Flexi lead hatemail

hello, I'm new to this forum, just needed somewhere to vent my frustration to dog minded people!(my friends are tired of this rant..)

WHY do so many owners of dogs who refuse to recall use flexi leads? Small breeds, yes, ok, there is a point. But Labs and Collies and even GSDs???

The speed at which the flexi lead uncoils creates a massive amount of potential to either rip out an owner's arm, or seriously damage the dog's neck. Also, it is very difficult to quickly 'reel' the dog back in using one of these terrible things. I recently saw a Weimeraner almost get hit by a car as it danced around on the road whilst the owner had to do the whole arm-strech recoil thing with the stupid flexi to get her dog back safely onto the pavement.

I always recommend to use a long lead with large breeds, far more control and you can grab it anywhere without having a thin cord burn through your skin as the dog tries to pull away.

Anyone else hate these things? Or love them?

First of all welcome to the forum!

As a dogwalker I find flexis are very usefull to allow those dogs without reliable recall some space to run around. I only use them in the park if it is quiet, only on a harness and only if there is space for them to run without getting tangled...

not everyone that uses them is a moron!

I used a flexi with my stafford untill she had reliable recall and it was fab.

good to hear it, a harness is the way to go. maybe the flexi should come with a warning.

Last week I saw a lady with a 10mth old GSD using a flexi lead with a prong collar. I had to ask her if she thought it would hurt her dog when she (the dog) ran to the end of the flexi and was checked by the collar. The lady just walked away. I didn't think those things were still on sale? Why would someone think that is not cruel?

HI and welcome from us. I totally agree with you, I hate the darn things! I only ever used one once, when I got my first ever rescue who didn't have a recall (yes, I should have used a long line or a lunge line I know that now) and not only did the thing get yanked out of my hand when he took off to greet another dog, but the worst time was when he flew off to greet yet another dog, I wasn't prepared (I was only used to my own dogs who were always offlead with a good recall), and by the time he got to the end of it, I thought I'd broken his bladdy neck!!! I'm sure he damaged his neck, but he's lived to survive another 8 years with us (he's now 13 and too old to zoom off lol!), with no ill effects to his neck which surprised me. I had no time to think, when he got to half it's length, I was stood there thinking, shall I stop him or wot??!!! By the time I'd made a decision it was too late!

I got home and put the darn thing in the bin and went out and bought an extra long horse rope!

Hate these things with a passion now and would never use one again, but I'm talking gsd here, one who I hadn't brought up myself and this stupid extra strong flexi came with him

I personally hate the damn things and would happily see them banned. The cord ones are hell if they get wrapped around you and I've seen too many flexis to break in some way to trust them. And of course there are the people who use them and allow their dog to the full extension while walking down the street.

I actually find a long line easier to use and far more comfortable to hold. The handle of the flexi is so big and bulky I find it hurts my hand to hold it for long periods. I used to use one in the back garden as our fence was about 3ft high.

not sure what you mean by run around (on a flexi) my dog would not be able to run with this on without getting to the end as Helena54 described and I certainly cant run as fast as him.....sorry I just do not see how they allow a dog to 'run' and get any better exercise than next to me....

I have used one in the past but not keen on them and dont use one now.

I love my flexi lead, it's a fantastic tool if used correctly, but therein lies the problem - anything can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

I'd far rather lean towards proper education for the idiots that use the tool incorrectly, than banning the tool and punishing those of us who do use it correctly.

I used to use one many years ago with my Boxer on a harness, he broke his neck as a pup and missed out on all his early socialisation and wasn't good with other dogs as a result. We used to run for miles on it every day and never had a single problem, I could reel him in with a flick of the wrist so don't understand why people have such problems with them to be honest. I never once dropped it even though it was also attached to my belt as a back up and certainly never grabbed hold of the cord. Used properly they are great and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be running with a handful of looped long line.

I walk my lab on one in the field down from our house. It means he is under control and won't run off after a rabbit etc but still has enough reign to have a 'wander'. He is walked on a harness and I have taught him 'woah' means "slow down!" and he understands so he doesn't get a big jerk when he gets to the end of the line I have a big tape line and am very happy with it. I have used a long line and found it gets really heavy and dirty in the places where I need to keep him on a line, flexi works best for me for this

I didnt word it very well, just ment more space to sniff around really, less run more trot? they dont charge about like loons on them, if theyre that bad and i cant let them off then the stay on lead and we have a game in the garden afterwards! Or i do lots of running!