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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think extending dog leads should not be used for crossing roads?

53 replies

DontCallMeShitley · 23/04/2019 13:51

I agree with extending leads for dogs, in parks and open spaces, they are a great idea, dog can run off and still be relatively safe, can still be jumped on by another dog or whacked with a walking stick by a dog hater, or even stolen if out of site in bushes but generally a really good thing.

However, yesterday the same thing happened twice. Driving along residential road, suddenly a dog pelts out from a driveway, straight into the road, and across in front of the car.

Have had this happen before with a loose dog (no lead) running out of woodland in front of the car, and was shaken up by it, and thought it was another loose dog trying to commit suicide the first time it happened.

First a Jack Russell charging across the road as if his life depended on it, or not. Then the owner/guardian strolled out from the driveway on to the pavement with the end of the lead which was not visible when dog ran out. Luckily we didn't hit the dog but the owner just wandered a long the pavement, and dog was who knows where, still on the other end of the lead.

Not long after a Labrador came belting out of another drive, straight into the road, this time the lead was red and we saw it but bloody hell, it was dangerous. Again dog walker was completely oblivious, and had things plugged into her ears. Dog was rooting about on the opposite side of the road to the person with the lead.

I wonder how long it will be before these dogs are killed or cause an accident. What is the point of a lead if you let the dog run out in front of cars?

OP posts:
LuvSmallDogs · 23/04/2019 15:59

I use an extendable lead with Ddog, because she’s a toy breed that dithers and otherwise my natural gait means she gets yoinked. She walks directly behind me though, and the only reason she’s on one on trails is that she reacts badly to runners and cyclists who surprise her from behind (bells a thing of the past apparently).

I always make sure she’s close to me with the lead locked when crossing the road though, that’s just common sense and the owner in this is an idiot for only realizing the danger after his dog got hit TBH.

BarkandCheese · 23/04/2019 16:01

In defence of extending leads they have their place and don’t necessarily mean the owner is lazy. My dog has good recall, but she’s a tiny dog and things which are no danger to bigger, stronger dogs are a risk to her. If I’m walking her in an open space I don’t use a lead, but in woodland, especially my local woods where there’s a sheer drop into a stream, I prefer to use an extending lead. I’m very careful with the lead, always have it locked off around others and my dog has been taught to come and stand still beside me when cyclists come past.

However I would never use an extending lead for walking any distance along roads. I don’t feel secure using one at all around traffic even locked off.

Hoppinggreen · 23/04/2019 16:03

I know a lot of people don’t like them but we’ve used one for 3 years with no mishaps
If used sensibly (and obviously kept short near roads and other people etc)I think they are fine
Ddog can mostly be off lead on walks now but when we do use one we are careful and only use a harness.

FunkyKingston · 23/04/2019 16:06

A few years ago dh was almost pulled from his bike on a cycle path by a retractable dog lead.

Yes agreed. Lazy owner on one side of cycle path and dog dashes to oymtger side of cycle patg creating instant tripwire. Loose dogs are much easier to negotiate.

LuvSmallDogs · 23/04/2019 16:08

I’ll also say, having had the same lead for years, you can sort of tell if the dogs pulling to one side/letting out a lot of the lead from how it vibrates on the handle so I can always tell when she’s stopped for a smell/is starting to veer slightly.

LuvSmallDogs · 23/04/2019 16:09

Oh, and if you need to haul the dog in suddenly, you just grab the lead and reel them in, surely? That’s what I do when a cyclist suddenly spawns behind us from round a blind bend.🙄

adaline · 23/04/2019 16:14

You don't have as much control on an extendable lead as you do on a standard rope lead.

Extendable leads are much harder to see, meaning they're more dangerous for small children, cyclists and the elderly or may not be able to see they're there until it's too late.

You also can't grip them as well as you can a rope lead. If the lock fails, you need to be able to grab the lead - not easy when it's smooth and flat, and designed to be snapped back in quickly.

They're also incredibly dangerous when used on a collar - I've seen dogs run on them and then the lead ends and they're jerked about - especially dangerous for dogs like pugs, frenchies and boxers.

Teach your dog to walk nicely on a loose lead. It's nicer on the dogs neck and joints, nicer on your arm/shoulders and safer for everyone around you.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 23/04/2019 16:19

I was just cycling home half an hour ago and a yappy little thing on an extendable lead ran out under my front wheel. They shouldn't be sold at all.

LuvSmallDogs · 23/04/2019 16:20

Well honestly adaline, other people should keep their wits about them.

FunkyKingston · 23/04/2019 16:23

Oh, and if you need to haul the dog in suddenly, you just grab the lead and reel them in, surely? That’s what I do when a cyclist suddenly spawns behind us from round a blind bend.

You'd think so, but more often than not the useless bag of piss and wind holding the lead is on the phone and utterly oblivious to what their hound is up to.

tardyheart · 23/04/2019 16:26

I was out running on Saturday morning and a Labrador on an extendable lead shot in front of me as I was running past on the pavement, I don't go that fast so managed not to fall over, but he got wrapped round me.

It annoys me (and I have a dog)- The owner thought is was funny, but It was a largish strange dog that I didn't know. I don't want covering in mud & dog slobber. Also, how do I know it's a friendly dog....it would have pulled an elderly person or small child over.

