This may be a silly question, but why are retractable leashes such a bad thing? I see everyone saying not to use them, but no one says why.

When I take Darwin for a walk, he's forever getting tangled up in the leash and I end up wrapping around my wrist when he's closer to me and unwrapping when he's further away - basically doing the same thing as a retractable leash. I know he's not obedient yet - is that the reason? That retractable leashes encourage lax leash obedience? Is it OK to use them on a puppy?

I'll be honest, I have wondered this myself. I do use one. I like the flexibilty it gives me on walks, I can release him to roam a little, or call him too me, and keep him close. In crowds I just lock it short, like a traffic lead. I think it may be more of an issue with how some people use them. I do still use the long cotton leash for training, he drags it around. You can't use a retractable for that, but I think they have thier place.

It will be interesting to see peoples opinions.

I personally hate retractable leashes and will never own one. I can't see any reason my dog needs to be more than 6 feet away from me on leash. People that do use them tend let their dogs get into all kinds of trouble as their dogs are too far away from them: dog fights, other people's yards, eating trash found on the ground, to name just a few.

Dogs have also been seriously hurt by them, particularly sight hounds. They get tangled in the cord and then see something and take off after it where the thin cord acts like a garrot and rips them up badly.

I love my retractable leashes but I don't use them for any type of training. I use it for casual walks only. I use a conventional leash for training so I can give corrections when necessary.

I do use one of my retractables for pup casual walks. I don't know what the "experts" say. That's just the way I do it.

i don't see retractable leashes as very strong, at least for german shepherds. ....maybe b/c i'm used to using them for the rabbits, i don't know, but that's why i don't use them for the dogs. i worry they'd break/pull out.

Jennifer, I found retractable leashes last fall at WalMart that are made out of 1/2 inch flat nylon web. The ones with cord broke the first time I took my GSD out with it. I only use it occasionally on some walks where she gets to poke around and sniff where she wants to and I still have control over her in case someone or something comes up.

Sandy

I dont use them; the reason theyre so discouraged here is probably because 99% of people use them wrong; its always someone letting their dog roam around Petsmart or at a park where theres dogs and kids on the end of one of these things. I *might* use them in a deserted feild, but they arent strong and you have absolutly no control over the dog on one.
In public places dogs dont need the freedom of running out that far or coming back in when the want.JMO

sandra, that does sound better. and it's sound where attached?

i admit sometimes i when i have bratters out on the long line, and i want to reel her in (teagan does not come under other dog distraction....yet) i wish i had a retractable lead, but that's also the time something would break, with my luck.
(i took her out in the side yard this week on her flat collar, 'after all, we're next to the house'....if anyone's wondering, yeah, i'm an idiot. luckily after she slipped her flat collar to go get the nemesis beagle, i executed a neat dive and caught her by the harness. ha!)

I don't use or recommend retractable leashes for the following reasons:
Lack of control of the dog. If the dog decides not to come to your side, the retractable leash cannot reel them in and good luck dragging that thin line in yourself without hurting your hands.

They break, seen it happen many times at the pet store I worked at.

You cannot give an effective correction with one.

Without firm pack structure, allowing a dog to go wherever whenever without an ability to correct or really reel them in if they decide not to come to you or pull on the end of the line erodes your training. Too much opportunity for the dog to develop bad behavior from the handler not being able to correct the dog on the end of the line.

I think they can be ok for older well behaved low drive dogs that have no issues with other dogs, people, prey items, etc. and have strong pack structure in the home. The handler has to really know their dog, and even then, even really knowing your dog, you cannot predict things other people will do or something that might happen on a walk where the dog could spook or chase after something and you've just lost control with no ability to correct.

For regular leashes, I put knots in mine every foot to give me somethiing to hold onto. If it is too long I hold the excess in a loop that does not circle my hand or in the other hand as well.

Just my .02 cents

it doesn't reel them in? huh. that would sort of be the whole point of them, with a dog anyways, to me.