To Retract or Not to Retract - Weighing the Pros and Cons of Retractable Leashes

I recently had a situation come up with one of my sitters - she was walking two small dogs, both on retractable leashes (provided by the client...we typically use our client's equipment when pet sitting). One of the pups pooped and as she was bent over picking up the steamy treasure (both retractable leashes in one hand), one of the dogs spotted another dog across the street, darted after it and pulled his leash from my sitter's hand. A small scuffle between the dogs ensued, but my sitter was ultimately able to grab the pup and regain control of the situation. Both dogs are fine, but it could have been much, much worse.

There are benefits to retractable leashes: they give dogs more freedom to roam and explore without tugging and pulling on their walker, they fit comfortably in a human hand, and the spring-loaded cord eliminates getting the leash tangled up in the dog's legs.

A typical cord burn from a 
retractable leash

But lets take a look at some of the risks according to healthypets.mercola.com and my personal experiences:

• Some retractable leashes can extend up to 26 feet, allowing dogs to get quite far from their humans, making them able to run into the street or make unwanted contact with other dogs or people.
• The cords of retractable leashes are typically very thin and could snap in an instant should a large-sized dog take off at full speed. Not only can this put the dog (and whatever he is chasing) in danger, but also the human if the cord snaps back at the other end.
• Personal experience has shown me that those cords HURT! Attempts to "reel" a dog in by grabbing the cord can result in burns and nasty cuts. I have suffered many a burn from these cords getting wrapped around my ankles.
• Dogs can be in danger of neck injuries, wounds, lacerated tracheas, and injuries to the spine as a result of the sudden jerk that occurs when they entirely run out the leash.
• The handles of retractable leashes are bulky and can be easily pulled out of human hands, resulting in a runaway dog...see first paragraph of this post!
• Retractable leashes actually encourage dogs to pull while on them because the dogs learn that pulling extends the lead.

What do I recommend? A standard six-foot leash with a loop at the end so that you can put your hand through it. Proper training for your dog to walk politely and properly on a leash is also helpful.

AlleyCat's Pet Service will soon be adopting a "No Retractable Leash" policy. All sitters will be equipped with six-foot, standard leashes (hot pink, of course) to use on all of our dog walks...just another way to keep our furry friends safe and happy!

Post by: Allison Otero, owner of AlleyCat's Pet Service

alleycatspetservice.com