Frustrated with flexi-leashes

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Hi all!

Actually I'm not sure the title of this is correct, it should be frustrated with the dog walker. We moved and are getting settled into a new place and the boys love it! There's a huge balcone that they love to sit out in and watch everyone. We are also just now a little bit outside of down town so there's more space and room to run. They boys had their meet and greet with a potential new dog walker today and she seemed fantastic! Came very highly recommended and her reviews/references all said great things. Until we got to the part where she said she only walks dogs on flexi leashes! Why on earth!?! Loki is 85 lbs and a flexi leash seems like a horrible idea! That horrible snap/stop and all right on his neck- I don't think so. Moose is still growing obviously but will be a beast so same situation.

She said she uses the flexi leashes because there isn't so much pulling and she can keep them close for safety. I showed her their easy walks and she prefers not to use harnesses which I guess each has their own preference so I showed her their martingale collars and asked if that could be a substitute instead of the flexi leash since these two items work much better and more humanely to stop/prevent pulling. I then showed her their running leashes- which are only 3 1/2 feet long so they are nice and close and then showed her that their regular leashes that are 6ft also have the built in traffic handle right by their necks to keep them close. Their running leash is also basically a bungee cord so there is basically no pulling because it's absorbed by the bungee cord which makes it nicely for the dog and the person. All were a no go which means the dog walker is a no go. Very sad because the boys really liked her. What is more frustrating is that we went on a practice walk and neither of them pulled at all, some good I've been working on with Loki a lot. So frustrating.

Basically this post has no point except for the fact that I know there are at least a few people here who would agree that flexi leashes are horrible and at least one of the options I had offered her were better and safer that the flexi leash!

Thanks for listening to me complain!

Jess

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm very glad this so-called dog walker is a "no go" for you. You couldn't pay me enough to let anyone walk JD (or any other dog I ever own) on a flexi-lead. Dangerous for both the dog and the human. And no way in the  world can you "keep a dog close for safety" with a flexi-lead; the exact opposite is true, especially in an emergency. 

You made the right decision re: this "dog walker". Her unwillingness to use your dogs' customary harnesses and leashes and insistence to do what is easiest for her speaks volumes.

[Becka]

I agree with Karen 100%--these leashes are a hazard to people and dogs, and it seems like this dog walker could also potentially undo your hard work with your boys. I will never understand the appeal.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I was so shocked that she wouldn't consider any of the options that I have, and I do have several. I have a lot of different ones because depending on my call schedule, my mom or my brother come walk them or a dog walk (to be determined lol) to make sure they get attention and exercise and they all have different preferences. I however think I have found safe and smart options and if none of them work then oh well I guess! Thank you though! It's very nice to hear I'm not a moron because she was just baffled that I didn't agree with her choice and "no one has ever had an issue with her policies/preferences".

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

When you say "flexi-leash" are you referring to a retractable leash or a flexible bungee cord type leash? There are sooo many reasons to stay away from the retractable! Good for you in not hiring her. You may want to share this article with her:

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/06/11...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Retractables. :(

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

The retractable ones sorry! I have the Iron Doggy runners leash which is a bungee cord and love it! The rectractable ones scare me a lot though!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

http://irondoggy.com/products/sidekick-hands-free-leash Here's the link to the one I have that I love.

[Marni and Hanna]

OMG !!  Flexi-leashes are probably my top complaint !! (aside from someone who doesn't pick up after their dog) I so hate those things, as the human on the other end is usually completely inept at controlling their dog.  I think you are making the right call on getting another dog-walker--especially after all the time you just put in training your dogs to walk correctly.  How frustrating!  I think it just means there is probably another dog walker out there you haven't found yet that will be even better !!  Good Luck !!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Isn't that always the case? The only people using flexi leashes I've ever met are so clueless and unaware it just amazes me!

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Flex/retraca leash, I know one person that lost the end of her finger with one, my sister got a nasty cut on her leg when her grandson's dog wrapped around her with one.  They are just as dangerous to the dog walking on them, too much line to dart in front of car, bike or person.

My girls have six foot leashes with a handle I put near the snap to keep them close but I prefer walking mine on either side of me with a tab leash on each, they have room to walk beside me but it keeps them close no matter the situation we might come up on.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I agree with you, I like them nice and close.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I have a wonderful dog walker and she asked me to show her each of the boys leads and harnesses when she started.  Boris walks with a harness and Riley does better with a canny collar for the first five minutes and then he is fine without it and just his normal collar. So that is what she uses. I just leave them ready on the back of a chair in the kitchen for her as she has a key to the house.  This sounds like a not particularly bright person as flexi leads are dangerous both to her own safety and to that of the dogs she walks. It makes much more sense to use what the owner uses.