Word of the Day: Mendicants Definition: Beggars, those who seek alms Used in a sentence: The mendicants took their places along the line of march.
Hello there,
If you have a dog I’m hoping you can help me out. I’ve been thinking about getting a retractable leash for Lucy the puggle dog and I’m wondering if any of you dog lovers out there use one. Lucy only has a 6 foot leash right now but I’m thinking she would love a little more freedom when we go for our long walks until we get the invisible type fence installed this spring. Do you have one? Does your dog love it?
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♥ Mavis
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Elise says
I used a retractable leash with my dog, and it was fantastic. She was big and strong, but I still had no issues with the strength of the leash. They come in different sizes (strengths), so just get the one that would be right for Lucy and I think you’ll never go back 🙂 I didn’t have any tangling problems at all. I really can’t think of ANY down side of the retractable. You can always lock it at any length with the simple push of a button, and then unlock just as easily.
Lisa says
I am the guardian of two dogs and I’ve decided that my dogs and I hate retractable leashes after trying a few brands. My dogs hate them because of the small noises they make when retracting and clicking into lock mode. They had their tails down every walk I used one.
There are a few safety concerns too. Maybe your dog is an absolute angel but I have a little devil that eats things he shouldn’t. He has a greater chance of grabbing a chicken bone, tissue, turd, etc. when he is far ahead of me. Also, my dogs like to chase things from time to time. Retractable leashes give you less control to reign your dog in and can be extremely dangerous. If your dog is 15 feet ahead (even with the leash in the locked position), she can travel anywhere within a 15 foot arc. That’s enough space to accidentally run in front of a car and there would be little you could do about it.
Emily says
Retractable leashes are a real problem. My aunt and uncle bread dogs and tell everyone to not get a retractable leash. The problem with them is that your dog can get to far away from you and you have no control of them. It can also be a problem for your dog because they can quickly get jerked around on the leash without intentionally doing it. If you have a 15 foot leash and your dog gets a running start at the end of those 15 feet they get a pretty hard jerk!
Pam says
When we lived in the city, I walked my Shiba Inu twice a day. Shiba’s are not really big dogs but they are strong and impetuous. I loved the idea of giving him the additional freedom of the longer leash but gave up on it after just a few uses. I didn’t feel confident that the leash would withstand his strength if he decided to go after a squirrel, cat, etc. So I just opted for an 8 ft. long heavy duty lead that gave him a little more room and made me a little more sure about his safety and my ability to control him.
jeri says
I don’t like retractable leashes. I’ve tried them with two dogs and I gave it up with both of them – two very different dog personalities (one older, calm, controlled dog and the other a young, spirited, hyper border collie). I felt like my dog was out of my control when the leash was extended. It could be a bicyclist coming around the corner, a child darting out, a car, a walker, sometimes it wasn’t safe for the dog to be that far away from me. On the other hand, when I’m approaching a dog on a retractable leash, I feel unsafe. I don’t know if it’s friendly, will it bite me, will it go after my dog who is now on a 6′ leash? Those leashes can trip you up, too, and I’d be afraid that an elderly person could be the recipient of one of those trips. ! I’m just not a fan. I feel that my dog and I are safer with her closer to me.
Debbie says
We have used retractable leashes for both of our Shelties, and love them. Especially for our old 15 year old girl, who we lost 2 Christmases ago. We used them from the time she was about 2 or 3 until she passed, and they always worked well for us. If others were around us, I just put it on lock, so she stayed as closes as a 6 foot lead would allow. But it allowed us the freedom for when we were by ourselves on a walk to let her stop for lots of sniffs (which she was BIG on doing) and I didn’t have to stop ever 2 feet for a sniff along with her. I like that you could make it as short or long as you needed with the click of a button. I could see how you wouldn’t want them for a larger size / weight dog, but for our little 25 lb Sheltie, who really wasn’t a “puller” or a “bolter”, they were awesome. 🙂
Also, a question about those Tornai syrups. What exactly do you do with them? haha I bought 3 bottles on clearance after Christmas, and we’ve tried them in our coffee a couple of different ways, and we just can’t get them to taste a way that we like. Suggestions? Thanks! 🙂
Pam says
Hi Debbie – I don’t know how anyone else uses the syrups. I used them following some major abdominal surgery. I got stuck on a “soft” diet for almost 6 weeks. The doctor recommended I drink protein shakes but I couldn’t really find one that I liked the flavor of. I ended up getting unflavored protein powder and mixing it with water(ice cubes), a dash of heavy cream and the flavoring of choice for the day. Tornai used to make a cappuccino flavored syrup that, along with a dash of vanilla, made a really delicious shake.
Tina says
We like to make Italian sodas with them on special occasions.
Lisa L says
My dog Neville and I love the retractable leash. It gives him a bit of freedom and I can keep him close if need be. We used to live in the country and he was always at the end of the leash on our walks since there was plenty of space. Now we live in the city. I have to keep him a bit closer but when we’re in the park or on a quiet street he can have the space to run ahead or stay back to catch a good sniff of something. once you get the hang of using this type of leash I think you’ll like it. Good luck! Oh, and I LOVE seeing pictures of Lucy on your blog!!!! God bless you and your little dog too!