I have had a few incidents over the years with dogs chasing and jumping up when out running.

LuvSmallDogs · 23/04/2019 16:28

Ah well, funkykingston, I’m always quite tuned into my dog and very aware of her. I’ve had her 9 years and have the same sort of “mum senses” that tell you your 2 year old is far too quiet, but for her. I also make sure to be on the look out as her tiny size means she’s not as visible as large dogs.

percheron67 · 23/04/2019 16:31

Highly dangerous things. Absolutely no need for them - ideal for lazy or incompetent owners who haven't trained their dogs.

Bunnybigears · 23/04/2019 16:33

I had a run in with an extendable lead owner in a country park at the weekend. Her on the stupidly long extendable lead dog approached my off lead dog. My dog was busy sniffing a bush and didn't appreciate the uninvited nose up his backside so growled at on the lead dog. On the lead dog owner started shouting at us to control our dog and as her dog was on the lead she was being responsible and we were irresponsible for having an off the leas dog if we couldn't control it. Explaining it was her dog who approached my dog got us nowhere because as she kept pointing out this couldn't be true as her dog was 'on the lead".

VapeVamp12 · 23/04/2019 16:40

I've always used a retractable lead. I have had dogs growing up and three of my own as an adult. Short and locked when on a pavement or near a road. Unlocked in empty park but not 100% to be off lead. And off lead completely when in a proper walking space where she isn't at any risk.

Bit offensive being tarred as a lazy dog owner for using a retractable lead. Mine has good recall but i use an extender the rest of the time any where there are cars or people.

adaline · 23/04/2019 16:44

Well honestly adaline, other people should keep their wits about them.

Well, so should dog owners! Which means not using long leads unless it's safe to do so - which isn't in shops, on pavements or in busy places.

Little children run about and don't always see what's ahead of them. Older people don't always notice because their eyesight isn't great, or they're too busy trying to keep their balance etc.

There is no need for an extendable lead so why use one?

mathanxiety · 23/04/2019 16:48

YANBU and I have seen two tragic incidents that were completely avoidable. Poor dogs.

Drivers completely traumatised too.

cricketballs3 · 23/04/2019 16:50

Put a dog on a normal lead or train it to walk off lead properly

Normally I would agree with this statement however there are lots of places where whilst they are 'out of the way' i.e. a maintained wood etc where dogs have to be on lead but there are many very have off path areas that are desperate to be smelt/investigated by my dog - the extending lead is invaluable (however we do use the pull in on the lead as soon as we see other people/dogs/cyclists and she comes to our heel as soon as we give the command).

My main gribe is cyclists who seem to think they don't need to slow down or go in single file on a narrow path even when the dog is on a short lead!

mathanxiety · 23/04/2019 16:52

Speed wasn't a factor in the incidents I saw. In both cases the cars were stopped at a pedestrian stop sign to let what they thought was just a pedestrian across. When the pedestrians cleared the street the drivers started forward, but the small dogs were well behind and not visible.

LuvSmallDogs · 23/04/2019 16:55

adaline, I do keep my wits about me, but I will use my flexi wherever I bloody well like. I shorten it when it’s appropriate and let it loose when it’s appropriate, if some idiot decides they need to get between me and my dog and they stack it it’s not my fault.

Hoppinggreen · 23/04/2019 17:21

In public our extendable lead is the same length as a standard one so no more of a risk.
We use it completely safely and I see no reason to stop

Original poster
DontCallMeShitley · 23/04/2019 18:53

*ivykaty44 Tue 23-Apr-19 14:37:21
Which shows that a driver that sees the dog run out and can stop

The driver took a test to drive on the Highway, whereas the dog owner no idea about rule 56*

It seems that dog owners should take an intelligence and laziness test. No-one with half a brain would think it is OK to let a dog run into a road without a lead so why is it OK to just randomly let them charge out without even looking to see if a car is coming, or hear due to having noise being piped into their ears. Electric cars are quiet so even more need to check before getting your dog flattened in the road, or injuring a cyclist that is not looking for a dog lead (and probably going too fast if the ones round here are anything to go by).

OP posts:
percheron67 · 23/04/2019 19:11

Extendable dog leads are also a complete pain at Horse shows. I have several times witnessed a silly, yappy creature chasing a horse as it was travelling to the next fence and snapping at its heels. This could easily result in serious injury or death for horse and/or rider.

ivykaty44 · 23/04/2019 19:15

The onus is on the driver with the dangerous machine rather than the dog owner with the less dangerous animal

KaterinaPetrova · 23/04/2019 19:22

In New Zealand, they would have had to pay her car repairs and their own dogs vet bills, their uncontrolled animal caused an accident their responsibility

@TheSerenDipitY

That's the law in the UK too. You have to report a collision with a dog to the police as you would any other vehicular accident. Unfortunately the masses believe it to be so the dog owner can be found and the dog helped when in actual fact, it is an offence to have an out of control dog and if traced, can be liable for damages to the car. That's why I shake my head when people are trying to get the same law applied to cats being hit. Sadly if it passed then cats would be subject to the same control laws as dogs and owners would be liable for prosecution for cat fowling and causing car accidents.

I'm a huge animal lover and have never been without at least one fur baby but misuse of an extendable lead causing a dog to run into traffic and get hit is bloody irresponsible of the dog owners.