my bad knees and not wanting to stand in the campground in pjs. lol