SO many reasons to say "NO" to retractable leashes!

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I HATE retractable leashes! And yet there are so many that use them. I was reminded of the reasons why you should never let this monster enter your house. Yesterday, Buster, a Goldendoodle who lives in Virginia, got lost after his owner fell down and lost control of his leash. His RETRACTABLE leash. Many Facebook posts were shared and thank God Buddy was found today! He was stuck in the woods with his leash and collar still attached. His leash got caught in the brush. I am sure he spent a very cold night out in the Virginia woods alone. I am grateful that is the only hardship he suffered. Imagine if he had a run-in with a wild animal. He was totally defenseless! Here are the top 10 reasons retractable leashes are NOT recommended as published by a vet. All of them are good reasons but Number 8 should be at the top of the list! A frightened dog may be "chased" into traffic by that leash. 

By Dr. Becker

A retractable leash is not so much a leash as it is a length of thin cord wound around a spring-loaded device housed inside a plastic handle. The handles of most retractable leashes are designed to fit comfortably in a human hand. A button on the handle controls how much of the cord is extended.

Retractable leashes are popular primarily because they aren't as confining as regular leashes, allowing dogs more freedom to sniff and poke around on walks. But unfortunately, there are many downsides to this type of leash.

10 Reasons Not to Use a Retractable Leash

1. The length of retractable leashes, some of which can extend up to 26 feet, allows dogs to get far enough away from their humans that a situation can quickly turn dangerous. A dog on a retractable leash is often able to run into the middle of the street, for example, or make uninvited contact with other dogs or people.

2. In the above scenario, or one in which your pet is being approached by an aggressive dog, it is nearly impossible to get control of the situation if the need arises. It's much easier to regain control of – or protect -- a dog at the end of a six-foot standard flat leash than it is if he's 20 or so feet away at the end of what amounts to a thin string.

3. The thin cord of a retractable leash can break – especially when a powerful dog is on the other end of it. If a strong, good-sized dog takes off at full speed, the cord can snap. Not only can that put the dog and whatever he may be chasing in danger, but also the cord can snap back and injure the human at the other end.

4. If a dog walker gets tangled up in the cord of a retractable leash, or grabs it in an attempt to reel in their dog, it can result in burns, cuts, and even amputation. In addition, many people have been pulled right off their feet by a dog that reaches the end of the leash and keeps going. This can result in bruises, "road rash," broken bones, and worse.

5. Dogs have also received terrible injuries as a result of the sudden jerk on their neck that occurs when they run out the leash, including neck wounds, lacerated tracheas, and injuries to the spine.

6. Retractable leashes allow dogs more freedom to pull at the end of them, which can look like aggression to another dog who may decide to "fight back."

7. The handles of retractable leashes are bulky and can be easily pulled out of human hands, resulting in a runaway dog. 

8. Along those same lines, many dogs – especially fearful ones – are terrorized by the sound of a dropped retractable leash handle and may take off running, which is dangerous enough. To make matters worse, the object of the poor dog's fear is then "chasing" her, and if the leash is retracting as she runs, the handle is gaining ground on her – she can't escape it. Even if this scenario ultimately ends without physical harm to the dog (or anyone else), it can create lingering fear in the dog not only of leashes, but also of being walked.

9. Retractable leashes, like most retractable devices, have a tendency to malfunction over time, either refusing to extend, refusing to retract, or unspooling at will. 

10. Retractable leashes are an especially bad idea for dogs that haven't been trained to walk politely on a regular leash. By their very nature, retractables train dogs to pull while on leash, because they learn that pulling extends the lead.

If your dog is well trained, gentle mannered and smart enough to master a regular leash and a retractable leash without being confused, you could be one of the rare guardians that can walk your pooch on any kind of leash without increasing risks to either one of you.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

#5 actually happened to Sophie and she was never the same afterwards.  We always used the retractable leash to take them out to potty (to give them a little more privacy) just in the back yard if for some reason we didn't want to let them out off leash.  Even though we are fenced, sometimes it was wet or muddy or something and we just took them on a leash.  Mike was taking Sophie out and as soon as they went out the door she saw a rabbit and quicker than Mike could even realize, she took off after the rabbit and hit the end of the leash and it threw her up in the air and dropped her down backwards.  Scared the crap out of Mike as she didn't move for a few seconds.  We rushed her to the Vet, and there was nothing broken or anything, but she was stiff and sore for a few days.  After that on our therapy visits she could never put her front paws up on the beds and stay there for very long.  Only a few seconds.  That is when we threw ours away.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Several years ago, the back of my husband's calves were cut when he was out walking with someone who was using a retractable leash. That person's dog ran behind my husband and then back up and around his other side. This is yet another reason why those leashes are dangerous. 

[Ginny Nightingale]

I totally agree and have seen all of this happen! I think something they left off is that the "brake" fails if the dog pulls hard enough--some people think that by locking the leash at a 6 foot length, it is the same as a 6 foot leash--but the gears slip when the dog pulls (as he might if a squirrel goes by!) and then the leash goes to full length and the person has very little control over the dog.

I use them when I am on my own property, far from a road where little can happen--I use them with dogs that are guests here--my own dogs have an invisible fence. I am aware of what can happen so I only have them for limited situations. NEVER ever on a road!!

[Amy and Annabelle]

Before Annabelle was fully trained and we had a fenced yard, I had her on a 15ft tie down line, while working in the yard. One day she wrapped the line around my legs so tight, I thought they were going to be sliced off. She was probably only about 12lbs at the time.It did leave a nasty wound on both legs. I can't imagine what a bigger and stronger would have done. I threw it the garbage that night. I think the tie down lines are similar to the retractable leashes.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

It is crazy the amount of crazy injuries to humans and to dogs! Its a wonder someone has not sued because of it.