Must admit I like a 6ft fixed training lead and would never use a retractable by the road although lots do without drama it seems. I don't see how it can be held properly as I wouldn't want one hand on the tape.

Not sure that you would need to check your pup either - there are loads of great ways to prevent pulling that don't involve checking. But again, each to their own .

 

Not sure that you would need to check your pup either - there are loads of great ways to prevent pulling that don't involve checking. But again, each to their own .

Any tips or links please? I don't particularly like having to pull her back over.

 

Any tips or links please? I don't particularly like having to pull her back over.

I like Turid Rugaas' method

and have her booklet.

Or silky leash Leash Walking | Ahimsa Dog Blog

300 peck method: http://www.pawsitivelydogs.co.uk/300peck.pdf

Or simply stopping when the pup pulls or turning about - which is where the 6ft fixed leash comes in handy.

Probably loads more but I have taken my tablets which make me thick as two short planks I am afraid!!!

 

Must admit I like a 6ft fixed training lead and would never use a retractable by the road although lots do without drama it seems. I don't see how it can be held properly as I wouldn't want one hand on the tape.

Not sure that you would need to check your pup either - there are loads of great ways to prevent pulling that don't involve checking. But again, each to their own .

I know on my corded flexi there is a loop/handle in the short woven section so you can have good control on a short lead if needed.

 

I know on my corded flexi there is a loop/handle in the short woven section so you can have good control on a short lead if needed.

There isn't one in my tape flexi, I checked after it was mentioned on here a while ago. Friends cord one has it. The cord one that Spens old owners sent with him does. My tape one doesn't.

I wouldn't use a flexi leash for road walking or for working on loose leash walking personally. I use it (always with a harness) simply to give Spen a bit of freedom when he can't be off leash for whatever reason. Regular leash and collar here for loose leash walking.

I've used a combination of silky leash method and choose to heel to stop Spen pulling on his collar. He pulls like crazy on his harness though because that's my getting from A to B without faffing around equipment.

 

There isn't one in my tape flexi, I checked after it was mentioned on here a while ago. Friends cord one has it. The cord one that Spens old owners sent with him does. My tape one doesn't.

I wouldn't use a flexi leash for road walking or for working on loose leash walking personally. I use it (always with a harness) simply to give Spen a bit of freedom when he can't be off leash for whatever reason. Regular leash and collar here for loose leash walking.

I've used a combination of silky leash method and choose to heel to stop Spen pulling on his collar. He pulls like crazy on his harness though because that's my getting from A to B without faffing around equipment.

Your like me, if I do decide to use my retractable lead I walk him on his normal red nylon lead with his harness on him til we get to a safe place then I put his retractable lead on, I do this because I kniw the locking system is terrible for failing, my old one I stopped using because the lock system was forever failing. Plus with Buddy reacting badly to other dogs at the minute i need full control and these retractables just don't give me that. Had a few close calls with the cord where he has decided to run back and turn and I've not been able to see the cord coming til last minute and had to dodge to avoid any injuries to me or the dog.

Op have you looked at long lines. Much more control and if need be you can reel the dog in.

 

I like our standard flexi lead, we have a tape version and its forever getting twisted and stuck so it wont go in or out meaning i have to then manually reel the dog in.

 

I used a 5m flexi tape on a harness.

Along a road, I shorten and lock, hold handle in outside hand, and create a short lead with the inside hand and the slack.

I think it's handy to have a spare lead to attach to collar too, as it gives better control of the front end as dogs in harnesses have a tendency to "spin" if they get excited - if a loose dog charges up to them for example.

In open areas I allow the lead to run free but keep a close eye on Jack and our surroundings and look out for other dogs so that I can lock or retract as appropriate.

I don't "check" Jack with the lead, but recall him or ask him to wait - just as I would if he were off lead (the flexi just means he can't disappear off into the distance after something small and furry ).

 

Whenever I use a Flexi it tends to be on walks where I'm either not sure or can't let Isla off the lead, otherwise use an ordinary lead. Her recall is good enough (and improving) for me to have confidence in her off lead.
I use the corded flexi and as Montymaud said, there is a handle part on it which is handy when you need a short lead. I've yet had to have one that has failed on me, but I guess there is always a first time. I always use the flexi with the harness although that hasn't always been the case as harnesses haven't been as available as they are nowadays.
TBH, I wouldn't be without one, they are very useful despite the controversy.

 

I use a flexi for times when I can't let her offlead, e.g. a walk that is too near to a road for my liking, or where there may be things she would chase, or in 'on lead' areas.

The only time I will use one on a footpath is if I'm walking a couple of metres to/from the car (locked of course) - never for extended use on a footpath.

When I'm not using the flexi I tend to just walk her on a collar, not a harness (although in all honesty she's usually off-lead or on the flexi). As a result, she's learnt that lead attached to the collar = walking nicely time and lead attached to the harness = 'free' time.

Once when I was in a daydream I attached the flexi to her collar (even though she was wearing her harness) and I couldn't understand why she sticking right beside me, until I realised my mistake. As soon as I changed the lead onto her harness she started to head off to explore

 

Op have you looked at long lines. Much more control and if need be you can reel the dog in.

I have used both and find the opposite. A long line is fine for making sure the dog cannot run away but I have no control whatsoever apart from that whereas a flexi gives immediate control.

 

Flexi's are awesome, used on the right dog in the right place.

 

I know on my corded flexi there is a loop/handle in the short woven section so you can have good control on a short lead if needed.

I didn't mean good control really close to the dog for traffic etc as much as when you have a fixed training lead and hold it in both hands across the body - so you can add in and take away slack as you turn about etc. So you always hold the lead in the hand opposite that to the side on which the dog is walking and have the hand closer to the dog there for added control. If that makes any sense? I can't seem to describe it properly!!

 

yup i swear by them , but would never buy the cord one , i have the one upto 75kg weight, hes only 21kg , but i have heard opf many a staffie snapping a cord one so i just got the strongest one , its only on extendable on the park when he can't be let off , most of time he's loose anyway , and on pavements its as short as any other lead

 

We've got regular length leads, a 10ft training lead and a 6ft. I didn't bother with a flexi one, my gran had one for her dog and I used it one and it utterly confused me (probably having dyspraxia doesn't help, I'm not terribly coordinated anyway) and I felt I would be unsafe with it.