A Rant Against Walking Your Dog on an Extendable Leash
The dogs are on a tie out with their regular leashes here because the extendable leashes would not have been safe or practical
On some level, I am amused that I am writing this post. Normally, when people write their screeds against extendable leashes, I’m the one defending them. We have extendable leashes and love them. We find them incredibly useful.
We also only use them in very specific situations. The most notable is taking the dogs out into the yard. Our yard is not fenced, and trying to get two dogs (let alone three) to poop while they are on 6’ leashes just takes longer than we have most days, because, inevitably, they each want to sniff around areas on opposite sides of the yard. Being able to take them out on the 15’ extendable leashes makes the whole process a lot easier and quicker. And during the bad weather months, when it is cold and ridiculously wet outside, we can stand inside the door holding the leashes while they run out to do their business.
We also use an extendable leash with Howie at dog parks. It allows him to have more freedom to wander, sniff, and greet other dogs, while keeping him safely with us (deaf = no recall). Whichever one of us is holding the leash does have to be paying attention so that he doesn’t wrap it around people or other dogs, but that’s not difficult. And we do keep it short and locked while walking through the parking lot.
So, yes, I am a huge fan of extendable leashes used in the right circumstances. They make my life easier, warmer, and drier. They give Howie dog freedom while keeping him safe. They are fabulous tools.
However…and you all knew this however was coming- they are NOT good walking leashes. They just aren’t. It gives the dog too much freedom in areas with limited space- like sidewalks. It makes it difficult for people or other dogs to get away from your dog if they are not comfortable. They remove the easiest and most direct way you have to control your dog while on leash. And the handles are pretty easy to pull out of your hand, even when you have small dogs. When you have big dogs, it can be nearly impossible to keep hold of the leash if they do something that surprises you.
I have known this intellectually for years, but a couple of weeks ago, it really came home when we nearly hit a Malamute (guessing on the breed- it could have been a Husky, but we’ve seen the pair of dogs walking many times, and both are bigger than any Husky I’m familiar with).
We were coming back from the dog park. It was just after sunset and the street was getting dark. The woman was walking her two dogs on their extendable leashes, letting them sniff the fence line of people’s yards as they went.
Larry saw them, and from the backseat of our car, barked. I turned to tell him to hush (C was driving), and when I turned back, it was in time to see a flash of grey and white fur right next to our front passenger tire as C was swerving into the other lane.
Thank goodness we did not hit the dog, but both of us nearly had heart attacks.
While I know that a barking dog in a car driving by you is not going to be an every day experience, it’s not so uncommon as to be unforeseeable. And if your dog has a habit of chasing cars, or charging other dogs who bark at him, or reacting in unpredictable ways around cars or other dogs, then why does he have enough leash to run out into the street!
If we had hit that dog, I doubt we would technically have been at fault, but we both would have been devastated (not as devastated as the owner, but still). There is no reason- none-for your dog to ever be able to run into the street when he is being walked ON LEASH on the sidewalk. It’s just not safe.
So please, even if you love extendable leashes, like I do, use some common sense, and use them only in instances where they are safe for your dog. And when you’re taking a walk along a street, use a traditional leash- you know, one that keeps your dog from chasing anything dangerous- like little barky dogs in the backseat of a VW wagon.