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

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

That's more or less what I was expecting to happen. I have a hanger for their leashes with hooks labeled for each of them and I figured it's right by the door this should be great and simple for her, apparently not though.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I totally don't understand why she wants use a retractable leash.  Think you are right to find another dog walker.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think you made a great decision!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

So proud of you for not bending to the flex-leash dog walker's choice.  Flex leashes are just not good, especially for huge dogs like yours.  Why just yesterday we were trying to pass a lady who had stopped on the sidewalk to chat with someone and her flexi-leashed dogs pulled her over to Clancy.  I put Clancy in a sit as soon as the dogs started to come toward him, but he wasn't that happy to meet and greet these two lhasa yappers.  The lady said, "Oh they are friendly!"  I 'felt' a low growl from either Clancy or her dog, so replied that he (Clancy) had been friendly enough and wanted to move on because he was considering using her dogs for a snack!  Geez!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, love it, Nancy!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

She did look shocked, but I HATE those leashes allowing dogs to roam into other people or dog's personal space. :-]

[Melanie Fincher]

Absolutely no to retractable leashes. They have caused many injuries to dogs and humans! I had my guys pull me off the porch one night as we were going out for last call. Forgot to lock the leash and a possum ran out of the bushes and I was propelled down five bluestone steps into gravel. Surgery to wrist and a lovely face were the result. I also know of some who lost a finger as the string got wrapped around their finger and the dog took off. It's your dog, your rules. You did the right thing!