The Dangers Of Retractable Leashes

Are retractable leashes a danger to your dog?

Photo courtesy of Johnson Ranch Animal Clinic. www.santanvalleyvets.com

Do you walk your dog with a retractable leash? If you do, you’ll want to read on.

Retractable leashes have been popular for a long time. Dogs have more freedom to roam while on their walks, right? You can reel them in safely when you want them to come back to you.

Right? Wrong.

Please read on….

Your dog on his retractable leash taking a casual, sunny day walk, when out of nowhere another dog approaches him 10 feet away from where you are with the leash handle. Do you have time to reel your dog in? You most likely don’t. The danger here is that if the dogs react negatively to each other you have a long line attached to your dog’s neck and are not able to move quickly enough to reel him back to you. Before you know it, the two dogs start fighting and one or both become entangled in the line.

There is a great probability for one or both to become seriously injured. The handler can also become seriously injured by having the leash torn from his/her hand with the force of the dog on the other end of it.

There have been reported incidents that people who have found themselves in this predicament have received painful leash burns, lost fingers, have received deep lacerations and even arms being pulled out of their sockets. There is also the strong possibility that if Fido sees a bird, squirrel or other small animal and decides to take off to investigate further, that he pulls the leash out of your hand and runs straight in to traffic. This can be deadly for your dog.

Retractable leashes are often dropped easily due to their cumbersome feel. This causes a hurdling effect towards your dog and can easily strike your dog in the head. When this happens it can easily and completely understandably, spook your dog with the possibility of him running off. If a person is not paying attention and this happens, typically their first reaction is to grab the leash. This can cause injury to the hand causing severe leash burns and even amputation of entangled fingers.

Other things you may want to consider.

Photo courtesy of Johnson Ranch Animal Clinic. www.santanvalleyvets.com

Often I’d see retractable leashes being used by clients in the vet clinic. Clients bring their pets in and forget they are not at the park but actually at the vet clinic, letting their dogs have the freedom of full length on their retractable leash. Not only is this dangerous, it’s just quite frankly, irresponsible. I actually witnessed a terrifying retractable leash incident in an exam room that could have possibly caused potential injury to a small child.

The client brought in two small children with her to her dog’s appointment. While the client was in deep discussion with the veterinarian her two small kids were getting into all sorts of trouble. After boundless times the client tried to correct the children she finally gave up and let them do whatever they pleased. While the client was ignoring the dangers her kids were getting in to, the older sister removed the leash from the dog and place it around her own neck while her younger brother pulled the cord tight. They proceeded to play with the leash around the little girls neck while the younger brother took the handle and then let it go smacking the little girl in the stomach and several times, nearly hitting her in the face. I pleaded with the client to take the leash away from the children as one of her kids was about to get hurt. She ignored my pleas. I stood up several times to tell the kids that what they were doing was dangerous and they needed to give me the leash. They just looked at me blankly and their mother looked at me as if saying to mind my own business.

After several breath holding minutes, the little girl became entangled in the retractable leash around her neck. Her fingers were now under the leash as she tried to stop it from strangling from her. Her little brother laughed and pulled harder. That was when I finally stood up and curtly informed the client her daughter was being strangled and to hand me over the leash. NOW. She turned around, gasped, reprimanded the daughter and grabbed the leash from her son’s hands.

This was one of the most unreal things that happened in the exam room with a naive client. I couldn’t believe what I had just witnessed. It was simply ignorant.

So yes, retractable leashes are not only unsafe for your dogs, but they are unsafe for you and/or your children as well.

So what can you use safely?

I suggest a tough nylon or leather leash. They have a “Hand/Loop” for you to hold on to and come in all lengths. They are safe, durable and easy to use.

So how about we toss away the retractable leashes?

Thanks pet friends!

Tagged: dog leashes, good do leashes, retractable dog leash dangers