Retractable Leashes – Yes I Use ‘Em!

You’ve probably see it all over the place, retractable leashes are BAD! Dangerous! Deadly!!!

Sometimes I wonder if these messages are simply a sad commentary about the general dog owning public. Let’s get this straight — retractable leashes are only as bad as the people who are operating them. If you have an unruly puppy, and you decide to put that puppy on the end of  a retractable leash, you are going to have all the problems that people blame the leash for: uncontrolled behavior, injuries from the cord, etc. That’s not the leash’s fault.

So, here’s my rule before I use a retractable leash: My dog must be able to walk appropriately on a regular leash before he gets the right to a little more freedom on a retractable leash. That’s it. If they cannot do it on a regularly leash, they certainly aren’t ready to be on a retractable!