Extending Leads

[BrodiePup]

Can anyone recommend an extending lead that doesn't have a loud 'click' when it locks please?
I've just bought a flexi for times that my pup needs to be on a lead, but we want him to have a bit more freedom, and it's driving me nuts with its endless clicking!
TIA

Well, precisely. I watched a video a while ago of a very skilled dog trainer giving a GSD puppy exposure to new places using one. In his hands, it served as a wonderful connection between him and the dog. He was focused on the dog, thought ahead sensibly and his use of the lead was entirely safe.

OTOH I see people walking their dogs by busy roads at the end of extending leads.... The dog is well ahead, and only has to jump sideways it's alarmed or sees something to chase and it's right in the traffic.

That’s not the lead though, that’s the people. If flexis disappeared overnight they’d find some other way of being ignorant with a lead, probably a longline which is just as easy to tangle up in legs - the only reason that doesn’t happen more is because it’s different people using them mostly.

i use a flexI occasionally if it’s the lead that’s most appropriate for the dog and where I’m walking - never once has a dog I’m using one on approached another dog, because around other dogs isn’t the appropriate place for it.

Extendable leads can be useful where they are used correctly. However, too often they are used incorrectly causing injury to the owner ( finger degloving) or injury to their dog back and neck injury from running and then reaching the end of the line with a jolt.
As someone with a type of arthritis I use a long/short lead in this situation.

You don’t seem to care about injury to other people who get caught or tripped by them!

Personally I think if you’re somewhere it’s ‘dogs on leads’ then using an extendable one is a bit cheeky.

I work in personal injury and we had one claim come through where the person had had the end of their index finger traumatically amputated by the extending lead. Can't recall the exact circs.

Most stately home type properties specify a 2ft close lead. For the rare ones that don’t we have a double ended lead that you can configure to 6ft as a pp says. But that would only be used for sniffs in the parkland etc, not on the ordinary paths.
Long line for training - it’s a skill to use them properly. Too many people use those and extendables to go from Dog On A Stick to Dog On A Very Long Stick.
I’ve tested a few extendables out of curiousity and they are all quite flimsy and I wouldn’t trust them if a dog decided to pull. Seen quite a few snap on owners too, which a well maintained double ended lead or longline wouldn’t do.
Personally, OP, I think they are a bit useless (even if there isn’t a useless owner on the end of them!) and double ended is the way to go.

If you’re hellbent on getting one of these devices, then more important than the click is what it’s made of

Never, ever, get one where the lead is metal. Google degloving injuries of you want to know why.

Make sure your dog when on this kind of lead is never in a position to go round other dogs or people and that will reduce the risk of you causing an injury to others

You have got third party cover in your dogs insurance, haven’t you?

Walking a dog on a country lane on a flexi lead is not a sensible thing to do!

The do may be walking alongside edge of the road but having a flexi lead means that it can pull out into the middle of the road.

The big issue with flexi leads is that they often break. The mechanism to allow the lead in and out as the OP mentions is on just a click over a very short period of time this wears down and the dog without warning can pull out to the length of the lead. This has caused many accidents often and can be horrendous as people have said dogs dying and horrific injuries to people.

Not really worth the risk as there are other great alternatives.

TuffStuff leads have a great training lead which can be normal length double clipped so can attach to front and back of a harness. Handles at both ends. Can also be put on full length to give the dog more freedom if needed but still be able to be controlled. Not a huge long line but enough line to allow for sniffing.

Oh OP, never ask about flexi-leads on here - they're the work of the devil and responsible for every single badly behaved dog on the planet according to MN

I'm not sure you'll find one that's quiet when it locks but you could try using a double-ended lead like a Kumfi or a Halti. They have multiple D-rings so you can adjust the length depending on the situation. I use them at work as a dog walker and they're great. I shorten them up by roads and lengthen them when we're not so the dogs have more freedom.

They're not expensive and wash well too.

I've never yet met an owner who can use them safely

If the locking mechanism breaks though, I effectively have a longline with an extra bit of plastic.

That would only be dangerous if I was somewhere where it mattered that the dog could get to the end of it… and if that was the case I’d have it on a normal lead anyway.

With my current dogs I don’t use one often, but it’s usually if I’m walking somewhere where I can’t see sheep, but I think there might be some somewhere out of sight.

Ive used them on other dogs more who were ever likely to be off lead for various reasons.

i find them easier to handle than a longline and I set out on a normal lead and swap it over not just lock it - they’re rubbish for normal on lead walking.

