Flexi and Retractable Leashes: The Hidden Risks

It happens. It’s tragic 

A van drives by, the retractable leash spins out, the dog races beyond reach and can’t be recalled, then it gets hit. Many will die, some will sustain life long injuries. To add to the pain of its loss is the threat to human life, as the moving vehicle swerves, or breaks, in an attempt to avoid the dog.

What is a Flexi or Retractable Leash? 

These leashes offer a lot of convenience, especially when the dog wants to wander off, sniff, and check things out. It was invented in 1972 and allows the walker to easily extend and retract the leash. It works on a spring-loaded spool inside a plastic handle, with a cord or tape that could extend up to 30 feet. The leash stays taut, with the dog pulling forward while the handler grips the casing. A button controls how much leash unspools. 

Are these leashes safe to use?

They are, unfortunately, not foolproof. If left unlocked, the dog can easily bolt out as far as the cord is long. The dog’s mass, moving at the speed of a sudden bolt and hitting the end of the cord, is usually enough to snap the spring and rip the handle out of the owner’s grip. The dog will almost always be way beyond the owner’s reach and too far for a successful recall. 

These are just some of the other safety concerns surrounding these leashes.

• Retractable leashes easily malfunction. The spring can loose its strength over time. The cord can get stuck and entangled inside the casing, and fail to retract. 
• The metal clips on the ends of retractable leashes have been responsible for numerous eye injuries by unexpectedly breaking and snapping back at the person holding the leash.
• People tend to grab the thin cord in an effort to regain control over their bolting dog. This can snap, cause burns, cuts, or even limb amputations if the owner or dog gets caught in the cord
• The long leash can make it difficult to control the dog, especially in dangerous situations near roads or other animals.  
  
• The long thin cord or tape can easily tangle around the walker or dog, causing further injury. 
  
• The hard grip of these leashes can be difficult to hold, increasing the chance that handlers drop it and fully lose control. 
  
• If an owner drops their retractable leash, the hard plastic handle will clatter loudly and continuously behind a dog, dramatically scaring it as it tries unsuccessfully to escape it. This makes it even harder to recall the dog.
  

Beyond Safety: A Training Issue

Aside from safety concerns, retractable leashes reinforce bad habits. They teach dogs that pulling earns them more freedom, making loose-leash walking harder to train.

For the sake of your dog’s safety and your bond together, these leashes are strongly discouraged for everyday use. A secure, fixed-length leash offers far more control and peace of mind. 

Retractable leashes do have use in training specific behaviors, and that is a topic for another post.