Retractable dog leads yay or nay?

[Marthar31d]

Not had one before, are they safe?

Not near roads but we use them on open fields.

We have a normal lead to travel to and from the field then swap to retractable on field.

I would not trust them near roads but they work well on field

It's a no from me.

An actual long line for training but not one of those contraptions op!

Everyone in my rescue claims to hate them.

I use one everyday.

NO unless using them in an isolated place with no other people, animals or objects (i.e. an open field or similar). They are a hazard anywhere else.

I say no, especially with medium/large/heavy and/or ‘pully’ dogs.

A lot of people say no but it’s like anything, it can be dangerous used badly.
We like ours and use it with no issues

They can slice peoples legs if your dog runs round them quickly.
It’s like cheese wire to the back of your knees! I was wearing a dress and had to continue our walk as we were far from the car. The pain!!!!!!

they encourage your dog to pull as there is a steady pressure on the lead at all times.

however, for a dog that cannot be trusted to run free and can’t walk to heel on a lead, for some people they have a place.
best used on a harness, rather than a lead and never on a head collar.

No. All the worst dog owners use them because it means they don't have to train their dogs. Can't count the number of times irresponsible dog-walkers have cut me off at the knees with a circling dog or allowed an aggressive dog to run out of control on one. It's cruel to a dog on a long lead to be allowed to run and then yanked back. Get your dog trained. Use play while they're young, treats and if necessary one-to-one sessions. Dogs are happier once trained. They know the rules, they know what they can and can't do. They can fully enjoy time off lead and walk happily with their owner on a short one when necessary.

Rather than a neck collar!

It's a no from me. Seen far too many snap! Completely not fit for purpose. Longlines are fab however.

No chance!

1. If the dog sees something and flees, there's a chance the lead will fail and just keep extending. Many a dog has met its end this way, usually after walking on to a road.

1. All the bloody rat dogs that want to come up to my dogs seem to have an owner that presses the release button rather than the stick button and then say "oops" as their dog walks into the mouth of mine. (An exaggeration obv... he only kills hedgehogs)

I use a long (several metres) lead and wrap it or leave it long where appropriate.

Wow, that's quite the image! Another reason to definitely stay away!

I used them mostly whilst training out dogs but with the younger one if we were out and she needed to wee or poo as she wouldn’t do it with anyone else watching . The long lead meant she could feel hidden far away but knew where she was! As they got older I stopped using them . Had a friends puppy to stay and she used one - the cord cut my finger down to the bone !!

I've had dogs for 42 years and have always had a use for retractable leads. They're not safe for strong dogs and I always take a 'normal' lead with me to clip into collars when near roads/livestock. I wouldn't use one in busy dog areas with dogs that are aggressive as they can't be trusted not to snap if a dog lunged.

For the average, well behaved dog on the average walk away from livestock, yes they're great...

The only time I’ve used one was for a very old dog who was deaf and had failing sight, because he kept getting confused and following the wrong people in the park, then getting distressed when he couldn’t find us quickly. By that time he was slow moving and it gave him a bit more freedom for gently sniffy walks.. Couldn’t use a longline as he would get tangled up as they trail and actually the click of the lock mechanism transmitted down the lead to let him know when to stop. We taught him to head back to me when he felt it, so a quick click and off, rather than suddenly putting the brakes on.

We paid a small fortune for a really good quality hi-vis tape one though, not one of the cheap cheese-wire brands and I wouldn’t use one in any other situation.

Currently have a pup and he had three leads, a roadwork lead and two longlines of different lengths. I would never use a retractable lead with him.

I have used them in the past and my experience is why I don't use them now and am not a fan.
I have been pulled off my feet as a big dog did a 0-35mph on me - that wasn't so bad, but then I had a dog charging around upset with the heavy handle on the end of its lead - really not good.
You just don't have the control that's needed, and the downside of that can be very serious indeed. I was lucky - I had a muddy bottom and a mildly freaked out dog. But it brought home to me that I was kidding myself that my dog was under my control when it was on this kind of lead. Went back to the standard six foot leash and resigned myself to following the beast round to every interesting smell!

I'd say 100% nay. They are very dangerous as they can break. Sadly dogs have ran into oncoming traffic when their retractable lead broke and their owner didn't have time to react.
If you're walking in a big open field for example that might be safer, but I stay far away from them personally.

100% no.
You don't have enough control of the lead
Dog can severely pull you and topple you
They are a nuisance to other dog walkers
They can slice near to the bone

Absolutely not. I made a rookie mistake getting one and my reactive dog lunged on a main road, the lead failed, and I only just yanked him back from the path of a bus - literally inches away. Ended up with a nasty rope burn on my fingers and it was terrifying. They can’t be trusted. My dog isn’t even big - but the lead just clicked off the lock.

Nope. Saw a degloving injury from one... the speed at which it removed my friend's skin (nearly to the bone) when her dog bolted and the retractable got caught round her fingers.... we had one and I stopped using it that day!

I have several leads. A massive long line for off road where there may be deer, a long halti brand normal lead for casual wanders where we may be road side but she can sniff, and a standard lead for through town. Oh and a super short one for total control.
If the mechanism on a retractible fails the consequences can be devastating..or you fail to hit the lock button quickly enough. And they are heavy so if you drop it, it whizzes at your dog at full speed.

I use one daily. They are fine as long as you know how to use them properly and safely.

A dog got killed on the road outside my DS's primary school a few years ago. Retractable lead was the issue. Lots of the DC saw it happen and were upset.
We don't use one and never will.

Yes I use one for my terrier. She cannot be let off lead because she would bolt after being attacked by a German shepherd so it’s the only way she can get some space and exercise…never been a problem 🤷‍♀️

Depends on the dog. I use one on our beagle when we are in open fields as she has abominable recall and it means she can sniff the ground to her hearts content.

Meanwhile the other dog can race off and come back when I call him so they both get to enjoy their walk.

Same here - I have a rescue who is reactive to un neutered males only. His recall is 100% UNLESS there is one within his scent range. He's on a retractable, on a harness and never off lead. If we pass other dog walkers it's shortened to normal lead length until we get by - if we encounter one of his mortal enemies I can scoop him up and walk swiftly past (while he claims he could "ave 'em" if only I'd put him down).

The retractable gives him some freedom to sniff and pee and leave rude messages for other dogs while we walk. I wouldn't use it in a town setting, or have it extended when others were close. We only walk in open fields where I have a good line of sight and can spot problems.

I don't generally use it with my other dogs, but when one had a leg injury and was onlead only for walks it was useful. As pp have said, a long line is best for training - but it's used in a totally different way.