I know how you all love flexi leads on here

T

The Original Kao

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Not sure if this is on in all the Tesco stores or just the 1 I was in today, but I got 2 of them for large breeds for £2 each :D
Handy for me due to the fact I have 4 different dogs come to stay regularly and none of them can be let off lead and they always come with short leads :( so yay I can now let them have a goodish run about without me having to run with them....not fun when you're as unfit as me.
 
Took our pup to her first training class and the trainer said he never wanted to see one of the above in his class(we didnt have one). The following week 2 people turned up with them:eek::D
 
Ah well, maybe we could meet up and I can get a matching scar on my other leg to go with the one I got last time I met a flexi-lead:eek::p:D:D:D

They're alright if used correctly, but tbh I think long-lines are better if you can manage one for just about anything you may use a flexi for. They are banned from our classes too, anyone who shows up with one has to borrow a lead from one of us and is not allowed to use it in class:p Also, we make them wear a sign saying 'Unclean!' (well ok, not really that last bit):D:D:D
 
they have their place - namely our old working spangle who honestly believed that his body could still keep up with his mind bless him!
he was also (confirmed by vet - not just spangle deafness) deaf as a door post - try chasing a spangle on a mission for hours and you'd welcome a flexi lead ;)
 
At the massive risk of being shot down I like flexi leads. I walk my dogs on very quiet country lanes and across fields when we have permission. If both are off the lead there is a high chance they will have a wander, with the little one on a flexi lead neither run off and the little one still can have a run around. It makes walks more manageable and enjoyable for both of us.
 
I use one pretty much every day and I still hate the bloody things. :o

I think a lot of people view them as the default lead option, for some reason, I see lots of people round here with their dog off the lead, perfectly good recall, carrying a flexi that they will clip on at the end of the walk to take the dog home. Erm, why not a plain short lead you can hang round your neck or stuff into a pocket instead of a big lump of plastic?

People turning up to classes with them get short shrift here also. :p
 
sorry, being dumb here but what is wrong with flexi leads?? other than the risk of them tangleing and getting caught up? I use one on my old lab who wanders off constantly hes really quite fast when no-one is looking and has a seriouse case of selective hearing. So I have a tape one for him just cause it looked like it would last longer for when I take him to do the horses then he lies down in the tackroom and sleeps. Someone said they are unclean...do people wash their normal leads?? I have never done this and I havn't had a dog die or be ill because of this, am I a bad person???are you supposed to wash leads?
 
OK the problems with them are:

No good for training - you can't get two hands onto them to work on on-lead heelwork. It can also be hard to judge when the lead ends, so fo recall work, you can let the dog run happily off, then suddenly the lead runs out and you and the dog get a nasty pop in the should (you) and neck (dog). With a long-line you can judge how much line you have and call the dog before you run out, thus avoiding this.

The brakes can and do fail, so not ideal for training or walking near to roads. This is especially the case if a dog gets up a head of steam then you try the brake (see below).

They give the dog a result in return for pulling on the lead, which can lead to some dogs learning to pull all the harder.

You can get a really nasty rope burn off them - the scar I refer to came from when we met a Dalmation out with a flexi on - the dog bascially yanked the lead out of the owner's hand (the brake failed!), charged at Henry, and they both ran round me with the lead trailing. It got wrapped around my leg, which was bare as this was in summer, and cut it like a knife. I still have a very distinct scar there. They will also give you a nasty burn on your hand if you react on instinct and grab the cord with your hand.

On a long-line you can reel a dog in fairly quickly, hand over hand, should it be necessary. On a flexi you have to start waving your arm about to reel them in and it takes longer.

For training reasons you are in my opinion MUCH better off with a good quality training lead for close work, with a long-line for recall etc should it be necessary.
 
and to add to Spudlet's excellent reasons, you can't see any wear and tear inside the lump of plastic. know of several people whose dogs pulled like mad and the lead went POP and off went the dogs :eek:
 
My flexi lead is a god send for oldest staffie bitch. Who again can be selective in her hearing and has put the fear of god into me when disappearing. I could never teach her "leave" properly but didn't get her till she was 4. However, comments about using them in a busy area etc are completely fair. I end up carrying both the lfexi if at events so I can "let mine off" when far out on the course and well away from people and horses and then back to short leads in a public area. Now I have 3 though I do rely on a friend to help or they will all be on short leads as that would be really stupid.
 
Agree with all the anti reasons above, I have heard too many stories of dogs killed on the road whilst being walked on flexis, have also been wrapped up by other peoples dogs on flexis. However I do use one on Evie when I am walking across other peoples fields/open country. Her recall is not 100% reliable if a bunny or worse a hare pops up and our walks are more relaxing if I have her on a flexi, however I always carry a normal leather lead and she goes back on to that as soon as we are near a road or near other dogs or people.
 
CaveCanem said:
^^ What Spudlet said!!!
I do use one offroad but my dog responds to voice commands at a distance. And never for close work or training.
Click to expand...

:D :D ;)

I use a flexi, would'nt be without it,although Alfies recall is much improved and he does more off lead now, there are still places i wouldnt walk him off lead!

I also got a nasty cut/burn from grabbing the cord with my hand! :(
 
aah OK, thanks for info. i just use it on old lab who tends to wander. Having a heavily male populated family resulted in him staying entire which is probably why he has a tendancy to go off sniffing. He doesn't pull and we rarely take him by busy roads unless he is in the carriage-he loves it in there!Then he is on a short lead because I dont see the point of having the flexi lead then-he wont be let off to run! Thankyou for info everyone!
 
I use one!! :eek: I prefer using a longline but its not practical when walking four together, I use a flexi every day for one of my dogs! BUT I do hate to see people walking down the road with a dog extended on a flexi. If you use them properly they are fine IMO...I also would never take a dog to a training class with a flexi! As a tool to allow some free rein when walking they are fine though IMO.
 
I have a (recently) deaf dog and it's perfect for her.
She stays very close to us on roads, so really it's like a normal lead and in fields (especially with livestock) we don't have to try and recall her. A little tug and she knows that means come back.
 
I used one for Millie when she was little a lot, but havent used it for an absolute age though. Interestingly they were recommended by the trainer I went to initially (the only reason i stopped going to said trainer is that i wanted to do agility and he didnt offer that) he had a vast majority of people in his classed use them...
 
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