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Post by zigzag on Nov 17, 2008 16:59:37 GMT -5
Hello ;D What's the verdict on extendable leads? I have heard that they could be risky if the dog takes off at high speed. But in Anne Finch's book, she seems to think they are ok. I thought it might be a nice way to let him have a pootle around while teaching him to come when called. Oh - there should be a new picture here on my profile of my dog - Lad!  Johanna |
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Post by andywillow on Nov 17, 2008 17:19:46 GMT -5
If you do decide to use an extendable lead, make sure its attached to a harness and not a collar. I personally hate them, I also think that if the dog took off at speed you can't hold onto them as well as wrapping a lead round your hand tightly and they could be pulled from you. (probably me being paranoid again sorry  ) Sue |
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Post by Aoj on Nov 17, 2008 17:29:14 GMT -5
I use an extendable lead for Brodie - BUT it is a tape one and NOT a cord one - and it is attached to his harness, never to a collar. The tape ones are a bit more expensive but a lot less dangerous if another dog runs into it.
You do need to be constantly aware of what is around you and if there is anything that may cause your dog to take off. If I see anything that could send Brodie into one, I reel him in sharpish and take a hold of his collar. I also use plaited cord (can't remember what they are called!) to attach the harness to the collar...just in case.
They are not ideal but used with sense, caution and awareness they can be useful for letting an on-lead dog have a little more of a pootle about.
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Post by vickyb on Nov 17, 2008 17:43:27 GMT -5
My view, from bitter experience is no, never, unless its a tiny Yorkie or similar. Stupidly we used one with River 10yrs ago when he first arrived because our small x breed was on one. He was a bit scared of it because of the noise it made winding in and out and on one occasion Tony dropped it, Riv took off in terror thinking it was chasing him as he ran, it got wound round his legs, got stuck under a car tyre and pulled tight, he ran his nails down to the quick, managed to free himself and luckily came home but he was a bleeding quivering wreck and we had to take him straight to the vets. Tony was distraught and they went straight in the bin. Like Sue I don't think they are secure enough in your hand should your dog pull and the cord in most is thin and really cuts in if they get entwined in it and our disaster happened without River even pulling, it just slipped out of Tonys hand. The potential for harm is, in our experience too high, although I'm sure there will be people whose dogs are fine on them. We use a long lead from pets@home and coil it up but if you do get one of them be warned there isn't a loop on the end, we stitched one in so if Gracie pulled it didn't go straight through your hand. I find its mangeable if you're only holding one dog and easier with a harness. When we adopted Gracie we were told never to use one with a greyhound, wish we knew with River. ETA he was bruised up his legs and buttocks where it had bounced up and hit him as he ran  |
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Post by Princess C on Nov 18, 2008 3:33:52 GMT -5
My view, from bitter experience is no, never, unless its a tiny Yorkie or similar. Personally I think it is the fact that people use the cord ones with small dogs that gives them such a bad press!  I use a tape one all the time with Theo, always attached to his harness, and increasingly with Otis as his sight fails. I have a lead looped diagonally across my shoulders and chest and have the handle part attached to that at times if I want to have both hands free to use my camera (I have once ended up face down in the mud, but that was my own fault for not being vigilant ) I've tried a long line and I can't walk the others at the same time, my hands are too full, or someone steps on the trailing bit or more seriously, once time Theo got away from me, disappeared into the woods and got tangled up   Fortunately he managed to either chew through the long line or was cut free by one of the beaters from the nearby shoot, he returned half an hour later with the line cut eight inches from his harness I will never use a long line again as a result Like using a muzzle, a harness, a halti, etc I see the extending lead as an artificial aid. You need to accustom ALL your dogs to its use first and foremost - if I drop mine, they all pounce on it as if it is a lure, no-one is frightened of it. Anyone who just slaps it on their dog (especially a cord one, which I would never use) and takes it for a walk is asking for trouble You need to be extremely vigilant, you need a range of commands to indicate to the one on the end that he is reaching the end, and one for the others to warn them not to try and run through it, and you don't use it around cars, traffic, roads, etc. Theo and Min play quite happy while Theo is on it, they both know how to avoid it, and in five years of using one, none of mine have ever had an accident with it, or been harmed by it. I wouldn't be without one (or two as it will have to be when Otis goes completely blind ) Edited to add, usually someone comes on a thread about flexileads and suggests that they are only used by lazy people who can't be bothered to teach their dogs a recall! If anyone is tempted, please don't bother  |
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Post by vickyb on Nov 18, 2008 4:04:12 GMT -5
I use a tape one all the time with Theo, always attached to his harness, and increasingly with Otis as his sight fails. I have a lead looped diagonally across my shoulders and chest and have the handle part attached to that at times if I want to have both hands free to use my camera (I have once ended up face down in the mud, but that was my own fault for not being vigilant ) Like using a muzzle, a harness, a halti, etc I see the extending lead as an artificial aid. You need to accustom ALL your dogs to its use first and foremost - if I drop mine, they all pounce on it as if it is a lure, no-one is frightened of it. Anyone who just slaps it on their dog (especially a cord one, which I would never use) and takes it for a walk is asking for trouble I should've known someone would have come up with a solution to dropping it took me a minute to work out what you did. Good idea. We never realised how scared of it River was despite leaving it around in the house so he could sniff and poke it. He is a very nervous dog and as I said, the worst thing we could have done for him, but if it works for others, great and I guess its wonderful for dogs with sight problems. It was our mistake. As with most things its how it's used that's a problem with small dogs. I walk with some owners who do use it safely but have seen some who let their dogs play maypole with everyone around. |
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Post by hippyhounds on Nov 18, 2008 4:45:41 GMT -5
i used one when i first had oskar but the tape one on his harness so that he could have a run as he,d just go round you in a circle but i tryed it with sonny when we first had him and he tryed to take of after the other dogs and pulled me over hurting my shoulder.i think they are suitable for some dogs but it depends on the dog.
