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Retractable leash? I walk both Sophia and Brody on regular 4 foot leashes. Brody really has no interest in leaving my side, but I think Sophia would like some more room to explore at the park. So, I'd really like to get a retractable leash for her but I've been too paranoid to get one. I'm so worried that it's going to snap and lose Sophia. Sophia is definitely a puller//explorer and if she were to get off the leash, I think she would run away and I wouldn't see her again :(. Does anyone have a brand that they trust or other recommendations? I wouldn't buy one unless I felt absolutely safe using it with her. |
I use the Flexi-leash if I'm walking 1 or 2 of my group. If I am walking more than 2, the Flexi leashes are too bulky, I'll use regular leads then. While walking I keep the Flexi-leash locked to a certain length. If/when we stop, I'll then release the lock and allow the dogs to roam a few feet. I've always felt safe with the Flexi-leash brand but wouldn't with the cheaper knock-offs. Not so much a consideration with our smaller dogs, but you do need to be careful if using the Flexi-leash with larger breeds. I almost lost a finger when my son's boxer bolted on me one day. The cord was wrapped around my index finger. When the boxer bolted, the cord very quickly started to cut through my finger, just like a knife! |
I walk three dogs at one time, so I use regular six foot leashes. But in the backyard (because Bebe doesn't like coming back) I use a 20 foot tape leash meant for a large dog and let her run and run and run. On the street I probably wouldn't trust my yorkie on a flexi because she tends to run into the road while walking on leash. But if your yorkie behaves pretty well and doesn't run back and forth while on leash, then flexi is a good bet. I would go for a TAPE leash and not a cord. Cords snap, my 8lb pomeranian snapped a cord meant for a dog up to 26lbs!!! Get a tape leash, or sometimes they call them ALL BELT flexi. They have new colors and styles too like leopard! My poodle (because she gets walked on her own as she can't keep up with the rest) has a retro pink all belt mini flexi. It goes up to 10 feet, is small enough to fit in a pocket, and is all tape (no cord to tangle around a finger). |
I personally am not fond of those kind of leashes. Most of the time you cant control the dog on it, they get tangled up in things, they do break (I have seen it happen at the park) they trip people and if another bigger dog who is not leashed and aggressive shows up there is no way you can pull them in and up to safety. There was actually a story on here where one women had her pup on one of those leashes and a dog attacked before she has time to pull the dog to safety. |
I walk both of my pups with the flexi retractable leash. I love being able to control the distance between the pups and me. They know they aren't allowed to go on the streets and are very well behaved. Ella will sometimes pull when she becomes excited but I've never had problems with her getting loose. |
For retractable leashes, definitely go with Flexi brand. Get an "all-belt tape" Flexi. It's like a regular leash the entire length to the handle. Other styles have belt tape and a wire extension. |
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Fwiw. long retractable leashes aren't good. If another dog comes up it's hard to get them back. Some ppl like there dogs to walk ahead. But I train my to always walk by my side. Never let them in front. Thats how I was taught to train my dogs. But alot off ppl like to use them. If your dog is 10 feet away and a big Lab or Pitbull comes it's hard to get them back. Just make sure your in a safe area JMO |
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Here is a basic Flexi all belt leash: Flexi Comfort Retractable Dog Leash - Dog - Collars, Tags & Leashes - PetSmart Priscilla, Capt Noonie mentioned something about the small size being too small for her hand. Try asking her if she uses a medium or a different style. I know there is some variation on grip size between the different style Flexi leashes. |
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Max walked at my side for the first year. Now I'm happy as long as he doesn't pull. :) |
I'm terrible with a retractable leash! I bought one the first time we took Yoshi to the beach & I could not get the hang of how to use it. Maybe I'm just really uncoordinated :confused: I couldn't even imagine myself trying to use one retractable & one regular leash with a coupler. I'm cracking myself up just THINKING about it! |
Definitely flexi brand :thumbup: I only use ours in areas that aren't heavily populated and where we won't see many, if any, other dogs or people. I like it because it's really nice to be able to give him a bit more room, and he gets a better workout too because he can go a lot faster, and sometimes I don't want to bring out the 50 foot rope or can't, but the flexi comes in handy for those instances. Although he has a great recall, so I'm not too worried if it broke by accident. I will say that we have had 2 break on us. They were Flexi brand, but from Walmart if that makes a difference, and the cord kind - not the nylon leash type. Once probably 3 years ago, we saw deer out back and he darted out the door and I was amazed when I was standing there with the top half of the leash, but not the dog. lol. Thank goodness it's a secluded area though, so he chased the deer off and came right back. But he's also 16lbs and pure muscle. But yeah currently we have the 26ft cord kind that we mainly use for potty breaks when we're at the house, and it's been good to us for over a year now. |
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When I first bought our mini flexi-leashes only the corded variety were sold in that size. |
Sure alot off pll like these leashes. I was just merely posting the cons. As long you know your in a safe area. Maybe okay? But personally I consider all areas potential danger. Maybe a little negative on my part but that just the way I am. Theres Coyotes in my area and they have been know to snatch dogs on leashes. No fear of humans. |
