Dangers of Retractable Leashes
The popular retractable leash has been used by many dog owners for walking their pets and provide them more freedom. Most of us don’t think twice about its safety but doctors today don’t recommend retractable leashes in fact they are now recommending to avoid them.
Dr. Bescker is just one of the many Doctors who does not approve of the retractbale leash which she refers to as “a thin cord wound around a spring loaded device” She gives us 10 Reasons why we should NOT use a rectrable leash.
- The length of retractable leashes, some of which can extend up to 26 feet, allows dogs to get far enough away from their humans that a situation can quickly turn dangerous. A dog on a retractable leash is often able to run into the middle of the street, for example, or make uninvited contact with other dogs or people.
- In the above scenario, or one in which your pet is being approached by an aggressive dog, it is nearly impossible to get control of the situation if the need arises. It's much easier to regain control of – or protect -- a dog at the end of a six-foot standard flat leash than it is if he's 20 or so feet away at the end of what amounts to a thin string.
- The thin cord of a retractable leash can break – especially when a powerful dog is on the other end of it. If a strong, good-sized dog takes off at full speed, the cord can snap. Not only can that put the dog and whatever he may be chasing in danger, but also the cord can snap back and injure the human at the other end.
- If a dog walker gets tangled up in the cord of a retractable leash, or grabs it in an attempt to reel in their dog, it can result in burns, cuts, and even amputation. In addition, many people have been pulled right off their feet by a dog that reaches the end of the leash and keeps going. This can result in bruises, "road rash," broken bones, and worse.
- Dogs have also received terrible injuries as a result of the sudden jerk on their neck that occurs when they run out the leash, including neck wounds, lacerated tracheas, and injuries to the spine.
- Retractable leashes allow dogs more freedom to pull at the end of them, which can look like aggression to another dog who may decide to "fight back."
- The handles of retractable leashes are bulky and can be easily pulled out of human hands, resulting in a runaway dog.
- Along those same lines, many dogs – especially fearful ones – are terrorized by the sound of a dropped retractable leash handle and may take off running, which is dangerous enough. To make matters worse, the object of the poor dog's fear is then "chasing" her, and if the leash is retracting as she runs, the handle is gaining ground on her – she can't escape it. Even if this scenario ultimately ends without physical harm to the dog (or anyone else), it can create lingering fear in the dog not only of leashes, but also of being walked.
- Retractable leashes, like most retractable devices, have a tendency to malfunction over time, either refusing to extend, refusing to retract, or unspooling at will.
- Retractable leashes are an especially bad idea for dogs that haven't been trained to walk politely on a regular leash. By their very nature, retractable train dogs to pull while on leash, because they learn that pulling extends the lead.
HUND Denmark offers the best of both worlds for dog walkers. With the 5 in one adjustable leash you are able to keep your dog safe as well as giving him freedom by expanding the leash to 4’ 5’ and 6 feet. 6 Feet is the max that we feel a dog should be given in order to still remain in full control and stay safe. The Hands free option makes it convenient for jogging or whenever you need your hands to be free. This Designer Leash is made of Eco friendly and Hypoallergenic finest leather from century old tanneries in Italy. It is hand crafted and has a functional Scandinavian design with solid and sturdy hardware.
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Source: https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/06/11/retractable-dog-leash.aspx
