Retractable Leashes: Safe or Not

         Retractable leash to walk the dog?

         A convenience some might say,

         But drop it once and then you’ll see,

         The damage it might display.

You’re sitting on a park bench enjoying the warm sun, your dog companion laying stoically at your feet, when down the path comes someone walking another dog.  She grips a retractable leash in one hand as she uses the other to text on her cell phone. The dog does not look particularly fierce and seems happy enough.  As she approaches, you check out the hand holding the leash and hope that the lock is secured.  She continues to text as she passes, and WHAM, her pooch pulls the length of the leash and jumps your dog aggressively.  Yes, this happens.  

A Greyhound Outing

Many people use the retractable leash when walking their dogs.  The use of this type of leash can be the cause of injuries to dogs and humans alike depending on who is controlling the other end.  In my opinion, greyhound owners should never use this leash.  I want to stress that the leash itself does not cause the accidents.  The people using it need to be knowledgeable of its potential dangers.    

I can understand why this type of leash may be appealing.  It allows the dog some degree of freedom to run and sniff if you do not have a fenced in yard or dog park nearby.  If this is the reason for use of this leash, other options could be advisable.  For example, make a doggy play date with the owner of a fenced in yard.

We love the beach!

The basic construction of this leash is a plastic handle with the retraction mechanism inside, a cord, and a collar that is supposed to attach to your dog’s collar for safety.  The plastic handle is the first problem.  The handle only allows you to use one hand to grip the leash.  If the dog jerks ahead suddenly, it can easily come out of your hand.  If the dog decides to run, now you have a runaway dog thinking something is chasing him. 

Years ago, a greyhound foster’s son took a foster dog for a walk.  The young man dropped the leash, and the grey took off with the handle clunking loudly on the street and hurdling toward him.  When finally found, the greyhound had multiple injuries, and it cost the foster thousands of dollars to nurse the dog back to health.   If the walker had used a regular 6 foot leash and walked the dog with a loose leash, his right hand would be through the loop and his left hand would be controlling the tension.  He would have had two hands on the leash.

Basic Construction

Secondly, I have an issue with the lack of control when using the retractable leash.  Any dog no matter how well trained upon seeing something that interests him (i.e., squirrel, rabbit, etc.) will want to chase it.  If that happens and the leash is not locked, the dog might travel the length of the leash which can extend up to 26 feet in some cases and experience a wicked stop when it runs out.  For a greyhound, that could mean a broken neck and death.  In addition, instead of teaching proper leash manners (i.e., not pulling), the retractable teaches the dog to pull because pulling extends his mobility.  

Possible Injuries
Valhalla Rescue

In many of these leashes, the section of leash closest to the handle eventually morphs into a cord.  In a situation where there is a dog to dog interaction, the owner might want to quickly pull the dog away.  If the interaction is hostile and the action needed quickly, there is a tendency for the individual to grab the cord.  Doing this could cause severe burns.  Also, when the leash is extended, it is possible for both dogs and humans to be entangled in the cord.  

Enjoying the Afternoon

In Florida this year, we encountered numerous people walking their dogs using these leashes.  One day on our walk, we approached a couple with an English Bulldog.   As we walked by, we made sure to give the dog plenty of room.  The woman had the dog on a short length of her retractable leash.  I passed with Kiowa having no incident, but as my husband passed with Emma, the dog lunged and attacked her.  Nothing substantial happened besides a lot of noise and air biting, but instead of apologizing to us for her inattention, the woman looks at the dog and reprimands him.  Another time, a couple was taking their four little dogs for a walk.  Each person had two retractable leashes extended to possibly their full length, and the dogs were crisscrossing in front of them in every imaginable way.    

What a fun day!

Dogs are dogs.  They will do what dogs do.  They are inquisitive, social, sniffing machines and can tend to be unpredictable.  It is important for us, on the other end of the leash, to not space out and forget that a dog is attached.   Attention should be on the dogs, but unfortunately for many, it might be a time to think about what they may be having for dinner that night.  Even with a regular leash, things happen; however, with it there are less moving parts to try to figure out in an emergency.

This post was not meant to offend.  It was meant only to reinforce the reasons we walk our dogs.  Companionship, exercise, and socialization are probably our goals.  It is a time to pay attention to our pets and teach them good walking manners and to follow our lead.  Please consider the dangers inherent in the retractable leashes, and if you must use one, be aware of how it operates and take notice of what your animal is doing.

What's down there?