Longline/retractable

[Hottesttrikeintown]

I have a rescue he’s 7 months old. Generally recall pretty good and we have dog friendly walks off lead but not reliable enough to let him off on bridleways or footpaths through farm.

He’s great on short lead (have done lots of training) but I like to let him have freedom to run and sniff - tend to consider lead walks more training so stick to around 10 mins

When I first got him I was determined to be a “good” dog owner and after a lot of reading denounced retractables and bought a longline. It was hell. I never got the hang of it (I’m dyspraxic and struggle with coordination). I’d end walks in tears with a lead tangled round bushes covered in mud and knotted. In the end I bought a retractable and it was like a revelation and I enjoyed walks again.

Then I read a thread on here about how awful retractables are and around the same time my trainer mentioned she doesn’t like them. By then he was better off lead so I just went to places I can let him off lead and used the short ones along roads etc. But it’s fairly limiting so last week, thinking maybe it was just inexperience last time and meeting loads of people using long lines I bought another one that was recommended by a trainer. Ended a walk today having to take it off to get him out of a bush again stressed and sodden.

Is it always awful to use retractables? I get so worried about being judged but I basically use it as a long line (he’s on a proper lead on roads etc) so it’s just for the bridleways and farms. It’s far stronger than he needs (he’s 12 kg) and already has good lead etiquette

I'm following this with interest as I am another dog owner who swore they would never have a retractable lead, but just couldn't manage (yes, another dyspraxic) long lines. Ok for recall training in a field, but kept getting caught up in brambles out on walks. Managing what the bloody line was doing took my attention off what the dog was doing .
I want to be able to take him out hiking in the summer, can't risk having him off lead where there might be livestock, but want him to have a bit of freedom to sniff. Would the tape ones solve the problem of not being able to pull them by hand in if the mechanism failed?

A training lead is NOT a long line

training lead example

“BUT even with small dogs I have found it difficult to pull them back to my side if I need to get them out of the way quickly (ie. bike approaching when DDog and I were walking on oposite sides of a path). I guess it may be different with a ribbon retractable but the cord ones are nasty to hands when you are trying to pull a dog towards you when the dig is running after anything more worthy to them than a dog treat.”

You don’t use your hands on them, even the tape ones.

You press the button (not full lock) and then very quickly take it off, move forwards press it again, or sometimes you need to pull the dog back a split second before you take it off (depending on the dog/situation). Because it takes up the slack you very quickly end up with a dog a manageable distance from you and you can then lock it fully and deal with the dog.

If I couldn’t do that quickly enough to move out of the way of a cyclist, then it wouldn’t be somewhere I’d be using one unlocked tbh. If I can’t see far enough ahead for that then it’s not the appropriate lead.

I use them for a variety of reasons, I’ve used them on dog reactive dogs, so I can swap leads if a dog appears, a dog with hip dysplasia where off lead or a longline would be too much running about but a training lead didn’t allow enough sniffing and mooching about.

I often use them with fosters for their first few walks so they’re fairly under control while I gauge their behaviour. They might end up being offlead or on a longline after that.

They’re a handy in between stage. But yeah you do have to be aware of your surroundings and use them appropriately or they’re a complete pain.

“Would the tape ones solve the problem of not being able to pull them by hand in if the mechanism failed?”

They’re slightly more hand friendly - you possibly could grab the tape in an emergency... but I’ve never had one fail on me tbh, I use the tape because the cords are flimsier and if they even rub against you they’ll cut you.

I just always use flexi rather than cheaper ones and make sure I look after them and check them for wear and tear and replace them if needed.

There is no doubt and the evidence is out there on the dangers of flexi leads. That is a given. One of the issues with the flexi is that you cannot see if it is about to fail. Eg a normal lead or long line will unlikely just break as they are weight tested but they may get cut or fray but that is visible and you can change the lead.

Flexi leads if dropped break the mechanism inside, if one plastic tooth gets damaged from being dropped or put down heavily the lead will fail and you will have no visible evidence. If grit or sand gets inside the flexi lead it will stop the brake mechanism from working.

OP If a long line is an issue dont use it. A longer double ended training lead is fab for dogs. Dont think they only get pleasure being away from you. Which I think is being implied on this thread.

Keep your dog close but let them stop to sniff, let them lead the way for the walk so you go where they want to go, take a toy and play with the toy with them, hide things and follow them to search for it.

