Retractable leashes, also called extendable leashes, have become a common accessory for millions of dog owners around the world. Its invention, born in Germany more than fifty years ago by Manfred Bogdahnwas a revolution in allowing dogs to explore their environment more freely without losing control of their owners. The idea was simple and practical, and its success was immediate, to the point that the Flexi brand was recognized as Brand of the century in 2010 in Germany and today it is present in more than 90 countries.
However, the popularity of these straps has led to widespread misuse. Qinsects that spring five meters away its owneruntil he realizes, lace strap stretched like clotheslinesofro in the middle of the sidewalk, mechanisms blocked without criteriaunlocked mechanisms with even less discretion and a generalized idea that these straps ‘give freedom‘whereas in practice what they distribute the most are reinforced jolts, confusions and avoidable accidents.
To input how do these straps work and when it is appropriate to use them, it not only helps keep the dog safe and who wears itbut it allows you to take advantage their benefits without unnecessary risks.
How does a retractable leash work?
It is a spool that contains a ribbon or flat cord, a spring that recovers it if it becomes slack and a button that allows you to lock in the desired length. If the dog moves forward, the leash is released, while if the dog comes closer, it retracts.. This gives, on paper, a dynamic, smooth ride, less rigid than that of a fixed strap.
But this dynamism has Itrap about what the dog doesn’t know how far away the boundary is. With a fixed leash of two, three or five meters, the dog learns by experience where the end is.but with an expandable, this ending changes second by second.
Furthermore, the retractable straps ‘don’t stress the dog‘which sounds good until you understand the educational consequence and that’s it They do not help the dog learn not to pull. In the other direction, If you shoot, you receive more distance, If you throw a little more, you receive even more. In other words, it reinforces exactly what most securities try to correct.
Differences from other long strapsYes
Clarification is needed here, as confusion is common. Extendable leashes are nothing like long training leashes, which can have lengths of five, eight, ten or even fifteen meters that resemble flat ropes. THE Sonia Losada, dog trainer I explained it this way in one of our articles: “Long leashes are designed to simulate that the dog is loose without being loose. They allow you to explore, run, and you can walk on them if you see that they are getting too far away.”
These straps are usually flat, designed to be dragged across the ground. They require constant attention of the caregiver, as they must be unfolded and picked up by hand. They don’t automate anything and force us to watch, anticipate and act. The complete opposite of what expandable straps do, which automate almost everything.
Common Mistakes When Using Retractable Leashes
Most incidents related to stretch straps are not related to the invention itself, but to the use to which it is put.
- Too much relaxation, too soon.
- Mechanisms unlocked in narrow streets or with lots of traffic.
- Dogs advance three, four or five meters into areas where they shouldn’t.
- Distracted guides who do not anticipate intersections, bicycles, other dogs or simple turns.
The result is shaking which causes neck or windpipe injuries of the animal, abrasions and cuts to the hands from trying to grab the rope, entanglements in other people’s legs, falls and frights that can end in flight if the plastic handle is released, which, when abruptly picking up the leash, can hit the dog and cause panic.
Correct use and safety
Here is the most important nuance, since it is not a question of banning them, but of professionalizing their use. Because, Used wisely, they are a fantastic tool. for certain contexts. And the key is in controlling the block.
- In busy areas: short leash and fixed padlock, one or two meters maximum.
- In parks or large spaces: unlock to allow a more flexible walk, closer to an off-leash walk, but always under supervision.
That is, the stretch strap should never be a “permanent free mode”but the locking system adapts to the environment and not to the comfort of the holder. This implies something else that is also often overlooked, namely that the dog must already have minimum basic training with traditional leashes before using a retractable leash. There is no extendable leash that “trains” a dog that pulls without control, because these leashes are not designed to teach, but to accompany when the basics already exist.
The key to knowing how to manage its extension and the locking system is to look at the environment, look at the dog and decide on the appropriate length for each section of the walk. The blockade is not a punishment, but an adjustment. In other words, the automatic mechanism, as practical as it is, must also obey a logic: fewer meters where the world is narrow; more meters where the world is vast.
Short action brake and fixed lock
In addition to distinguishing between short action brake and fixed position lock, it is important to understand that they are not interchangeable. Each one meets a specific walking need and, when used correctly, they allow the dog to move around in complete safety without the person carrying it losing control of the situation. He pulsating brakewhich only acts when you keep your thumb pressed, works like a immediate reactionit’s a quick gesture to stop the dog for a few seconds and avoid a scare. It’s the appropriate mechanism when an unexpected event occurs, from a cyclist appearing from behind to a child running towards a ball. This brief braking serves to contain, redirect and reassess the environment before continuing.
He lock in fixed positionon the other hand, is not designed for emergencies but for planning. It is the one that we must activate when we decide that the strap must be kept at a specific length during part of the walk. On narrow sidewalks, in parking areas, when passing a pedestrian crossing or simply when the street is too busy to allow more space, the fixed lock ensures that the dog moves at a stable and predictable distance.
Therefore, the wise combination is to keep the strap in a fixed position when the environment is cramped, noisy or filled with stimuli, and to reserve the short-acting brake for specific unforeseen events that require a quick reaction. Once we reach the park or a large space without traffic or crowds, the mechanism can be released and the dog can move more freely, always adjusting the length to what is happening around.
Do they serve to educate? No, that’s what the long straps are for.
If the goal is to work on calling, tracking, good distance or walking management, the right tool is a long leash, which allows realistic calling practices, gives freedom without losing safety, can be stepped on if the dog strays too far and can be left free and dragged on the ground in appropriate environments.
The problem with these extra long straps is that require technique and it is recommended that a dog training professional shows us how to unroll and pick them up so that the dog does not end up getting tangled. But it is precisely this active participation on the part of the dog’s caregiver that makes them such effective educational tools.
When to choose a retractable leash and when not to
The answer depends less on the dog and more on the environment. A well-used extension works great in pwide arches, beaches in authorized season, open spaces without traffic not too crowded or in areas where the dog is already calm, attentive and with minimal basic obedience rules learned.
On the contrary, it doesn’t make senseand even It may be dangeroususe the stretch straps on anarrow waxescalleys with shops, terraces, corners or entrance gatesmmarkets, fairs or any environment with agglomerationand insideplaces with many dogs or unpredictable stimuli.
In short, an expandable, in reality, nor is it an urban toolbut a strap transition between the street and the park.
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