Comments on: Unnecessary entanglements http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/03/26/is-it-time-to-retract-retractable-leashes/ a site for dog lovers Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:13:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: dogwordz http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/03/26/is-it-time-to-retract-retractable-leashes/comment-page-1/#comment-1062 dogwordz Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:57:48 +0000 http://www.ohmidog.com/?p=6521#comment-1062 My complaint with retractables is that they're too easy to break! Within the first year I adopted my beagle, one day as we had pretty much ended our neighborhood walk she tore after a bunny across the street. Pulled apart metal from metal -- not so much as a thread from the cord! Luckily, she didn't have too far to go on her chase, and a neighbor helped me catch her as she "emerged" from a brush thicket with quite a smirk on her face, and no injuries to herself although I'll never know what happened to the bunny. I had been on the verge of ordering her a harness, which of course I promptly did that same evening. No more retractables for us. End of story. Besides, too many walkers have no clue how to "rein in" their dogs on a retractable, which leads to entanglement and/or bad manners from one dog to the other, followed by bad manners from one people to another. Grrrr! My complaint with retractables is that they’re too easy to break! Within the first year I adopted my beagle, one day as we had pretty much ended our neighborhood walk she tore after a bunny across the street. Pulled apart metal from metal — not so much as a thread from the cord! Luckily, she didn’t have too far to go on her chase, and a neighbor helped me catch her as she “emerged” from a brush thicket with quite a smirk on her face, and no injuries to herself although I’ll never know what happened to the bunny. I had been on the verge of ordering her a harness, which of course I promptly did that same evening. No more retractables for us. End of story.

Besides, too many walkers have no clue how to “rein in” their dogs on a retractable, which leads to entanglement and/or bad manners from one dog to the other, followed by bad manners from one people to another. Grrrr!

]]> By: Ripley64 http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/03/26/is-it-time-to-retract-retractable-leashes/comment-page-1/#comment-1057 Ripley64 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:15:57 +0000 http://www.ohmidog.com/?p=6521#comment-1057 I've seen a broken arm and ankle caused by retractable leashes. Still tried one myself, but my dog hates the constant pulling on his neck. Much prefer off-leash running. Thankfully, my city does not (yet) have a leash law. I’ve seen a broken arm and ankle caused by retractable leashes. Still tried one myself, but my dog hates the constant pulling on his neck. Much prefer off-leash running. Thankfully, my city does not (yet) have a leash law.

]]> By: Anne-n-Spencer http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/03/26/is-it-time-to-retract-retractable-leashes/comment-page-1/#comment-1054 Anne-n-Spencer Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:44:15 +0000 http://www.ohmidog.com/?p=6521#comment-1054 Boy, am I grouchy today! I have a novel idea: 1) People could teach their dogs to come when they're called. 2) They could teach them to "heel" when walking on the street--so that they're walking the dog instead of the dog walking them. 3) Proceed to save money, fingers, eyes, and other anatomical bits by being able to use a regular old nylon, leather, or chain leash. City streets are full of dangerous stuff--broken glass, nails, the above-mentioned poop (which may be full of parasites), precarious stacks of construction stuff, and lots of stray traffic. It worries me to see people being dragged down the streets by dogs at the end of this type of leash--since the dog has no idea of what he may be getting into. The idea that 8 feet (or 16 or 24 feet) gives the dog some "freedom" is kind of bogus. It's still a leash. Makes more sense for people to get a good leash and spend some energy (ahem) lobbying for DOG PARKS. Boy, am I grouchy today! I have a novel idea:

1) People could teach their dogs to come when they’re called.
2) They could teach them to “heel” when walking on the street–so that they’re walking the dog instead of the dog walking them.
3) Proceed to save money, fingers, eyes, and other anatomical bits by being able to use a regular old nylon, leather, or chain leash.

City streets are full of dangerous stuff–broken glass, nails, the above-mentioned poop (which may be full of parasites), precarious stacks of construction stuff, and lots of stray traffic. It worries me to see people being dragged down the streets by dogs at the end of this type of leash–since the dog has no idea of what he may be getting into. The idea that 8 feet (or 16 or 24 feet) gives the dog some “freedom” is kind of bogus. It’s still a leash. Makes more sense for people to get a good leash and spend some energy (ahem) lobbying for DOG PARKS.

]]>