My darling big Sis has a foul and rude KCC that is always bugging bigger dogs over the parks where she goes in Nottingham, and she gets genuinley bewildered when these people get the hump with him, drives me nuts!

But on the subject of flexi leads.... she was at traffic lights at a junction of a very busy road near her home a couple of years ago, the lights on the opposite side of the road changed, just as an old dot walking by lost control of the brake on her titchy dogs flexi, it shot out infront of the car pulling away, got caught under the wheel of the car, and the woman yanked the dog back, leaving it's head under the car, Lin pulled straight out of the queue, pulled onto the pavement and ran to help this hysterical woman who was by now holding the head in one hand the body in the other, and pleading with my sister to put what was left of her dog in the car to take it to the vet

Truly horrific for all concerned, a terrible example of why these leads should be issued with instructions and graphic warnings of what can happen when these things are not used with caution!

WOW...there was a guy who I got into it with once, he had 2 loose house and would NOT do ANYTHING about them harassing us. I really lost it and he threatened me but though better of it as Logan stood in front of me staring at him. Fastforward to a few weeks ago...I was walking at the same place and saw him, this time with a young yellow lab on a leash (but pulling of course)...it had to be him, he frowned at me but didn't say a word. I BET and hate to think this but I bet those dogs got run over or another dog got the best of them, I just bet.

Oh hey Kelley, could I pet Toni, I'm not a stranger. LOL

 Quote: Tresa Hendrix

.... Well that was not the case at all...you had to go in the store to sign up...there was a mass of people with lunging, barking, peeing dog and including 2 bitches in full blown heat. I got as far as the door without my dog and said no way. ....

This sums up my POV about Petsmart, Petco, all those stores; they are in the same category as dog parks for me.

Just figured it out... Retractable leads have two ends; a DUMB end and an IGNORANT end, and the dogs keep hooking their people to the wrong end.
(I know, wrong, just wrong).

Seriously, though... Sadie is being cheated out of some chances to interact with her world. Although she is reactive, our work at the club shows she can "Leave it" and engage me with even when other dogs are just a few feet away. She is super friendly and cute, so people love to approach her. The problem is, people think they can let their dog approach HER. Also, Petco and Petsmart always seem to have someone inside who lets their purse dog run around on the floor, with no control whatsoever. I have absolutely no choice but to stay out of these places with her. If another smaller, cuter dog attacks her and gets eaten, I'll be the bad guy.

In inexperienced hands (as most of the owners using them are) flex leads & harnesses are two of the worse inventions of all time!

In proper hands, they can be wonderfull tools. Just like prong & e-collars.

Petco, Petsmart ect are places that I NEVER take my dogs. It is like a free-for-all for IDIOTS with furry children. UGH! Why would you subject your dog to such a negative enviroment?! Just stupid. IMO

I have two GSDs who are truly "go anywhere, do anything" dogs and even they get aggressive with rude dogs. It's just the law of nature! On the other hand, my poor Vigo is a shy dog and had to overcome being attacked by another dog...it's a slow process, but luckily he has some great dog friends in my family who are helping him overcome his bad experience. I also avoid the petstores, which stinks because we have limited socialization opportunities around here.

 Quote: Anne Jones

In inexperienced hands (as most of the owners using them are) flex leads & harnesses are two of the worse inventions of all time!

In proper hands, they can be wonderfull tools.

I'm sure you're right: I've only had negative encounters.
I don't think that most people who use them on pet dogs prepare themselves for worst-case scenarios. I've seen more than one person instinctively pull up and back, rather than use the lock when they need to stop the dog. I also don't think it's the right tool for the vet's waiting room. Seems like a little forethought and practice would go a long way.
Never used one, Anne. Would you be willing to start a thread on properly using one as a tool to use with a large dog?

I am not good with stupid. Today I knee blocked a kid from petting my doy. Mom was not happy with my requireing permission first to pet my dog. So I picked up her baby from her harms.

I got the WTF are you doing. And I said I just wanted to hold her. She said well you don't do that with out permission first. I asked her if she could have bitten me? Cause my dog could have reacted from her kid, Ok he did react some.

I think she kind of got it

I am not good with stupid. Today I knee blocked a kid from petting my doy. Mom was not happy with my requireing permission first to pet my dog. So I picked up her baby from her harms.

I got the WTF are you doing. And I said I just wanted to hold her. She said well you don't do that with out permission first. I asked her if she could have bitten me? Cause my dog could have reacted from her kid, Ok he did react some.

I think she kind of got it