The above is way more interesting a walk than being allowed to be a long distance from you having to entertain themselves.

(Just dont use a flexi - they scare and traumatise me!)

I've used all kinds of leads and believe they all have a place if used correctly and carefully.

When I was recall training my stubborn little hound I discovered this longline and it was a game changer. So much lighter and easier to maneuver than the webbed and plastic ones. Downside is that it gets mucky but it washes fine in the machine.
www.amazon.co.uk/Dog-Field-Meter-Training-Exercise/dp/B00N4P7NM6/ref=sr_1_40?dchild=1&crid=O0LFFKWMLO83&keywords=long+line+dog+lead&sprefix=longline+dog%2Caps%2C160&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1616149887&sr=8-40

“Eg a normal lead or long line will unlikely just break as they are weight tested but they may get cut or fray but that is visible and you can change the lead.”

I’ve had 3 long lines come apart - not visibly frayed or damaged, 2 were in fact very new, so clearly faulty, I’ve never had an extendable fail.

But also...

If an extendable lead didn’t lock one day - I still have the dog, albeit potentially from far away.

When a longline or lead goes, you’ve got a loose dog.

So again, it depends how and why you’re using it.

The issue with evidence on how dangerous they are is that there’s an awful lot of people using them that just shouldn’t be, people using them in parks with loads of other people and dogs about, people using them next to roads, people who seem to not realise they even have a lock.

With retractable leads I've had two instances where the lead broke, both were cheap string ones that had been supplied by the owners. As a result I invested in a giant breed tape Flexi lead for those occasions when a retractable is the best solution for a particular dog in a particular situation. The tape is definitely stronger and more durable, and far more visible to other dogs and people. Agree with most previous posters - most of the trouble with retractable leads is down to owners not paying attention to their surroundings. I've got a couple of biothane trailing long lines which are so much better than the webbing ones. I can quite understand someone with dyspraxia having all sorts of trouble though! I also have a couple of double ended training leads, I ask owners to supply a good quality harness for any dog that is likely to spend a fairly large part of the walk on any sort of lead, and use slip leashes for the reliable ones who only need a lead at the very beginning and end when we are still in or close to the parking place. I'm very lucky to have access to some extremely remote safe dog walking spaces!

I dont use a retractable lead as personally they can break or snap. I use a long line custom made and lasoo mine in and out. I take a normal lead and swap to a longline out on a walk. If they are on the harness they can pull to an extent but not on a leash they do learn. Always walk on a leash then swap to the longline. Get a good quality longline of webbing and wear gloves.

I’ve had 3 long lines come apart - not visibly frayed or damaged, 2 were in fact very new, so clearly faulty, I’ve never had an extendable fail.

You are very much the outlier then tabulahrasa Make sure you but BS tested leads.

“You are very much the outlier then”

Well yes... but I go through more dogs than most owners, rofl, so also more equipment.

I foster, so 3 or 4 dogs within a year isn’t unusual and they take most of their possessions with them, so lots of new kit too - so I’m more likely to come across the odd duff one.

With extendable leads I personally don’t think they’re any more dangerous than any other piece of walking equipment - if they’re used properly and sensibly.

But, I do see an awful lot of people using them, where, when and how they shouldn’t be... and some of the cheaper ones are ridiculous, I’m pretty sure they’d break if you looked at them funny.

They are with some dogs in some situations though, really useful.

The only issue I ever really have where I use them is getting wrapped round the odd tree, lol, because I use them as well as training leads and long lines not instead of....I sometimes have all 3 on me for some walks and switch over by what’s right for where I am and the dog I have with me.

I had no retractable leads have such a bad reputation! My -snall- dog has been in one since going out at 12 weeks and I've had no issues at all.

I only use it along the road and in parks area where dogs have to be on leads (for reasons that are not very clear!).

I'm always on alert and have found I could retract on time without problem when required.

One lesson though as been to teach doggy to be ahead of me rather than behind. It took some time as he like to lag behind smelling everything but he now know what 'front' means and does it upon hearing the command.

I am amazed that the rescue/foster encourages the use of retractable leads

@PollyRoulson

I am amazed that the rescue/foster encourages the use of retractable leads

Why?

They’re quite happy with how I use them... when I do.