lots of talk on flexis,

Using the flexi lead was instrumental in my being able to teach Pisa her recalls. (Here) (name) (whistle like a bird call)

Pisa still gets tethered to me using a flexi sometimes.


I used a flexi lead I had modified by taking it apart and cutting out a piece of the spring to have a softer recoil to avoid neck pressure while still feeding in quick enough when fed by hand just like you would with a long lead, hand over hand except instead of trying to coil it on the ground it goes back into the flexi which is attatched to me with the bait bag you can get at Leerburg.

My big girls have a good recall but we use a flexi when we take them out at night, that way they can make their circles or whatever they need to to work on to get it out.

When we taught the big girls pulling, being able to have the distance, the recoiling and handles were great so we could move out to either side to get them used to the pressure going that direction.

I think the cities we live close to all have bylaws about leashes being 6 feet or shorter, but that is not why I leave the flexis at home

I use flexi-leashes extensively, and I find them an important training tool, but in the hands of pea brains, they'll amputate a finger, so they'll not a good tool for the clumsey or foolish.

I also use flexi leashes often. When you walk three GSDs at once, long lines tend to get tangled. I use them strictly because we have leash laws and sometimes I want to give my dogs a little bit of room to move. Having a good recall is pretty standard for me feeling comfortable with my dog on a flexi out in public, because I know I cannot depend on the flexi the same way I could with a leash or long line.

Speaking of flexi's kind of, I love the Rad Dog collars. They are like a flexi attached to the dog. I use them when hiking so that if another dog comes along I can recall my own and quickly grab their "leash" so I have full control of them since they don't like other dogs running up on. I don't trust other people to have control of their dogs.

 Quote: Michael Bennett

I love the Rad Dog collars. They are like a flexi attached to the dog. I use them when hiking so that if another dog comes along I can recall my own and quickly grab their "leash" so I have full control of them since they don't like other dogs running up on. I don't trust other people to have control of their dogs.

I will have to checkout this rad collar for hiking!

I do not trust other dog owners to have control of their dogs either!

About ten years ago I was walking my dog across the fields on a flexi lead. Suddenly two bouviers descended on us and attacked my dog. Unfortunately the flexi had been at full extension and in the commotion I wasn't quick enough to retract it. The dogs nearly ripped the leg off of my dog as he got more and more tangled in the flexi. Somehow, adrenaline pumping I shouted and became the dominant aggressor and then I carried my poor bleeding dog back to my house and got him to the vet. He stitched up well despite having a chunk of him missing! I have never been comfortable using a flexi since.

It turned out that the bouviers went hunting for coyotes at dusk and we happened to be in their hunting grounds. Since then I have also been cautious about walking at dusk!

do not like them, never use them, would not have one

I like them for young puppies who don't know how to walk on a leash yet or for a well-trained dog...in remote areas.

Unfortunately, the people that seem to use them the most are clueless folks with untrained dogs in public places.

In my opinion, they have no business in public areas or when walking a dog down a narrow sidewalk.

I have a flexi-lead, but I have never figured out how to make it useful. I don't like the power of the spring, and I don't like the weight of the handle. I often wish there was a magical way to handle the long line.

I don't use them, I hate them. I've never owned one but have had issues with getting caught in other peoples, I've got scars on my legs and hand from where a large dog on one tied me up and the cord cut into my skin. I've had to "can you hold my dog" help someone and the retractor broke in an emergency and had to grap the cord, I've seen dogs get hit by cars on them, I've seen dogs get caught up under bike tires on them....I really like my long lines ^_^

 Quote: Jamie Craig

I really like my long lines ^_^

Yes, I do Jamie!!! I use cotton long lines from the tack store. I try to stay away from the synthetics because they do tend to cut into the skin as you mentioned!