11/14/2025
Retractable Leashes NO! 🚫
This is so true — and we’ve, unfortunately, experienced it firsthand. One of our small-breed dogs went missing in Callingwood because of a retractable leash. The adopter dropped the handle when an Edmonton Transit bus went by near the Safeway, and the sudden noise caused our rescue dog to bolt.
(This happened in 2015. Thankfully, the dog was found and brought to Edmonton ACC, where the adopter reclaimed him. They later enrolled in training classes and stopped using retractable leashes to prevent this from ever happening again.)
At the time, the adopter searched for only four hours before telling us it was “up to Edmonton ACC” to find the dog they had adopted from us. This response was unacceptable and incredibly heartbreaking for our rescue.
For the safety of all dogs in our care, we do not adopt to anyone who plans to use a retractable leash. These leashes are unsafe, easily dropped, and create preventable risks — especially for small dogs or dogs who are new to an environment.
Our priority will always be the safety and wellbeing of the dogs we protect.
🚫 Retractable Leashes: Just Don’t.
We know they look convenient — a shiny handle, a long cord, and the promise of “freedom.” But retractable leashes are one of the worst inventions in the dog world. Here’s why:
🐾 Zero control. When your dog is 15–20 feet ahead, you have no control over what they run toward — traffic, another dog, a child, or a squirrel. You can’t reel them in fast enough when things go south.
🐾 They get dropped — and it’s chaos. The big plastic handle slips out of your hand (it happens to everyone), hits the pavement, and chases your dog as it retracts. Many dogs bolt in terror, dragging the noisy handle behind them. Some run into traffic, others are too scared to be caught for hours.
🐾 They cause injuries. Rope burns, cuts, tangled legs, and even amputated fingers — yes, it happens. Those thin cords act like cheese wire when they whip around you or another dog.
🐾 They teach bad habits. Dogs quickly learn that pulling = more leash. That’s the opposite of loose-leash walking, and it’s why you see people getting yanked down sidewalks.
🐾 They create instant chaos. Picture this: you’re walking your calm, friendly dog. Suddenly a 20-foot missile on a retractable leash is charging toward you. It’s a recipe for panic, bites, and tangled humans.
🐾 They break. The mechanisms jam or snap all the time — especially with bigger or strong-pulling dogs. Once that happens, you’ve got a runaway on your hands.
If you want a safe, enjoyable walk, stick with a 4–6 foot standard leash and keep that connection between you and your dog. It’s safer, saner, and far less likely to end in rope burns, runaway dogs, or regret.
Let’s retire the retractables for good.
— The DCHS Team ❤️🐾
🚫 Retractable Leashes: Just Don’t.
We know they look convenient — a shiny handle, a long cord, and the promise of “freedom.” But retractable leashes are one of the worst inventions in the dog world. Here’s why:
🐾 Zero control. When your dog is 15–20 feet ahead, you have no control over what they run toward — traffic, another dog, a child, or a squirrel. You can’t reel them in fast enough when things go south.
🐾 They get dropped — and it’s chaos. The big plastic handle slips out of your hand (it happens to everyone), hits the pavement, and chases your dog as it retracts. Many dogs bolt in terror, dragging the noisy handle behind them. Some run into traffic, others are too scared to be caught for hours.
🐾 They cause injuries. Rope burns, cuts, tangled legs, and even amputated fingers — yes, it happens. Those thin cords act like cheese wire when they whip around you or another dog.
🐾 They teach bad habits. Dogs quickly learn that pulling = more leash. That’s the opposite of loose-leash walking, and it’s why you see people getting yanked down sidewalks.
🐾 They create instant chaos. Picture this: you’re walking your calm, friendly dog. Suddenly a 20-foot missile on a retractable leash is charging toward you. It’s a recipe for panic, bites, and tangled humans.
🐾 They break. The mechanisms jam or snap all the time — especially with bigger or strong-pulling dogs. Once that happens, you’ve got a runaway on your hands.
If you want a safe, enjoyable walk, stick with a 4–6 foot standard leash and keep that connection between you and your dog. It’s safer, saner, and far less likely to end in rope burns, runaway dogs, or regret.
Let’s retire the retractables for good.
— The DCHS Team ❤️🐾
