07/05/2025
❌this is why i will use my own training leads if a retractable lead is what clients use normally❌
please consider this information when deciding what lead you use, there are plenty of options that give your dog more freedom on a lead without all the dangers that come with flexi/retractable leads, for example i have a 6ft training lead with clips that allow a change in length, or if you are in a woodland/beach a longline is a great option too!
Retractable Leads: Are they right for your dog?
Retractable leads can seem like a good idea as they allow dogs who may not be allowed off lead to experience some freedom.
However, there are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account when using retractable leads and they certainly aren't appropriate for every dog.
When over one thousand veterinary professionals were polled a whopping 92% had experienced issues with retractable leads.
These issues ranged from:
▪️Burns to people from the lead
▪️Failure of locking mechanism, especially with large dogs
▪️Tangling humans and other animals in the lead
▪️Trip hazard to cyclists and pedestrians causing injuries
▪️Dogs being out of control due to length of extension
▪️Being allowed to walk around the veterinary practice waiting room and approaching other sick or scared animals inappropriately
▪️Sadly many people reported to have attended road traffic accidents where dogs had run in front of cars, buses and trucks as the locking system was too loose, failed or the dogs weren't adequately controlled.
Sadly many of these pets lost their lives despite the intensive care of the veterinary team who attended them.
So... Are they right for your dog?
This is a hard question to answer because circumstances are very individual. Given then number of issues seen it would suggest that many owners are making the decision to use a retractable lead when in fact they are not appropriate to their dog, reason for use or lifestyle.
Retractable leads should be used with extreme caution near:
❌Roads
❌Others dogs
❌Busy public places
❌Indoors
And their use may not be sensible to use with:
❓Large dogs
❓Strong dogs that pull
❓Boisterous dogs
❓Reactive dogs that could lunge
❓Dogs on a loose retractable that could trip or tangle someone
