Negative Impact on Dog Training
First Retractable leashes have a negative impact on dog training! Most dog trainers, myself included, recommend teaching your dog to understand the difference between when a leash is loose & relaxed, vs when a leash is tight, taught, etc. This concept assists the dog so they know when they are at the end of the lead and should find their way back to us. So how does a retractable leash affect that? Well, easy enough, the leash is always tight against the dogs neck. It NEVER loosens.
You are also teaching your dog TO PULL MORE! You’re teaching your dog that when he/she feels that leash pulling on their neck, that when they pull they get to go further ahead thus negating all dog training!
Dangerous: No Control Due To Distance
Second They’re Dangerous to you and your dog. For example: a retractable leash that can get up to 25+ feet away from you and put you and your dog in situations you don’t want to be in. Imagine your dog is 25 feet away and another dog approaches. If that dog ends up being aggressive, you ability to get and maintain control of your dog is nearly impossible that far away.
Much Greater Chance of Breaking & Malfunctions
Third Regardless of the size of your dog, retractable leashes are WAY more common at breaking and having malfunctions. Imagine your dog running at full speed before your finger can press that tiny little button on the top to stop it. Once momentum kicks in, trust me, I know the sound all to well of that little gear inside the retractable leash trying to stop but it can’t… you will not be stopping your dog. Especially if your dog is on the larger side! That noise you hear in that moment also means you’ve stripped the inside gears of your retractable leash. That’s not even considering how common retractable leashes get snags in the line and bust.
Dangerous Due To Tangles Around You or Your Dog
Fourth A retractable leash is much easier at getting your dog, you, and/or anyone else and their dogs tangled. Imagine that tiny little rope tangling around your dogs leg PRIOR to the above scenario of him running full blast at a squirrel. Feel free to call any veterinarian, I’m sure they can tell you how many visits they’ve had from the negative effects of retractable leashes. Don’t just take my word for it.
You Will Ignore Your Dog More
Fifth It’s makes you ignore your dog: Have you ever been to a pet store, walking down the aisles, only to see a dog without it’s owner walking toward you and no owner in sight? Then look up 10 feet and you see the retractable leash turned around the corner now knocking everything down off the shelves because the owner hasn’t realized the dog walked away.
Detrimental To Health (Collapsed Trachea, Spinal Injuries, Lacerations)
Sixth Detrimental to your dogs health: In addition to accident leg tangles, your dog is more susceptible to injuries from sudden jerks, lacerated trachea’s, and spinal injuries. Again, momentum of a dog running toward the end of a 6ft line, vs a 25ft line. You will cause SO MUCH MORE DAMAGE the further the dog gets.
Realistically i could sit here for hours explaining why you shouldn’t be using a retractable leash. Instead, please take my decade of training and success and just trust me. Don’t! Use! Retractable! Leashes!
So what type of leashes does RochesterNYDog’s professional dog trainers recommend?
Slip Leads
Slip leads are recommended due to having the least ability to fail. A Slip lead is both your collar and your leash combined. This adds a secondary layer of safety by then being able to have a collar on the dog that the leash is not attached to so that if he/she gets loose their collar & name tag remains intact.
Leather Dog Leashes & Collars
Leather leashes & collars tend to be made highly durable and tend to last longer then your traditional nylon leash. If you’re going to rely on the traditional method of leash and collar, then make sure you’re getting better quality!
Light Up Leashes & Collars
Only recommended for nighttime walking. Otherwise, as seen above, please go with the minimalist approach. However, if you do night time walking, light up leashes & collars can drastically increase the safety of both you and your dog.
What about harnesses, collars, etc for when a dog pulls?
“No pull” harnesses, gentle leaders, and all other equipment used for teaching a dog to not pull, or to make walking easier, are only recommended as an absolute LAST RESORT. I would rather you spend the money on training so that you can have a cohesive relationship with you and your dog that doesn’t rely on dozens of different devices… What happens what that device fails? What happens when you go on vacation and you forget that extra device? Training your dog to not pull you the whole walk, to stop lunging at other animals, etc, will all be more effective and will make your life easier.
Will you help me train my dog to not pull?
Absolutely! As stated above, we would much rather you purchase a private lesson or two and focus on resolving the issue rather then putting on a band-aid or purchasing/using items you don’t need. We have 2 options available for dog training to assist with loose leash walking, or walking politely on a leash.
Option 1: Private Dog Training Sessions: Beneficial for those who would like the guidance in the right direction for dog training. We will do private dog training lessons with you to ensure you are successful in any thing you may need or want.
Option 2: Board & Train Program: Beneficial if you want assistance in training your dog, or don’t have the ability / time to train your dog. We will take your dog for a minimum of 3 weeks for a highly intensive board and train program. Click here for more information.
