Flexi-lead RANT

Spudlet

Spudlet

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I have a nasty friction burn on my shin courtesy of one of these hideous bits of kit:mad:

Basically we were out in the woods, and saw a dog approaching down a path which was due to meet the one we were on at a right angle. The undergrowth was quite high but it was clear that they dog was running at some speed, so assuming it was off the lead, we let Henry carry on as normal.

Turned out to be a young (10 month old) Dalmation on a flexi, which went MAD with excitement! It proceeded to yank the lead right out its owner's hand and run madly about with the lead trailing behind, then ran round my legs - I had bare shins and the lead just whipped around one of them - OUCH. Got a lovely red line like a burn across the front of one leg. Nice. Still stings this morning!

Not only that but they had the flexi attached to a headcollar - I mean, way to break your dog's neck or what!:eek:

They were given some gentle advice about taking the lead OFF the headcollar and swapping the doom-lead for a lunge line - goodness only knows if they'll take it though:rolleyes:

I HATE flexis - they are a MENACE!:mad:

OK, rant over:D
 
I see them as tools of the devil, heard and seen too many horror stories.:mad:

For every responsible owner there are about 20 other numpties and I really think they should come with instructions and a warning.
 
I hate flexis, and I hate headcollars, but have used a headcollar in the past and use a flexi pretty much daily. It would perhaps be more correct to say that I hate numpty users of them. :p

I have a scar on my ankle from the time that a huge galumphing choc lab wrapped one of the cord kind around my leg, bloody hurt and left a friction burn.
 
I thought/read that you said "I a nasty bichon frise on my knee":o clearly Im dealing with to many bichons at present:eek:
Flexi are lethal in the hands of idiots.
 
Were the owners mortified and apologetic about what had just happened to your legs?

I don't need to use the damn things - I have an obedient and well trained dog, and at the times when she has to be on a lead (walking through streets, or at events) a flexi lead would be a downright dangerous piece of equipment.

I don't know how many times I've seen dogs being walked on flexi leads in the street, only to run in front of a car faster than the owner can reel them in. I've not seen an actual squished dog thank god, but I've seen plenty of near misses!
 
I don't think they even noticed:rolleyes: I'm not one to hop about and squeal (well I am, but not in front of strangers) - damn stoicism...

I really can't stand them - the circumstances under which they are useful are far outweighed by the circumstances under which they are worse than useless IMO. As for putting a Dalmation-sized dog on one, then attaching it to a headcollar - well, words fail me!:eek:
 
After having my younger dog spot his best friend across the street whilst on a flexi-lead he managed to break the lock and shot out into the road. I automatically grabbed for the lead and had a friction burn almost down to the bone on my little finger. Needless to say they are not on my list of things to have anymore.
 
...and another problem with them is that if your dog pulls a lot you can't see if the lead is weakening inside...............recipe for disaster!
 
I use a Flexi lead on both my dogs - but they have voice/distance control.

They give you NO control
They are not advisable to be used near roads
Do NOT trust the locking facilty
And the most important thing - do NOT use them with dogs that pull, it's completely counter-productive - they are nigh-on impossible to use with two hands if you need it and it teaches the dog if it runs on ahead, it gets more lead. Pointless.
 
My war wound:
Photo1037.jpg


Ouch:mad::(
 
One of my Salem's litter mates lived in Cumbria.

He was on a flexi-lead while walking in the woods and he decided to pop over a wall while he was at the length of it.

Sadly the other side of the wall had a 70ft drop on the other side.

Owner had the choice of letting him hang or letting him drop.

Either way, he is dead now.

He was 18 months old.
 
Oh **** Oberon, that's awful :( poor boy.

I was a bit snarky with a woman at the beach at the weekend, her very fat :o lab was dragging her towards me and the wee dog on a flexi lead so I told her, politely of course :) she should keep her dog moving rather than standing still and creating a face-off, and to get a proper lead :o
 
Frig in ell:eek: thats horrible:( I agree with CC thought, dogs that pull should not be on xtendys, which is what folk tend to do, esp with little dogs, it looks hideous them swaying back and forth at the end pulling like a bull.
Thats looks sore, I would have had some choice words;)
 
Thats awful Oberon, though I spose if the dog had been off lead the same could have happened.
I hate flexis in the wrong situation but do often use one on Evie.:o Only in open country because she is a real hunter and if she put up a hare I don't think I could stop her and am not prepared to risk it. It goes on a dead link collar, and she goes back on her leather lead before we get to any road or area where there are other dogs.
That looks nasty Spudlet, I think I would have given the people a mouthful, idiots!
 
That is awful Oberon but you can't blame the Flexi lead.

The dog could have gone over without a lead but shouldn't have gone over as a Flexi has a brake to prevent the dog getting too far.
the branded ones do come with instructions but few people read them.

I use Flexi leads daily - the cord ones as I find they retract quicker than the tape. I use them to exercise boarders on my own fields and each handle has a wrist loop attached as a safety anchor so I can use both hands if needed - shoelace anyone?

No other person or dog is inconvenienced by their use in this way but dogs that otherwise would get a walk can have a run.
They are a tool and great if used correctly. A prospective adopter for one of the rescues was turned down because he refused the "how to make a flexi work" lesson. Claimed he knew how to use one even though he tried to pull the dog in by the cord!
 
Had one when Dylan was small but it snapped despite saying 30kg weight on it!

My biggest and ultimate bug bare is using them on pavements, IT DOES NOT STOP YOUR DOG RUNNING ONTO THE ROAD IDIOT I almost hit a JRT months back as this happened!!


Owner just yanked the dog back onto the pavement with the lead!!
 
We use a flexi lead with our Doberman and have never had an issue.
Her recall is pretty pants off lead and a long line just gets tangled with the other dog whereas the flexi works perfectly.

The pointer however, is never led with a flexi as he pulls too much and it would be counter-productive.
 
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