Hi Milo is just a year old. He has had elbow surgery, this has been going on since he was 5 months old. He has had to be lead walks or no walks for all this time. So basically have gone back to square one with his recall. We are going on holiday soon and Im debating whether to get an extending retractable lead or not. Im concerned that this might hinder his training.Also he is very strong and a puller. He has been quite good of the lead but not 100% reliable .He wil lrun over to another dog to play.
I don't have any personal experience of them, but you might be interested in a series of videos that the "Glasgow Dog Trainer" did on them, posted on YouTube.
I used a retractable lead for a few weeks each time Molly was in season (aged 10 months and 20 months). It was fine for us, but she wasn't a lead puller and we were keeping away from other dogs. I wonder if you could borrow one to try it out before you buy?
Thats a good idea. Maybe Im worrying to much. I was worried that he will lose the little bit of recall he has and it would make him want to pull towards other dogs even more.
I don't think that it would adversely affect recall, as if he doesn't come when you call you can reel him in!
My thought too. Never used one myself but our trainer thought what it might adversely affect was his loose lead walk and his heel. She suggested walking be done with the leash short, let it out when you sit down somewhere, somewhere safe for him and others.
My hubby likes them, we have 3 don't ask me why or how, but I really dislike them, as when Buster sees something or someone he likes he is off and there for he gets a jolt when he has reached the end of it. we haven't used them for about a year. What we do have is a halti training lead so it is a bit longer and can be shortened, that is the best lead I have brought and trust me I've brought a few.
I think one of the big issues with them is that they're no good for teaching loose lead walking, because you never have a loose lead. The retraction mechanism means there's always some tension on the collar, so the dog never has the opportunity to learn to slow down when they feel that tension, like they would on a standard lead. Glasgow Dog Trainer also points out that the way you hold the lead makes for a much weaker position, and also means that, if you do have a lunger, they're much more likely to be able to pull the lead from your hand, which is obviously dangerous. I also have the Halti lead, which is fantastic. It adjusts from just over 1m to 2m, you can use it hands-free if you wish and allows you to keep the dog close, or allow it more freedom.
I do like the Glasgow Dog Trainer - but I thought this one was a bit rubbish, to be honest (I did post and say that, so not being a coward just saying it elsewhere ). A retractable lead is just a tool. It's not like a rattle bottle, or a compressed air canister, or (in my view, and in the view of the GDT) a headcollar - all of which should indeed be thrown in the bin. There is nothing inherently aversive in a retractable lead. So it's not possible to say, in my view, that retractable leads are good or bad. It depends on your dog, and how you use them. My dog is fine on a retractable lead, and it was a godsend for walking him post surgery. I think both of us would have gone quite mad without it. But, my dog does not generally pull on his lead, he keeps a long retractable lead loose and stops as he approaches the end of it, and I used it in quiet, open spaces away from others. It is perfectly possible to use these tools in a sensible, safe way. What is probably a bit daft is to use them in a busy place, or a very exciting place (eg the beach...) with a dog that is going to pull and go nuts, and try to dash off to other dogs. That's not going to end well, not at all. A dog recovering from serious surgery has experienced horrible restrictions, a lack of choice and freedom. That little bit of freedom, to sniff a bit more freely, and to move about a bit more, is worth its weight in gold, really. three by julieandcharlie julieandcharlie, on Flickr
I agree with Julie. I also posted on the Glasgow Gundog Trainers page as I felt he misrepresented the physical forces at work in his videos. Normally I love his stuff!!!!! I think a retractable lead has its place, allowing dogs to roam without total freedom. There are some common sense things to think about though: Use tape rather than cord to minimise risk of injuries. Lock off at a short distance when you're anywhere you don't want the dog to range eg by a road. Lock off at a shortish distance when you're amongst other people, dogs or trees you risk hurting people and dogs at worst and at best unwinding 5+ metres of lead is irritating! Used sensibly I think they're fine
I use a retractable lead, but I always pull it out to the point I want it and then put in the "brake" It helps me a lot when walking with the stroller, it also makes this click sound when Millie gets the tension of the lead and she pulls. When that happens I tell her heel if she don't I stop, well these days I don't really have to. She has learnt quickly that as soon as the retractable gives this little click sound she stops and wait for me before we continue. I make it shorter when we're out with the stroller. Don't know if I got the text out in a good understandable way.. Been out in this sun whole day and starting to feel bit fuzzy haha. I have seen people using retractable is really awful ways though... Just dragging their dogs with it, or the dogs runs out in the road almost getting hit because of that the people don't know how to use it in a safe way. It's good and bad I would say depending of the person holding it.
I dislike them and wouldn't use one but I can see some people may see benefit in using them. What I don't like is when people have their dog right at the end walking along the pavement or in busy places, I don't see the point at all and it is inappropriate. A friend of mine insists on using one on a country walk, his dog zig zags gets behind me then behind his owner, we become tangled up, it's an accident waiting to happen and makes for an unpleasant walk. I had a horrible walk with another friend, her dog went behind her she got her leg tangled in the lead she fell to the ground and I heard her ankle snap, absolutely awful, she was in plaster for 6 weeks. There was I with two large puppies running through our village to get help. Put me off for life
I don't use one now, but I concur, that if you use one, get the model with the tape, not the cord. I got a nasty rope burn behind my knee from someone else's Lab. I used the heavy duty one with the tape for our first lab, but now for a longer lead, I prefer the tubular webbing lead with a bungee inside. Ruffwear makes and while it only goes to about 12ft. I think it is a lot easier to use.
