Retractable dog lead - recommendations?

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Widgeon

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We've just moved house and our terrier has a new dog walker. His recall is reasonable for a terrier and he was off lead with his last walker, but given that it's a new person, new area, and a currently very high river by the footpath (he is a poor swimmer with zero water sense), we'd like him to be on lead for now. I usually walk him on a 10m training lead that I use like a lunge line to reel in and out as necessary, but obviously for the dog walker this is a bit of a faff - the line is webbing and gets wet and muddy.

I've said I'll get a retractable lead for her to use, but I hate them myself and now I've started looking into them, I can't find any good ones with a decent length and good build quality. The new Flexi leads get awful reviews and seem to snap for no reason.

Can anyone recommend a hard wearing, good quality, tape (not string) retractable lead of 8m length? Dog is small (8kg), sensible and not prone to pulling too hard or sprinting off at speed.
 
Personally, if someone is walking my dog for me, I'd avoid the retractable ones TBH, I really would. There's an awful lot can go wrong with using them; worst case scenario is if the dog-walker is walking your little-one beside a road and doesn't have the "clip" on, and the dog is then very easily able to run out into the road. It has happened in other situations, unfortunately.

What I have got, and find very useful indeed, is a longer-length lead, but which has little rings along it at regular intervals, and you can then hitch the catch onto it and thus make it longer or shorter, as needed.

Sorry not able to post a picture of it! But think if you look around on-line you might find something. I'll see if I can find one and post the link for you.

(Edited) here it is!! https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...hUKEwjXnZ-yvaDlAhVhVBUIHYm3DAoQ9aACCF0&adurl=
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
What I have got, and find very useful indeed, is a longer-length lead, but which has little rings along it at regular intervals, and you can then hitch the catch onto it and thus make it longer or shorter, as needed.

Sorry not able to post a picture of it! But think if you look around on-line you might find something. I'll see if I can find one and post the link for you.

(Edited) here it is!! https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...hUKEwjXnZ-yvaDlAhVhVBUIHYm3DAoQ9aACCF0&adurl=
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That sounds great - I can't see the picture though? She doesn't walk him on the road at all but I do agree, I really dislike the retractable ones. Have you got a link to the one with the clips?
 
I once watched a woman with a black and white spaniel puppy approach a major road junction, she was so busy on her phone that she didn't see the pup step off the kerb just as a pickup set off. Poor pup screamed, driver knew he had hit something and got out of his vehicle while the idiot woman just stood there. We were in a line of traffic and had to move but I imagine the driver took the pup to the nearest vet. I wanted to go and tell the woman exactly what I thought of her. I certainly wouldn't want to ask a dog-walker to use a retractable lead with my dog. We use a lunge-line when we want to keep hold of the dog but a short lead isn't necessary.
 
I know it's not ideal (as I've already said, I don't like retractable leads) but given our exact situation, I would be willing to consider one. Given that he is never walked on roads and I trust this woman to pay attention to him, disaster stories involving cars are not really relevant. If anyone has better suggestions (again, as I've already said, the long line is not really working either) I would very much like to hear what they are.

Edited to add, sorry that sounds rather rude but I posted this looking for helpful suggestions, not reasons why I should continue with a method (long line) that isn't working.

MiJods - do you have a photo of the lead with clips you describe? I can't see your link and I'm not sure why - I will go and have a google though because that does sound good.
 
That would be described as a training lead (one with multiple rings).

I tend to stick to Flexi, or I hear a lot of people talking about Chewy Express. Prefer the tape variety. But my old 10m rope Flexi holds a 35kg lump of a dog no problem.
Having done a complete 360 on the issue, the problem isn't the lead, it's the person at the end of it. I've found them invaluable over the last few years, but with the caveat that my dogs have distance control. If I tell them to come back, sit or down, they do. The line is for security (especially when travelling/in an unfamiliar place) and for others' peace of mind.
 
CorvusCorax said:
...the problem isn't the lead, it's the person at the end of it. I've found them invaluable over the last few years, but with the caveat that my dogs have distance control. If I tell them to come back, sit or down, they do. The line is for security (especially when travelling/in an unfamiliar place) and for others' peace of mind.
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Thank you, that's helpful, will have a look at Chewy Express (what a name) and training leads. 95% of the time our dog does have distance control and he will stop when told, it's just the odd time he decides he has a better plan and will come back "in a bit" or "once I've checked out this river". It only takes one slip up though and for everyone's peace of mind I'd rather have him on a physical rope of some sort until he and the dog walker know each other and have a good relationship.
 
I have had the same pair of Flexi Giant Professionals (the huge lumpen ones!) for about 8 years now and they're still in great nick, despite being abused in the early years by a pair of adolescent Siberian huskies, so I'm convinced by their quality!

I like Julius K9's supergrip training leads but at 2.2m it might not be long enough for your purpose - https://julius-k9.co.uk/colour-grayr-super-grip-double-leash-thin-adjustable-length.html
 
I know you were looking for tape, but my rope Flexi has a secondary handle on the tape part (if that makes sense) which I can use when we are in town/walking along pavement, then back to the plastic part for when they can go free range. So I can hold the short fabric handle in my left hand and either let the plastic part dangle or extend enough rope so I can hold it in my right hand.
 
