Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:41 pm Post subject: What type of long lead is best?
Our local dog park is very secure but I'm worried about Molly being off lead. Is it better to get one of the retractable leads that kind of roll into themselves or the long ones that you just haul in. I do quite like the idea of the retractable ones but they don't look very strong. Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?
Please, please, PLEASE don't get a retractable lead. They are the bane of my life and every other walker, jogger, cyclist, horse rider and driver come to that.
I've had more friction burns off other people's flippin' retractable leads, than I've ever had off anything else . Usually when they are walking along and their dog suddenly doubles back wrapping itself round my legs.
My GDBA supervisor nearly lost three fingers using one and worse still, nearly garotted his 7 year old son at the same time. Both ended up in hospital and it all happened in the blink of an eye because someone threw a stick.
Not saying you'd use yours by the road, but my BIL ran right over a dog, who shot out in front of his tractor, because the owner couldn't stop the lead from extending in time and I've had very near misses on the roads several times due to the same thing.
They are dangerous for the dog too, as if the dog runs full pelt, it can do untold damage to it's neck (and your arms, shoulders, back, etc) when it reaches the end. Also if you drop the handle and the dog runs, it can panic the dog as it's being chased by the handle rattling along the ground, as happened to a friend's young dog and it took us an age to catch the poor panicking pup.
And apart from that, all extending leads teach a dog, is the more it pulls, the longer the lead gets...which is a fantastic way of teaching a dog to pull, pull, PULL.
If you REALLY feel you need to use something, then a long line is the way to go. But even then, you need to be aware if it is trailing and wrapping round anything and anyone and I'd say you need to always wear gloves (very important if you wish to keep your hands from being shredded) and put knots in it at intervals, so you have something to get a grip on, should the dog bolt.
But mostly I'd say, take the pup to a nice secure area and simply let it off. It's not going to go far from you while it is tiny, as you are it's world, it's security, it's food source....Why would it want to lose you, eh?
At the moment, your pup is so wee and everything is so very new that she will more than likely not want to go far from you!
Use this to your advantage and crack recall and staying close to you as the default. If she never learns that its okay to go away from you, you've won!!!
Not to say you have to have a clingy dog, but just one that comes back when you call.
Its not an exaggeration that I haven't had a lead on Zephyr more than a handful of times since he's been home. That has been for puppy class!
I've yet to lose him or any of the other 2 for that matter! Please do let her off the lead in your dog park. Please don't worry, she won't go far at the moment. You never get this time back again so make the most of it!
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Retractable leads are the reason I have spent the last year re-teaching my 4 yr old lab what 'heel' really means. Hard, hard work.
They were an excuse for me to not master the basics with a lovely natured but fairly strong willed pup. I missed the window of opportunity when she was at the most receptive stage and I was also frightened she would run away.
There are some excellent threads on here about keeping pup close, recall, walking to heel etc with a young pup - they will really help you and the sooner you start the easier it is!!
i use a retractable lead sometimes that being said it`s always locked into the same length and tbh i could buy a normal lead the same length as it`s not very long. i learnt my lesson after my springer ran on it and it clicked at the end and i was then being dragged along the ground till she seen and came back to tell me to get up.....my daughter thought it was hilarious but with bruised ribs/knees/arms, grazes everywhere and a badly injured shoulder i swore i`d never use and extending lead again! i just like the look of the one i have right now so use it as a regular lead and it can hold up to 50kg apparently.
not too keen on the longlines either as i can imagine i`d end up with him tangled round everything i do agree thought that whilst they`re young they tend to always make sure they`re close to you or have you in vision. jake will run off if somethign takes his fancy as we`re still working on his recall but if we walk the opposite way he bolts back so fast he almost knocks me over
I was told by our puppy class teacher NOT to use retractable leads for the very reasons Jules mentioned, only she placed the reason 'it teaches dog to pull' at number one. She also told us to let our Cocoa off lead asap and we did. Her recall is and was always very good. She is 7 months old now, so we will see what the teen-age will bring, but I am very optimistic. Good luck!
I don't like retractable leads either, unless they're used for little/old/ploddy dogs, away from roads and things that they may tangle up. I've also known of the lock failing when a big dog pulls really hard - I remember someone I knew online suddenly faced with a massive dog running across the road at her and her dogs because the lock failed. The dog was lucky not to be hit by a car.
I would just use a normal length lead and let the dog off lead where it is safe to do so. I did use a really long lead for Jasper, our oldie, when he came to us because he was 12 years old and we were told he didn't have any recall. He does now
If you are really worried about letting her off lead (don't know if you have before?), could you find another dog owner with a well behaved dog and see if you can walk with them for a while and let Molly off with their dog(s). Another owner did this for me with our first rescue dog and I have walked with new puppy owners while they let their pups off
I am in total agreement with everyone else...I hate retractable leads. From a distance it's hard to tell if a dog on a retractable lead is even on a lead, so you cannot put your dog on a lead if necessary. You can't teach a dog to walk to heel on one, they are dangerous etc etc!
I walked Oscar off lead straight away, and as others have said I took advantage of the fact that he was afraid to be too far away from me. I have never lost him (he is 2yrs old) he always stays close by, and if he goes around a corner and loses sight of me, by the time I round the corner, he is stood there waiting for me!
I walk Oscar on a short normal lead, I find it gives me better control, and if I have him on a lead at all, it is only because I'm near a road, therefore I want good control of him.
My biggest concern is that I won't be able to get her back. I've never taught a dog recall before and the boxers we had when I was a child were never taught to walk off lead. In fact they were never taught to walk on lead either come to that as we had such a huge garden they never went on a walk! I do remember once though my brother trying to take one of them for a walk when he was about 10yrs and the dog pulling him down the steps into the drive. Obviously he dropped the lead and she ran for her life.....we did find her but it was really scary.
The other thing that bothers me is what happens if she is far away and another dog goes for her and I can't get to her. I know this can happen at any time in her life but while she is young it does worry me. I suppose I really need to get over it though as I don't want to miss the golden opportunity that is available that's for sure. Defo need to check how to teach recall
If you talk to her at all and get her to come to you you are teaching recall. Every time you call her name and she comes she is being recalled it is simple really. When she gets a bit bigger she can come to you for a fuss but most labs are very food orientated even little pups so a tasty morsel of chicken or something of value every time she responds to her name and you will soon find she stays very close by for the next bit
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. Usually when they are walking along and their dog suddenly doubles back wrapping itself round my legs.
that being said it`s always locked into the same length and tbh i could buy a normal lead the same length as it`s not very long. i learnt my lesson after my springer ran on it and it clicked at the end and i was then being dragged along the ground till she seen and came back to tell me to get up.....my daughter thought it was hilarious but with bruised ribs/knees/arms, grazes everywhere and a badly injured shoulder i swore i`d never use and extending lead again! i just like the look of the one i have right now so use it as a regular lead and it can hold up to 50kg apparently.
i do agree thought that whilst they`re young they tend to always make sure they`re close to you or have you in vision. jake will run off if somethign takes his fancy as we`re still working on his recall but if we walk the opposite way he bolts back so fast he almost knocks me over 
