Sarah - That is exactly what im worried about. I dont want them to think its wrong to run around and explore (the painful jerk may cause that) but i also want them to know that when i call them they must come back to me!!

An Bellaluna - Trust me, you'd bring Meg back after a couple of weeks!! She's cute but naughty!!

Minihaha - I take my dogs on Cleeve Hill for walks, much more fun than 'the ham'!! 'The Ham' i go to for swimming but they end up smelling SO bad!! lol I cant wait to take them on proper walks and maybe to take them out with my horse when i can ride again as their mum loves that!

..I have seen otters on the ham right down below Lower lode..very exciting

Awwww no Jessica, I'll have her anyday

Darn I cant find the smileys......

I would never use a flexi-lead, as I think they cause more problems than they solve, good luck whatever you decide.

I've read an article of a girl using a flexilead...her dog took off after something, she panicked and couldn't figure out how to stop the lead in her moment of distress, the dog hopped over an embankment and nearly hung itself. They work for some people but I'm very weary of them...I'd use a long line or a regular lead.

i didnt feel i had any control of max on a flexi lead even though he was only xmall i just couldnt get to grips with it and we both nearly got in a right pickle with it

My problem, besides being a bit unsure of the flexi-lead, is I'm just not coordinated enough. I've tried one and no thanks...I seriously know that if I panicked, like the article I read...we'd both be over a cliff.

Ok, after reading a whole load of stuff (including all the replies on this thread, thanks!! ) I have decided to just stick with the current leads. Both puppies are so well behaved it doesn't seem necessary at the moment. They have been walked three times now and today they were allowed off the lead for a long time! They were both really good and didn't run too far ahead and came back immediately when they were called.

If anyone has any more opinions/advice id love to hear it though

Just a word of warning about flexi-leads, please be careful with them especially near roads. I've had one break on me before and couldn't retract the lead back in, luckily for me my dog stayed where he was and I reeled him in manually. We were just in a field, but it made me think what could have happened if we were near a road and he ran out.

I have since read in dog magazines that some people have lost their dogs this very way I would hate it to happen to anyone here.