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I'm not a fan of retractable leashes. I own one and would never buy another. Personally, I find them very uncomfortable to hold. But my biggest issue with them, is the PEOPLE at the end of the leash :eek: It seems like 99.9% of the people that use them are inconsiderate idiots! They give their dog way too much freedom so they are a nuisance to others. I LOVE being able to take ZoE places with me and want the experience to be a pleasant one for myself...as well as for others that don't particularly like dogs. I don't want her being with me being a problem for anyone so attitudes change and people want to ban dogs from places/events I like to go to. The flexi-leash folks have a tendency to ruin this. Too many times I've seen dogs over-extended and not within the owner's control, so they annoy other people. It's especially a pain on our local walking trails where bikes, rollerblades, joggers, etc., share the path. I've seen people topple trying to avoid a dog. :( |
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The two dogs I use the Flexis with are Ruby and Reno, 3lbs and 4.9 lbs. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with a larger yorkie or larger breed with the Flexis. |
Any leash can break... as can harnesses and collars. Practice makes perfect using Flexi Leashes. Pressure has to be on the leash for the lock to lock or unlock. I use them on mine... but I never walk all four at one time anymore. As mine are never off lead, this is a good way for me to give them some freedom, and still have control over them. |
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I have the extra long one. The one I have has a smallish handle, but the newer one they started.making the handle much larger. Dvlshangel has this one. It's so large that neither of us can lock it with using only one hand. The one I have is perfect. I don't know why they changed it. I would be interested in getting an all tape one. It is easier to see the belt andwont have the amputation threat. That's never nice LOL. |
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I think I'm going to go to check out Petsmart sometime this week and see the handles myself. I have never looked at the retractable leashes there before, so I didn't even realized that there are so many options!!! Then I plan on trying the retractable leash inside the apartment to see if I feel comfortable. If not, then oh well, only a couple of bucks wasted!! :thumbup: I really appreciate all of the feedback!! |
I walk Finny and Tink together on Flexis. They are horrible walkers on 4 or 6 ft leashes. I haven't been able to train Tink not to chase cars, and Finny by herself spins and barks and rolls the entire time till we get to a wooded area. I believe this is fear related. I (against my better judgement, lol) decided to try them together on Flexis. They tripped me up and I almost fell on them and hurt my back walking them on short leads. I give them about 7- 8 feet for general walking. Tink feels less motivated to chase things, maybe bc she feels less restrained, and Finny does better having a buddy with her. She will not tolerate Tink's goofy behavior and has corrected her numerous times, and Tink will listen to her. If I did not see this much improvement, I don't know if I'd use them or not. But from how much better they act on the Flexis... I'll never go back to regular leads again! |
It does take some technique to reel them in, but once you get it it's quite easy. Extend your arm to reel in a bit then lock and pull your arm down. Unlock and quickly raise arm again and lock again. If you do this while walking towards the dog you an reel them in even quicker. |
I use a flexi leash (the cord one, haven't found the tape one here), I love it when I'm in areas that he can run a little but though I don't trust him loose at. I use the kind that takes 15 or 20 kilo's, though I just have 3 and 6 kilo dogs.... I have used the kind that takes about 10 kilos and I didn't trust it, I was so scared it would break one day. I have the dogs besides me where there are cars near and if I see other people, dogs, cats etc. (then I stuck the leash so the dog can't go longer from me than 1 m.). It's important to know how to use it :) |
I love and hate the retractable leash, I have several and don't know what brand they are. They are great when it is just Lola and I, she gets her exercise when walking so I like her to be able to run out and back to me at will. However when meeting up with another dog it always gets tangled and can be hard to lift the dog up quickly. I also do a poor job of reeling it in in a hurry, so I am always on the ready to pull it in manually. IMHO it comes down to knowing when and where to use that type of leash. I would use it only when walking alone in a wide open type of area, never on a bike path, and never when walking with other dogs (that I don't own). |
The flexi leash is only something I would get in the comfirt handel the pkain plastic handel actually hurt my hand. Elvis still has his but Princess and Scoobers both broke theirs. I prefer my metal link leashes now, also great for self defense. |
Cord leash, lead belt, and dog leash supplier flexiusa. I like the pink one...it really did make a HUGE difference to get the padded handle one so worth the extra $10! |
Just an update, we got 2 flexi leashes today!! We took the dogs to the park using them, and they had a BLAST! Brody didn't really go more than 6 feet away from me though. Sophia definitely used the extra footage for exploring. I could tell she was really happy with the extra freedom!! I got the small, but I think I wanna Medium. It was okay for my hands, but my bf says it was a bit tight for his. I wouldn't mind having a stronger leash anyway! Thank you all for directing us towards the flexi leashes! |
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