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Post by shellie3 on Nov 18, 2008 4:50:23 GMT -5
I use a tape one occasionally and only with a steady dog. Even then I put a small clip collar through the handle of the lead and then around my wrist so the handle could never be pulled off me. But having said that I only use it with Flo when we are somewhere where she is just sniffing about but there is something like a road, or other potential hazard, nearby that I don't want her to wander off.......it's usually only a holiday situation, come to think of it. I would never, ever use the string ones and I steer clear of people with them as I don't want me or Flo to get hog-tied by it! |
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Post by Nettie on Nov 18, 2008 5:41:47 GMT -5
I used to use one for Indy, if I did drop it by mistake he would stand stock still, he didn't like it banging around behind him so just wouldn't move which was quite lucky really! He knew that 'steady' meant he was coming to the end of its length, 'this side' meant stay close or you're going to get wrapped around a tree or lampost. He did once pull me over, I lost my footing on fallen leaves and went skidding on my front through piles of leaves to be very rescued by a very hunky chap who's dog Indy had decided he needed to say hello to 'Now!'. He was very apologetic, I was speechless, that never happened when I was single. |
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Post by ragsysmum on Nov 18, 2008 6:04:10 GMT -5
Must admit I've used one for nearly 30 years with many ages, sizes and breeds of dogs that I have owned or walked in that time. Never had a problem but then I always walk alone in quiet areas with a single dog so can totally concentrate on what is happening around us. I have an adjustable loop which goes around my wrist attached to the flexi handle, so even if I let go of the handle it cannot not fall. With my own dogs I teach them to get used to the handle falling and dragging behind them first on the garden grass, then on the patio slabs etc. and they quickly learn not to bother but just stand still when told, till I pick it up. It is really just a matter of training yourself and the dog how to use one and then only in quiet areas and not round towns, shops and other dogs.
Don't worry though, I won't be using it with my GAP foster dog, though it would suit his temperament perfectly!!
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Post by zigzag on Nov 18, 2008 14:15:42 GMT -5
Thank you, this is all such valuable advice  It sounds like there is also a danger for the human at the other end, knowing my luck I will fall in the mud and there won't be a hunky man to pick me up! I was only really thinking of using it in my Dad's field just to practice Lad's recall training. I only have the one dog, and it's a quiet spot. If I did try one I will perhaps use a harness and a tape lead. Or maybe even a long lead? - I've seen them sold as "training lines". I just feel that I would like to let him run free somewhere safe, but I suppose the best safety is an effective command. I just bought a dog whistle - have people found this useful? All your comments are so helpful - it would have taken me ages, lots of cash and several bruises for me and god knows what for Lad to work it out for myself! Johanna |
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Post by Nettie on Nov 18, 2008 14:28:08 GMT -5
Some dogs work really well to the whistle but will have to train him what it means. Start with blowing it while you're next to him and then treat immediately, once he's got the hang of that, you can also blow the whistle while he's having his food too. Once he knows what that all means then try blowing it when he's in another room, once that's all installed safely in his brain, go out into the garden, when that's sorted then try it in your Dad's field on a long lead, see how he responds from there.
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Post by Princess C on Nov 18, 2008 14:35:57 GMT -5
I just bought a dog whistle - have people found this useful? That's what we are here for - to avoid your bruises! Three of mine come to the whistle (sadly it is not the same whistle, but that's what happens when you have a mixed pack! ) Otis (ex-working lurcher) will stop for two peeps on an Acme 210, and Theo will raise his head for the same; Min returns to two peeps on an Acme 211.5 It's worth trying them all out (personally I don't like whistles with peas/pearls but that's because they hurt my ears!) |
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Kezz
I'm New Here
Loki washing
Posts: 32
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Post by Kezz on Nov 18, 2008 14:48:16 GMT -5
Does anyone have links to tape and cord leads so I can see the difference? We tried using extendable leads on our JRT but after he broke the third one we gave up |
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Post by zigzag on Nov 18, 2008 17:49:01 GMT -5
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RIP: Patch (JRT), Nobby (rat) Fred (rat)