Warnings for Retractable Leashes

If you have a dog that is more interested in sniffing than exercising on your daily walk, a retractable dog leash will make your pet's outdoor adventures more fun. Shy dogs can also retreat from real or imagined dangers on a retractable leash. However, there are also dangers with using the long, nylon retractable leads that dog owners need to consider.

  1. Rope Burn

    • If, in an emergency, you or a human walking companion grab the thin nylon rope that makes up the majority of most retractable leashes at the exact moment your dog pulls the other way, you will get a nasty rope burn across your fingers. If you are wearing shorts and your dog wraps the thin nylon leash around your legs, you could get rope burn across your shins.

    Lack of Control

    • You have far less control over your dog when you use a retractable leash on your walks. This can be dangerous, especially on busy streets, as your dog could dart out into traffic and still be on leash. Your dog can also find and eat something toxic, like an anti-freeze, off the sidewalk or a driveway before you have a chance to pull it back. Your dog also has more freedom to get within touching distance of other dogs who may not be friendly or people who are afraid of dogs, even small ones.

    Pulling Issues

    • If you are trying to teach your dog to walk politely on a leash, a retractable leash is not the tool to use. The whole point of a retractable leash is that your dog can sniff, explore, trot ahead of you, linger behind, or all of the above -- and most dogs want to do this on their own terms and their own time, which causes pulling.

    Dropping or Breaking

    • If you accidentally drop the leash, a fearful dog may bolt; the plastic leash handle makes a scary noise when dropped on concrete. The plastic leash handle can also break when dropped. If the thin nylon rope that makes up your retractable leash breaks, your dog is gone, unless you have taught it to unfailingly come when called.