<p>I’m not sure what a flexi leash is. I need to look into it, and figure out if it’s what I have. Sounds like a bad idea.</p>
<p>We don’t go to the dog park. Afraid our doggies will get crunched, they are way too submissive. Hopefully people don’t bring aggressive dogs there. Owners can be pretty worthless!</p>
<p>Jumping in with an opinion about retractable leads (Flexi is a brand name).</p>
<p>My opinion is that the retractables make for irresponsible dog owners. Their dog is on a lead – so he’s OK. In the meantime, the owner is ignoring the dog who is roaming around looking for trouble (or the pet store bunnies).</p>
<p>In addition, it’s only as strong as your grip and if the dog pulls it out of your hand, all of a sudden it chases the dog, scaring them, and now your dog only has a 2 foot lead on him as you are trying to recover him.</p>
<p>The cord is not resistant to wear – if the dog goes around the corner, maybe the lead is rubbing against a rock or a brick wall or a stone wall – it will rub on the abrasive surface and quickly wear through. Dog is gone. Owner claims lead “snapped.” </p>
<p>The Flexi brand is the best. There are other brands, none of them as good. </p>
<p>For myself, I use a Flexi when away at dog shows for walking my dog away from others for “doing her business.” The rest of the time, my dogs are on a 6 foot lead. My young dog is currently walked at home on a 25 foot flat nylon lead. I can’t take the chance of him pulling the Flexi out of my hand and taking off. His recall isn’t all that good yet.</p>
<p>-- pet store owner that’s been to five (count them FIVE) industry trade shows this year. I also have three dogs. One retired, one currently showing Masters level AKC agility and one in agility foundation training.</p>
<p>We have completely given up on walking our dog on a leash. He is just too mean. We have worked with a trainer and dealt with a vet, but I think I his case it is prudent to stick with the backyard or off hours walks by my husband. If anyone sees me leave for work in the morning, I go through many machinations to lock the doors so my dog can’t get out. Then I walk away and come back to make sure. The thought of him getting out is a nightmare. However he does keep people away.</p>
<p>This is why flexi leashes are not a good thing.
If your dog takes off, you might tend to grab at the leash to reel him in.
Might lose a finger that way.
Ive had burns bad enough that I can see that easily happening.
[Extendable</a> dog leads, retractable leash, leash training supplies at flexiusa.](<a href=“http://www.flexiusa.com/operation/safety-advice.php]Extendable”>flexiusa.com)</p>
<p>Some of the dog books I have been reading( or plan to read- someday Ill write some reviews)
Reaching the Animal Mind - Karen Pryor
The official ahimsa Dog training manual - Grisha Stewart ( Ahimsa is a training facility near me, although we are really trying to find one that has hours so that H can be the main person)
The other end of the Leash- Patricia McConnell
Listening to Dogs -Jon Katz
The culture clash - Jean Donaldson
Animals. Make us human - Temple Grandin
Merles Door-Ted Kerasote
And some animal physical health books like Dog Owners home veterinary handbook & dr Picairns guide to natural health for dogs & cats.
I skip back & forth, the only one Ive finished so far was Merles door, which was about a dog who lived where he could make the rounds of the town & environs by himself.</p>
<p>busdriver, how is your pooch doing today?</p>
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<p>Both our groomer and the doggy day care center do not allow dogs to be brought in on any kind of flexible leash.</p>
<p>I think flexis can be handy, if they are used properly. That’s a very big if, obviously. I’ve never used one with my current dog, because my rescue girl is still somewhat fearful and skittish after 7 1/2 years and needs more control. I use a 6 ft woven lead, usually with a Gentle Leader if we are going for an actual walk, as opposed to a vet visit.</p>
<p>As a person who doesn’t own a dog, I hate those flexible leashes. They just seem like an excuse for the owner to ignore the dog. I particularly hate their use on roads and trails. If your dog is on one side of the road and you are on the other side, and you are connected by a thin hard-to-see flexible leash, that’s a recipe for clotheslining me when I’m innocently riding my bike. (Yes, this happens on my own street. We have no sidewalks, and we have hiking trails at the end of our street. On weekends, lots of people walk here, which I find in general delightful. I’m perfectly willing to be extra careful around young children walking or riding their bikes. But I shouldn’t be clotheslined by an irresponsible dog owner when I’m just trying to go to the grocery store to get a gallon of milk.)</p>
<p>I like the flexi-leash, because I jog with my dog who is known to take random “jags” and trip me! I keep him in front of me, but only to provide a little separation. </p>
<p>My Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix is terrified of other dogs, but if he can’t “flee” he will definitely fight. When we pass a dog/owner I have found that attempting to make my dog sit is wasted effort, but I pull him behind me (avoiding face-to-face confrontation) and that works better. </p>
<p>busdriver, I’m so sorry you had that awful experience. I keep pepper spray hanging on my fanny pack. I would probably get more on ME & my dog than any attacking dog, but it’s worth a shot! You were very brave!!!</p>