OldNag said:
I use retractable leads (walking nowhere near roads) and current one is from Lidl and is excellent. Will have veen unser a tenner i think they had some in still last week.
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Thanks, I will try to get into the local one and have a nose around to see if there are any left.
 
We use a Flexi lead for our 7kg JRT. We’ve always been happy with ours. He doesn’t pull hard. The lock works well, but as you can see I also have a close hold on the lead here - we are on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and there is a 125’ drop on the other side of those railings...

A36FC6CC-03E3-4C8F-8381-D1D445ECCC97.jpeg
 
OP, I have 2 of these, one lives in the car and the other at the office.
One is almost 4 years old and still operates just fine. Bright enough to not get lost if dropped.
Mine is 7 to 7.5 kg. Using this means she gets a decent lunchtime walk, her sight is bad and hearing a little iffy, so she is not off lead except round the fields and yard.
I agree with CC that they are only as good as the idiot using them!
https://fetch.co.uk/flexi-neon-refl...rAboe9BDvxugJU2DPi3yJoeDqaIT5yqcaAhqxEALw_wcB
 
Thank you everyone! Perhaps the Flexis are worth a go then.

[B]Tiddlypom[/B], I've been over that aqueduct in a friend's narrow boat - it was pretty horrifying (as someone who doesn't much like heights!), the lip is only two inches wide so from the other side of the boat there is literally nothing between you and oblivion. :eek:
 
Widgeon said:
Thank you everyone! Perhaps the Flexis are worth a go then.

[B]Tiddlypom[/B], I've been over that aqueduct in a friend's narrow boat - it was pretty horrifying (as someone who doesn't much like heights!), the lip is only two inches wide so from the other side of the boat there is literally nothing between you and oblivion. :eek:
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At the risk of derailing this thread, there is absolutely no way on earth you would get me going over that in a boat. I'd have to hide inside and lie down! It's making me sweat even thinking about it.
:eek::eek::eek:
 
OldNag said:
At the risk of derailing this thread, there is absolutely no way on earth you would get me going over that in a boat. I'd have to hide inside and lie down! It's making me sweat even thinking about it.
:eek::eek::eek:
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I did have to go inside. I had to go inside and try not to think about it until we were on the other side!
 
Widgeon said:
That sounds great - I can't see the picture though? She doesn't walk him on the road at all but I do agree, I really dislike the retractable ones. Have you got a link to the one with the clips?
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Sorry piccie didn't come out! If you Google "Adjustable dog leads" you should come up with the same stuff as I did! Good luck.
 
Sorry to those folk to whom I inadvertently gave the willies by posting the aqueduct pic :oops:. For future reference, anyone considering taking their dog walking across it would be better advised to bring a proper lead - the iron railings are the original ones from 1805 and have not been made small dog or toddler proof.
 
Taking either of my reprobates over that would result in instant death.
And I did once push the smaller/older one up a mountain, over my head on several occasions, because I didn't realise there was a more sedate route up the other side 😂
 
Words cannot describe my hatred of extendable leads adequately. So many horror stories.

At the very least stick them on a harness not the neck. Canine necks are not well designed to have a dog running full pelt stopped abruptly when they hit the end of the line on the lead
 
Aru said:
Words cannot describe my hatred of extendable leads adequately. So many horror stories.

At the very least stick them on a harness not the neck. Canine necks are not well designed to have a dog running full pelt stopped abruptly when they hit the end of the line on the lead
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No, I would put it on a harness for that reason. I'm thinking that actually a long training lead may well be the better option, I'm having a look at those.
 
CorvusCorax said:
If you're a lazy sod you can also lash them around your waist and get pulled up hills :p
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He's only 8kg....but he does have an incredible pull on him. I have often thought how awesome (mad) it would be to be pulled around in a chariot with a dozen terriers harnessed to it. I mean, I'd never get anywhere I actually wanted to go, but in the brief moments when they were all trying to head in the same direction it would be a no holds barred thrill ride....probably through all sorts of obstacles too. I'd need a safety helmet.
 
To reiterate dislike of retractable leads. My OH and I have little experience of dogs and walked daughter's young Irish terrier once a week using her retractable lead. She set off in pursuit of a squirrell reaching maximum velocity as lead reached its full extension and pulled me over flat. We then refused to use it and bought a normal longer length lead like yours. Terrier remained totally untrained by its owners and we were eventually sacked as dog walkers because dangerous to the dog.
 
I hate retractable flexies. As a previous poster said it’s the walker who makes the mistake with them, not the product itself. But, most people I’ve seen with them either have them too long on footpaths by roads or too long with loose dogs about and don’t get me started on owners who use them on sighthounds. 0-40mph in a few strides, good luck with that. I witnessed an owner with a rather excitable young lab who proceeded to run tight circles around the owner & wrap him up like a Mummy!
 
Tiddlypom said:
Sorry to those folk to whom I inadvertently gave the willies by posting the aqueduct pic :oops:. For future reference, anyone considering taking their dog walking across it would be better advised to bring a proper lead - the iron railings are the original ones from 1805 and have not been made small dog or toddler proof.
Click to expand...

That puts the fear of god into me! Height and a water source that you can’t see the bottom of!
 
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