Walking your dog should be an enjoyable experience for both you and your pet. Having the proper equipment is vital for this to happen. Leashes are a necessity for practicing safe dog walking so it's important to be using the right kind. Retractable leashes, though a popular trend, are not the best choice. Read on to find out why!
1. Your Dog Walks You
Don't let your pet control you. Retractable leashes gives your dog too much freedom since the length on these leashes are adjustable. Your dog decides how close to follow you along with the pace. Also, not having a set length is confusing for your pup especially if they are learning how to walk on a leash.
2. Rope Burn
All too often the lines on retractable leashes get tangled around the owner's legs or worse, the legs of a stranger walking down the sidewalk. The natural reaction is to grab the line in attempt to get unwrapped with one's bare hands resulting sometimes in painful burns. The line can also get caught around the legs of pets which can cut off their circulation and lead to injury.
4. Neck Injuries
Dogs can seriously injure their necks using this type of this leash. Since it's unclear to your pets how much line they have, they may see something that excites them such as a squirrel and give chase. However, once the rope runs out they will get jerked back by their collar which can lead to an expensive trip to the vet.
5. Heartbreaking Accidents
Imagine this scenario. You and your pet are walking down the street one evening. It's an urban location and there are cars zooming by on the street. You're approaching an intersection. On your left is a tall building that obscures your view so that you can't see around the turn ahead. As you draw closer, your pet smells another dog and takes off around the corner of the building. You try and yank your pet back, but there's too much lead left. Screeching tires pierce the air followed by a dogs yelp. Don't let this happen to you. There is a lock feature on these leashes, but owners often can't react in time.
Then what leash should you be purchasing? A standard leash will do wonders for maintaining control of your dog while keeping him or her safe. It's also the best choice for teaching puppies proper puppy walking etiquette. Check out Mendota Pet for some quality leashes.