<p>BD, I’m so sorry your puppies went through this. The idiot that lives across the street from us leaves his three terrors outside all the time and they’ve gone after my dog more than once. We’ve had to take her in for stitches and the owner didn’t even bother to apologize (though did pay the vet bills). </p>
<p>Is it possible to have a dog thread without bashing on “pit bulls”? Let’s be VERY clear that many “pit bulls” in the media are NOT APBTs. They are just big dogs and “pit bull” draws attention. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve seen where the dog is labelled “pit bull” when it’s really a mastiff, a great dane mix, a bullmastiff, bull dogs, a rottweiler, a boxer, the list goes on. </p>
<p>I hate the flexileashes. They are terrible at keeping your dog under control. Even if your dog is well trained, it can put YOUR dog in danger. It’s better when you know exactly how much leash you have in case something happens like what happened in BD’s case. Keeping pepper spray is another good idea.</p>
<p>busdriver, I’m so sorry this happened. Glad your dog is ok. Dmd, thanks for the post. My dog is similar and I’m perplexed by how clueless some dog owners can be. </p>
<p>I do use a flexileash but I keep it locked at the shortest length, about 4 feet. I find the molded handle more comfortable to hold on to than a regular leash handle.</p>
<p>One more comment on flexible leashes (thanks, CNP for your clarifications and expansions on my theme): if you are carrying a flexi leash, you can’t hold the part right next to the dog’s collar and swing the leash handle in a circle with the other hand. And swinging the leash handle in a circle is incredibly effective at dealing with strange dogs. It keeps your dog back (because they don’t want to get whipped by the moving leash) and it creates a barrier against the oncoming dog. </p>
<p>You can also open an umbrella into an oncoming dog’s face. Visual and physical barrier.</p>
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<p>That’s a great idea as well as the flexi-leash swinging handle, very effective as well.</p>
<p>There’s an old guy in my neighborhood who walks with a 7 iron golf club in his hand (he doesn’t have a dog). The first time I saw him I said something like “wow, that must have been quite the slice if you’re out here looking for your ball!” :D. He humorlessly told me he uses the golf club on dogs that approach him. I thought it was a bit much frankly… Whenever I see him when I’m walking my dog I always detect a slight sense of disappointment from him that my dog doesn’t get close enough for him to use it.</p>
<p>I have never used a flexi leash beause I worry about control. Perhaps if I didn’t have 80 pound dogs I might feel differently!</p>
<p>I think we have a retractable leash. I wouldn’t want one that wasn’t. When I hear a car coming, I reel my dogs in pretty close. It is very easy to control them with, as they are only 20 pounds. I would feel like I didn’t have control if I had a leash that I couldn’t bring them in with.</p>
<p>So my sister, who has had many, many dogs gave me some advice. But she is always joking around, and I’m not completely sure…she said to get one of those loud air horns, a miniature one you can easily carry around, and if the dog comes at you or your dog, blow it. She says it will startle them enough to stop the attack, and is better than a stun gun or pepper spray as you don’t have to be close and it won’t hurt anyone.</p>
<p>She also said that if a dog is latched on to your dog and you can’t get them off, I know this sounds odd…to stick your finger up its butt, and it will release. Really. Is this true, or just a bad joke?</p>
<p>busdriver, with a standard 6 ft woven leash you just reach out and grab it for closer control. The flexis for big dogs are a couple feet of woven leash attached to mostly cord. Very difficult to grab.</p>
<p>I’ve heard the finger thing also. Never had the occasion to try it out, thankfully! :)</p>
<p>Our leash has a sort of loop, about 12" in diameter, next to the clip that goes on the collar. When I saw it in the store, I asked what it was for, and was told it is for people who need to ‘curb’ their dogs while out on a walk, or all of a sudden reel them in to avoid certain situations. It becomes like a rope handle when needed.</p>
<p>Interesting about the leash with a loop. You have a cavalier too, right? Sounds like it works well for that size. I feel that the retractable ones are controllable too, but I never have investigated others. Maybe I should.</p>
<p>So for an update on my doggie situation. She is doing just fine. The bruises and red spots have subsided. No vomiting. She’s staring me down right now, hoping for some of my dinner. She is so relentless. I filed a telephone complaint a couple of days ago with animal control. They actually called the next day to remind me to follow up with a more complete online report, so I think they will definitely do a good job looking into this. I would suspect the owner will get a small fine for the dog being off a leash, a file started on it, and at least I hope to get a confirmation that the dog has all of its shots. We’ll see. I trust them to make more of an impact than I could have.</p>
<p>I recently read that if two dogs are fighting, the way to pull them off each other is to approach them from behind and grab their hind legs and lift them up and pull them backwards. They cannot turn around and bite you and will release the other dog. This seems preferable to sticking your finger up the dog’s bum to me. :)</p>