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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think buying an extendable dog lead to attach to DD's reins is a great idea?

48 replies

Chirpygirl · 17/08/2007 12:42

That's it really, was chasing after her in the park today and as she is just over 18 months and I am 33 weeks pregnant it is getting harder to keep up with her.
I could put the brakes on her to stop her running round the corner and reel her back in when she was walking nicely.....or is it too cruel?!

OP posts:

FioFio · 17/08/2007 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Lorayn · 17/08/2007 20:49

I just remembered with DD, I used to use her reins, but had a wrist rein (the ones that go on your wrist and theirs) attached to the actual normal reins to lengthen it a bit, was only about an extra 2 foot, but it helped, not sure it would help with the running off though, she seemed to keep it quite taut!

Carbonel · 17/08/2007 21:40

I long ago thought about doing this for my two when they ran off in different directions, but never quite had the courage to do it - imagined them twining themselves around all sorts of other unsuspecting pedestrians

woodenchair · 17/08/2007 21:57

It's a great idea.

Have a great image of you in my head being very pg and taking your toddler for a walk.

nightowl · 17/08/2007 21:59

im impressed. this thread was started 10 hours ago and noone has uttered the immortal line.."i will not use reins, i think they make children look like dogs on leads"

tis only a matter of time...

woodenchair · 17/08/2007 22:23

the fact that they would look like dogs on leads is what makes it a brilliant idea.

I love the idea that they would look like pets

Pixel · 18/08/2007 01:19

Nightowl, that's why I've only just bothered to look at this thread, I thought it would be full of outraged people protesting about the 'dog lead' aspect! (not me though, I used reins for both of mine due to busy road outside front door).
We were camping last week and spent the whole time taking turns at chasing after our 7 yo autistic ds who has suddenly developed an independant streak and an amazing turn of speed, but unfortunately no sense of danger. I was soooo tempted to buy him one of those dog corkscrew things and tether him to it just for five minutes peace but didn't quite dare in case I was reported for child cruelty. Going by the general feeling on this thread I might just have got away with it .

jakethecake · 18/08/2007 07:38

i think it would work pretty well..

Because they can have a little freedom but you can stop then from running to far

belgo · 18/08/2007 08:03

I've seen someone with this for their toddler. Good idea.

Original poster

Chirpygirl · 18/08/2007 11:18

nightowl - I can't believe it either! I was really expecting a beating after seeing other 'reins' threads but I thought I'd risk it as seemed like such a genius idea when I was huffing and puffing after her yet again as she beetled off to investigate another stick, or chase a seagull, or pick a very specifc daisy from all the way over there!

I am def going to do it and shall post some pics when I have!

OP posts:

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 18/08/2007 11:38

I almost killed a small dog when I passed through the gap between the owner and the dog at full speed with my skates. I couldn't see the thin cord as I had the sun in front of me. Forget about the mess of falling down.

TBH I think the extendable leads are a bad idea (actually the dog trainer hated them herself!). They don't help the dog to learn to come when called or to stay near you, as it should be when there is room from potential problems around you. Can't see why to relax at the expense of extending the time the dog takes to learn to keep within the rules in order to be safe. I guess the same applies for a small child.

Original poster

Chirpygirl · 18/08/2007 11:50

Isabel, thanks, I can see your point, I hadn't thought about it that way.
I suppose I am thinking that DD does know to come back and she understands stop, but for those times when she just wants to leg it into a lake or road and I am not fast enough to catch her would it not be better to be safe?

I didn't use an extendable lead with my dog until she was trained, (we used a choke chain, one step too far for DD I think!) but we used the extender when she wanted to run and we couldn't keep up but equally couldn't allow her to run free and untethered.

OP posts:

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 18/08/2007 12:24

choke chain! that reminds me of something! I have some kind of harness that keeps the dog from pulling by getting tight under the front legs. Would something like that could do the trick? no need to use an a long lead with that one

sauce · 18/08/2007 12:24

surely you jest?

Original poster

Chirpygirl · 18/08/2007 16:41

at isabel!

OP posts:

KerryMumbledore · 18/08/2007 16:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 18/08/2007 18:27

Talking about these things, one of the most embarrasing moments in my childhood was when I was invited to a playdate and my friend and I decided to play to walk a dog, so... I managed to put the leather collar of her GSH around my waist but it was so tight I couldn't remove it

I remember her mum wrestling with it while I felt the foolish person on Earth... not that I learned from the experience though... I also managed to get myself reapped into a parrot cage.

IsabelWatchingItRainInMacondo · 18/08/2007 18:28

trapped not reapped ...

Original poster

Chirpygirl · 18/08/2007 20:48

Must have been a big parrot!
We once put my DN in a bird cage, I was cleaning it in the back garden and she climbed onto the base so we put the top on...just as my mum's very nosy neighbour peeked over the fence to see this 3 year old in a cage pretending she was a wild animal!

OP posts:

derah · 19/08/2007 22:42

I tried this on dd the other day after reading this thread. She kept running off in the wrong direction in the park, and my little dog was off his lead so I put it around her waist. DD thought it was very funny, and it certainly stopped her from running off. I did get some funny looks from people having one dog and one toddler on leads, and one dog running loose! Definitely something I'd do again, especially as I get more and more preggers.

Original poster

Chirpygirl · 20/08/2007 13:15

Thanks derah! TBH I don't care about teh looks, more the fact that I don't have to get all redfaced and knackered chasing her!
Mine is on order and should be here soon.....!

OP posts:

americantrish · 20/08/2007 15:46

rofl. great thread.

derah · 28/08/2007 18:59

Had to ressurect this one.... was out in the park today with dd and the dogs, and she actually unclipped the little dog's lead and asked me to clip it around her waist!! She wanted to be on her extendable lead! Lots of giggles and trotting about proudly followed, and the walk was wonderfully peaceful and stress free!

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