Linda says
I have used both retractable leashes and 6′ leashes with my Rotties (yes, Rotties
Linda says
(Don’t know what happened to the rest of my message?) . The retractable leash didn’t tangle, but make sure to get a sturdy, quality one. The 6′ lead that we use has two grips so that you can either let your dog explore or keep her close. They are called city leads & I just ordered 2 replacements on Amazon. The last 2 lasted almost 15 years! Lucy is lucky to have such a responsible owner
Megan says
I have a retractable leash for my 15 pound boston terrier mix. It wonderful!! He can get far enough ahead to feel free, but not so far that I can’t control him if I need to. Plus you can always lock the leash to make it just like a normal leash. Just make sure to get one that fits your dogs weight, thats the key!
Nancy says
Hi Mavis – We have both kinds of leashes for our husky. We only use the retractable leash when we bring our dog out to go to the bathroom, and once in a while when we take her to the beach, usually in the late afternoon on a summer day. We don’t use the retractable leash on walks for a few reasons – since she is a husky, she is strong, and can pull me off my feet if I’m not careful. She did that a couple of times in our yard when she spotted a squirrel and I wasn’t paying attention. I know Lucy won’t pull you off your feet, but it is easy for a dog to run too far away on a retractable leash, if you have even a brief lapse in paying attention. Also, the cord type of retractable leashes can actually amputate the tip if a person’s finger! As I understand it, if your dog is running away, and you grab the cord part of the leash to try & gain control, the cord can give you a bad friction burn, and if it goes around the tip of your finger, it can cause significant injury. We have a tape type of retractable, but I wouldn’t want to test it our on my fingers! It is safer for you & for Lucy for you to have her close by on walks, whether you encounter another dog, a kid on a bike, or a passing car. I help a dog walker friend with her business, and I won’t use retractable leashes on the dogs I walk. I hope this helps!! 🙂
Katrina says
For our Golden Retriever we have a retractable leash and love it. It gives Sierra a little more room to explore while walking her. If we get around people or other animals and I’m concerned then I will bring her closer to me. I never have problems with it tangling or had troubles with the locking of the leash. The leash always stayed locked wherever I wanted it at. Sierra weighs about 80 pounds and I don’t have problems with her trying to run away or bolting where it would pull me. I guess it would depend on the individual and dog.
Cheryl says
I have a Cockapoo, a Pomeranian, & a Papillon who I walk at the same time and I cannot imagine them on retractable leashes, they are hard enough to control on 6 ft leashes. Now where I walk the mutts, there is traffic, other dogs being walked, loose dogs, children, glass on the sidewalk (why folks feel the need to break bottles on the sidewalk is beyond me) an elementary school, chicken bones, other dog crap, stickers, etc. With summer coming up, they can be nosing around a telephone pole and find a snake instead and I would be none the wiser as all I saw was a telephone pole. I prefer the them closer to me as that gives me better control over their wayward little souls and affords them the protection that I offer as well. I was out walking 2 of the mutts one day when a large dog charged us and had their mouth around the neck of the Cockapoo before I could even blink an eye…on a retractable leash, I’d have had a dead dog before I could even react. As it was, protecting the other dog and myself without ending up with a injured pup was difficult.
Jill says
I have used retractable leashes for over 17 years now with different size and weight dogs. I’ve never had a problem with them breaking from a dog pulling too hard. I had a 70 lb lab mix that could really pull sometimes if he wanted to chase something and never had a leash fail. I highly recommend Flexi brand – don’t go with one of the cheaper knock-offs. Also be sure to get the “tape” type leash, not the “cord” type. Before they came out with the tape type of leash, I had my dog chew through the cord leash. Dogs love the extra room they are allowed on retractable leashes. If I see another dog or a kid coming I just shorten and lock the leash.
christy gerhardt says
hi mavis…i have a service dog that goes with me everywhere on a six foot leash. when she is not “on duty” wearing her vest, she LOVES going out on her retractable leashes. we own two…a 25 ft long one and a 15 ft long one with a reflective strand in the leash for night walking. mattie loves to sniff the doggy daily news on every clump of grass and tree. as she stops and sniffs, i can keep walking. she plays a leap frog of sorts as i keep a steady pace and she runs ahead, then runs to catch up. for a working dog, i feel it is imperative that mattie has time off to follow her doggy pursuits. it clears her head and allows a dog to be a dog. i usually try to buy mine on sale at the bargain market or at harbor freight with a coupon. as long as you pay attention to what you are doing, you don’t get tangled. when the leash finally gives up the ghost, it is no great loss to buy a replacement. they are not made for archival permanence…lol.
Chloe says
my dogs loves the retractable leash! i enjoy it also as he can trot on ahead, stop to sniff and lift a leg all while i am still walking. if i pass him he has plenty of leash to finish up with and then he trots on ahead again. 🙂 they are very handy!
Carol says
Mavis, you have gotten a lot of wonderful responses here! To summarize, consider your environment where you and Lucy will be walking. I have both for my dog. When I walk her daily in the park I use the retractable to allow her maximum movement. I keep a 4′ lead in the car for times when we visit my MIL in the health care facility or in situations where I want Shaman right next to me.
Mavis says
Carol, thanks for the input! Also, I love your dog’s name!