Reeling in the arguments against retractable leashes
By Christie Keith
August 7, 2007
When I posted here a few days ago asking for photos of dogs on Flexi or other retractable leashes, a small debate broke out in the comments section over the virtues and flaws of such leashes. The article — with photos from our readers including one of Kathy Flake’s Bailey and Mitchell Smith’s Snowball — went up at SFGate.com today:
Internet e-mail lists are full of dire warnings about them. Many trainers despise them. Some parks actually prohibit them. What exactly is the problem with retractable leashes such as the Flexi leash?
Like most tools, nothing. They’re actually extremely useful, and when used properly, make walks a lot more fun for owner and dog. The catch is that little phrase, “used properly.”
The piece is here.
Oh, and here’s an update on my amusing (and scary) little respiratory infection: I have WHOOPING COUGH. Yes, apparently it’s true; I am ten years old.
I know this isn’t quite the item to post here but here goes. Our local news just asked did Fisher- Price hold back the information to the public on childrens toys. Geez. Do we remember Menu Foods. Did these company heads not learn anything at all.
Sooner or later this information leaks out. Good or bad. Will they ever learn that ‘good’ is better.
Comment by VJ — August 7, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Christi - how on earth did you get whooping cough?? So sorry, girl. Get better quick.
Comment by VJ — August 7, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
I also had whooping cough last year at age 44! My doc actually thought my asthma had just gotten out of control, but tested me for all sorts of things “just in case”. By the time the test results came back as whooping cough, I had recovered. No idea who/where I caught it from, as I hadn’t been around any children. Apparently those vaccinations we all had as kids can wear off!
Comment by JC — August 7, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
I had something that sure could have been whooping cough a few years ago at 60+! I am not much for doctoring, and finally got over it, but it was no fun! I had out-of-control coughing for months.
I had whooping cough as a small child, probably before immunizations.
Take care, Christie, don’t overdo, as these viruses seem to hang on longer if you don’t lay low for awhile.
Comment by Elaine — August 7, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Christie,
It could be kennel cough. I thought I’d drop that for a laugh, but then I found some citations showing that it can be a zoonotic agent. Either way, make sure you follow the same advice that you would give someone else.
Enjoyed your article — you give a good description of the hand dexterity required when using a Flexi — I got pretty good at the “behind the back pass” and others, especially when I had 3 dogs. The tape version really is much safer than the cord - at least it doesn’t cut skin as easily.
Comment by shadepuppy — August 7, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Kennel cough! Thank you for my big laugh for the afternoon. Yeah, Christie … what about it? Are you SURE it’s not kennel cough? Hmmmm?
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 7, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
Nice piece Christie. You cover the major problem areas.
Walking one or 2 dogs on a flexi, once you know how to handle the tool, is easy. Walking 6 doesn’t work, at least for me. I can’t successfully hold on to that many handles.
One thing I would suggest in general is, while training yourself and your dog to use the flexi, desensitize your dog to what happens when you accidently drop it, so the dog doesn’t panic when the handle bounces noisely on the ground and follows behind her. I have seen dogs take off running with the evil flexi “chasing them”, causing panic and fear for everyone.
Comment by Deb — August 8, 2007 @ 4:59 am
Oh dear, whooping cough! Had it last year at the ripe old age of 76. It hangs on, so take care, and yes, my vet said, “oh, Bordatella, huh?”.
Love my flexis. The Papillons love the flexis. No streets, no other dogs, acres of space to go, follow smells, check out stuff. But the brake gives me control just in case there’s a porcupine or a skunk around the next tree. I agree that parking lots and streets and traffic and crowds, etc are not good places for them though. And it takes some fancy hand work and two-stepping when two busy little Paps are zipping around. Like anything else, the right tool for the right job is essential.
Comment by Nancy Nielsen — August 8, 2007 @ 5:09 am
Great job on the retractable leash article—I personally hate them for simple reason that people end up hurting themselves, dogs, or other people because they don’t monitor the dog and don’t know how to train the dog to the tool.
I have a colleague in England who trains dogs to the click stimulus for better handling.
Also, when a crisis emerges the design makes them hard for many to control the dog.
I tested the newer design retractable by Planet Dog. Liked it better but they need to work on the construction and length.
Comment by Diana Guerrero — August 8, 2007 @ 8:30 am
I had my whooping cough vaccination last year after my pediatrician told me that it was on the comeback in adults and that adults are giving it to children (who of course don’t do so well at recovering as adults do).
Soon we’ll all be needing titres for our immunological status!
[Now back to current programming on retractable leashes…]
Comment by Laura Bennett — August 8, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
Well, whooping cough IS bordetella pertussis, so it kind of is kennel cough! Although I also have pneumonia. I’m pretty sick.
Whimper….
Comment by Christie Keith — August 8, 2007 @ 11:18 pm