Just to add that long lines used with a fast, strong dog can also be a cause of degloving/amputation injuries just the same, and because it's a line then poor quality stitching, briitle clasps that snap etc can be just as much of an issue with them.
I'm perfectly capable of using a long line having broken and schooled dozens of horses over my lifetime , but still use a 10m flexi lead on occasion.
Keeping it well maintained and checked is standard, as it should be with any leash/ harness etc.
I must admit I dislike the thin wire types and wouldn't use one, but the tape up to a 50kg dog is fine ime.

They will break when under pressure so that will be where you are "somewhere that will matter"....

I’d be in the exact situation I’d have started with if I’d taken a longline instead though.

I’d be using it to reel them in (because I’d have no other reason to lock it) so I’d just do it by hand instead, I only ever have tape ones anyway, so that’s not an issue and I’ve got a normal lead with me because I’ve walked the dog there on it.

Them breaking is really only an issue if you’re walking somewhere with one that wouldn’t be ok on a longline either.

We use a Halti training lead for our 1 year old BC. It can be shortened for pavement walking and lengthened for fields or parks. It's only 2 metres at its longest, so not huge, but still gives them a bit more freedom to sniff.
For what it's worth I cannot stand long lines. We've tried using them a few times and it's always ended in disaster!

I tend to use a 3 point lead when out and about so it can be short or longer depending on need.
The only time I've used extendable was in a place where dogs needed to be on lead (rules changed post covid) and my dog liked to paddle in the stream. As it was deep shelving I used the extendable to let him paddle out beyond the point I could reasonably stand.

The only time I have ever seen a long line used, for those advocating, was beyond horror. The owner was holding one end, the clip was attached to the dog, the bit in the middle scraped along the grass between them until the owner paused, the lead went taught and a pile of dog crap that the dragging lead had collected was launched forward into the air and onto a bystander's shoes. The air was blue that day.

OP the extendable is fine. I second a previous poster in saying go to petsathome or similar and try them out. They are super helpful there.

Home insurance quite often gives third party for dogs. Worth checking your policy or asking at renewal time.

Totally agree. It is absolutely bonkers to point out to people why something they think is a good idea is actually dangerous. Dog walker in my local park just two months ago needed stitches across their hand and fingers after the lead extended across their hand too quickly. There are loads of examples of people and dogs being injured by these sorts of leads, and in some cases the injuries have included amputation.

But let's absolutely not warn people who clearly don't know this already because it's much more fun not telling them.

'Fun' fact: most dog insurance policies say you have to use any other public liability insurance you have if it covers you, rather than them dealing with it!

But you wont be in the same place as if a long line. That is the whole point.

You will have the flexi line on what you think is an appropriate length to where you are. The mechanism breaks and you have no control of the lead unravelling as the dogs moves forward. (which you do have on a long line). If you do put your hands onto a flexi lead that is when the horrific injuries happen to the handler.

Also the difference with a flexi lead breaking is that you can not see the mechanism so can not see if it is wearing out. With a normal lead you can see it fraying or the clip being loose. The flexi you only know when it stops working.

Personally I have witnessed two dogs killed walking on flexi leads I will never ever ever listen to people who say they are safe. There is no need to have dogs on a lead that has caused frequent deaths and injuries.

One incident was a Grandmother and her 6 year old Grandchild walking on the pavement on a road they had walked many times. The dogs flexi lead broke and the dog gently and slowly walked into the road and was flatten instantly by a truck that was passing. I will never ever forget the child and Grandmother's reaction.

I’m going to go with assuming the OP is a grown adult who can make their own choices even if they’re ones I disagree with, and who asked for advice on something specific, not a sanctimonious and tediously repetitive pile-on. But you do you.

I’ve never seen a branded flex line break. You need the right strength to weight of dog and preferably a touch higher as. If you don’t do that then possibly they break. I’m sure cheap brands are not as good quality.
I used a giant breed version for 15 years, never needed replaced. It was an excellent bit of kit.

However, in busy areas a short lead is always the best solution.

I think you’re very much misunderstanding how I’m using one tbh.

i don’t use them on pavements or locked at an appropriate length - I’m using it only where it’s fine for the dog to ge at the end of it.

if it’s not fine for the dog to be at the end of it, then I’m swapping to a normal lead

so yep, it’s no different to having a long line at that point.

I'm going to assume that even full grown adults don't know everything, and that someone having to ask for advice on an internet forum doesn't know about the subject they are asking about. These leads are dangerous, there's plenty of evidence about the risks to dogs and to owners. but if it's sanctimonious to tell people that then fine - even if we don't care about the owners getting injured perhaps some of us care about the dogs.

But I am quite happy to continue doing me - take your own advice and do you?