Retractable leash for a large dog

[Anonymous]

My lab usually walks well with an Easy Walk harness but she tends to pull hard when she sees another dog or animal. Someone recommended a retractable leash. I searched online and found many people think the retractable leash is not safe for large dogs. Could you share your experience with me if you ever used a retractable leash on a large dog? TIA

[Anonymous]

A retractable leash is the exact opposite if what you should do. You need a short, fixed leash, and you need better control over your dog.

Retractable leashes are horrible for all dogs, regardless of size.

[Anonymous]

A retractable leash is the worst option for a dog who pulls hard. I’m blanking on the name for them, but aren’t there harnesses that spin the dog around if they try to pull hard? You want to discourage pulling, not make it easier for the dog to get far away from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A retractable leash is the exact opposite if what you should do. You need a short, fixed leash, and you need better control over your dog.

Retractable leashes are horrible for all dogs, regardless of size.

100%.

You need to train your dog not to lunge and pull at animals. You stop them and make them sit. Use the "leave it" command. They get a treat for not reacting, other than noticing the other animal and maintaining control over their own bodies.

[Anonymous]

Whoever recommended a retractable leash as a solution to a large dog pulling is not someone you should take advice from. Labs are very strong and yours is "pulling hard" - what do they think the leash will do, snap him back to you? It just means you can keep it at a shorter or longer length. But they're structurally weaker than traditional leashes and you would be setting yourself up for failure if you ever used the longer length because that's when the dog would see another dog/animal and you'd have even less control because he's 15 feet away instead of 6.

TBH even when I see people with little dogs on a retractable leash I assume they're inexperienced or incompetent dog owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A retractable leash is the exact opposite if what you should do. You need a short, fixed leash, and you need better control over your dog.

Retractable leashes are horrible for all dogs, regardless of size.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whoever recommended a retractable leash as a solution to a large dog pulling is not someone you should take advice from. Labs are very strong and yours is "pulling hard" - what do they think the leash will do, snap him back to you? It just means you can keep it at a shorter or longer length. But they're structurally weaker than traditional leashes and you would be setting yourself up for failure if you ever used the longer length because that's when the dog would see another dog/animal and you'd have even less control because he's 15 feet away instead of 6.

TBH even when I see people with little dogs on a retractable leash I assume they're inexperienced or incompetent dog owners.

This.

[Anonymous]

NO!

It won't retract properly so you won't be able to control him, plus the line is too thin, and if it's wound around a human or other dog, and your dog pulls, it can cause severe injury.

I've tried the following for my rambunctious leash-puller:
1. Multiple rounds of training. Did not work.
2. Harness with front clip. Did not work.
3. Prong collar. Works well, but my dog has a lovely ruff around his neck, and the prongs tear a little of the hair, so I'd rather not use it for cosmetic purposes.
4. Head halter. Works great! The problem is that now he's found he can chew it off.
5. Electronic walk collar, with two little metal studs under the chin that vibrate or give a little zap (nothing that hurts, tried it on myself), acting as an alert so that the dog pays attention to your commands. It works just as well as the head halter, and he can't chew it off, nor does it damage his ruff.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your replies. I thought I was the outlier as I see almost everyone in my neighborhood use a retractable leash. I am happy with my 5 ft long leash as I can control my lab well. It's acceptable and manageable to me that my lab puppy pulls when she gets excited, but it just might look awkward in my neighbors' eyes.

[Anonymous]

^ meant to say, the walking collar vibrates when the dog pulls hard and a sensor on the collar is activated by pressure.

[Anonymous]

One of the problems with retractable leashes is that everything can be going fine, the dog has gotten a distance away on the lead, then a problem arises when the dog is pretty far away. It is really difficult to then reel in a dog that far away if they are strong and pulling. If you release the brake to reel in the extra, a dog that is pulling will just get farther way from you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for your replies. I thought I was the outlier as I see almost everyone in my neighborhood use a retractable leash. I am happy with my 5 ft long leash as I can control my lab well. It's acceptable and manageable to me that my lab puppy pulls when she gets excited, but it just might look awkward in my neighbors' eyes.

The people in your neighborhood are morons. Irresponsible, inexperienced, crappy and moron dog owners.

[Anonymous]

For pulling, I recommend the Halti Headcollar and a fixed leash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for your replies. I thought I was the outlier as I see almost everyone in my neighborhood use a retractable leash. I am happy with my 5 ft long leash as I can control my lab well. It's acceptable and manageable to me that my lab puppy pulls when she gets excited, but it just might look awkward in my neighbors' eyes.

Oh you're embarrassed. You'll just have to get over yourself, my friend. When you sign up to care for kids or pets, they have a way of humiliating you at some point It never fails!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A retractable leash is the exact opposite if what you should do. You need a short, fixed leash, and you need better control over your dog.

Retractable leashes are horrible for all dogs, regardless of size.

100%.

You need to train your dog not to lunge and pull at animals. You stop them and make them sit. Use the "leave it" command. They get a treat for not reacting, other than noticing the other animal and maintaining control over their own bodies.

Thank you for your great advice.