When going out for a leisurely walk with your precious pup, the experience should always ideally be a fun and enjoyable one, but also a safe one for both walker and ‘walkee’! Something that plays a huge role in making sure that all of this is achieved is the type of leash that you choose to use.
A trend we have noticed in recent years is that retractable leashes have gained a lot of popularity due to their storing convenience as well as their large extended ranges, but the truth is that there are plenty of veterinarians at the top of their profession who do not recommended these accessories because of a plethora of potential safety risks.
If you can understand just why these leashes are seen as being problematic, you will be able to make much better decisions on safer alternatives like high quality leather dog leashes and more. Luckily for you, we are here to do exactly that, give you a thorough run down of why retractable leashes might be something to avoid. Let’s dive in!
The Problem with Retractable Leashes
Injuries to Dogs and Owners
The classic design of a retractable leash will usually feature a thin cord that can suddenly jerk back when your dog runs off and the cord reaches its limits. Depending on how fast your pup is flying, this can be a really abrupt and forceful jerk that can cause strain or more serious injury in an instant. This is even more the case if your dog is of a smaller breed.
And you aren’t immune either! Having to handle the thin, fast moving thing cord can be painful for the walker too, with things like friction burns and cuts being incredibly common. In the very worst cases, we’ve even heard of finger amputations from cords getting wrapped around digits! All in all, the massive amounts of sudden tension combined with a lack of consistent control make retractable leashes a real hazard, in our opinion.
Malfunctions and Breakage
The mechanics of a retractable leash depends on some quite complex inner workings for the cord to be able to extend and retraction command. Even if it works like a charm on first purchase, over time there is a possibility that these mechanics can start to fail, leading to incidents of sudden breakage or the cord getting stuck at a particular length.
A leash that malfunctions at a bad moment can essentially leave you with an unrestrained dog in a risky environment like busy roads, or around other dogs where confrontation is possible. You don’t need us to lay out all of the horrible things that can happen to your furry friend if they end up free to roam in a super busy, built up area!
Tangles and Tripping Hazards
On first thought, the idea of a retractable leash that allows your pup to roam further distances might seem appealing, but in reality it often causes more problems than it solves. It is so easy for an overexcited dog to get tangled up in their own cord and panic. Not to mention the risk that a stretched out piece of cable poses to bystanders who could unsuspectingly trip over! And if you are dealing with a multi dog household walk adventure, small tangles can turn into a huge headache.
Reinforcing Bad Behavior
The thing about retractable leashes is that through their very design, they can inadvertently encourage bad pulling behavior. Your pup isn’t silly, and they will notice that to a certain extent, the more they pull, the more freedom they achieve! If a dog gets used to the ‘control your own distance’ vibe of a retractable leash, the chances are that they won’t be very good at adapting to a fixed length leash when you want to use one. This, of course, will lead to much more complicated walks, and a distinct lack of enjoyment for both of you!
Imagine This - A Sudden Stop at Full Speed
Take a moment to picture yourself running at top speed with a collar placed around your neck that happens to be attached to a retractable leash. Once you reach the end of that leash’s length, you are going to be very violently yanked backwards! You would be pretty confused and in a lot of pain, but you could turn around and pretty quickly figure out why it has happened. Now put your precious pup in that scenario instead. They would experience the same shock and discomfort, but without being able to quickly understand why it had happened! No loving pet owner ever wants to put their fur babies in situations like that.
Real-Life Scenarios
Have a think about this very common kind of situation. You’re on your daily walk in the dog park when your pup suddenly spots an irresistible squirrel. With a retractable leash in place, they will bolt off and very quickly reach the end of the leash. The sudden sharp stop will yank them backwards and lead to lots of neck and shoulder discomfort.
And at the other end of the picture, you are frantically trying to gain better control and will very likely burn your hands trying to settle the cord. It’s a lose-lose situation on both sides of the coin, causing much more stress than necessary on what should have been a relaxing stroll!
The Solution - Leather Leashes
Why Fixed-Length Leather Leashes Are Safer
In our experience, fixed-length leather dog leashes are the accessory that offer the best levels of safety and comfort for your pup, especially when compared to retractable leashes. They have a much more durable construction that ensures no malfunctions or snapping, giving you much greater peace of mind on your walks. Unlike the unpredictability of retractable leashes, a fixed-length gives you much closer control and massively limits the risk of everything we have already highlighted like tripping, tangling and jerking.
Features of Leather Leashes
Above all else, leather leashes are celebrated for their comfort, durability and effortless style. The great thing about high quality leather is that it softens over time whilst still remaining strong, making it more and more comfortable for both your pup’s neck and your hands.
Eco-Friendly and Hypoallergenic Benefits
A close second in terms of benefits comes from leather’s natural properties making it much less likely to cause irritation on your dog’s skin. Vegetable tanned leather in particular is an option that avoids the use of harsh chemicals in its manufacture, resulting in a wonderful hypoallergenic product. If your pup has sensitive skin, making the switch to vegetable tanned leather is a no brainer. And it also doesn’t hurt that these kinds of leashes are biodegradable so you can be satisfied that you are playing your own small part in the environmental effort.
Product Recommendations
The Classic Leather Leash
You can’t do any better than a classic leather leash for everyday use, it has the perfect combination of elegance and strength. The fixed length gives you the best possible control during your walks, and the supple nature of the leather makes dog and hands comfortable in equal measure. For situations like training sessions, casual leisurely strolls and outings in busy areas where you want your pup closeby, there really is no better choice.
The Omni Hands-Free Leather Leash
In the more active situations between you and your dog, something like the Omni Hands-Free Leather Leash is a fantastic option. This is a leather leash that is designed with sportier action in mind like hiking, jogging or simply just walks where you want to have more access to your own hands! You get all the same amounts of security for your pup, whilst giving yourself greater freedom of movement at the same time. The adjustable length of the cord along with guaranteed durability make the product a must have for pet owners who like to be a little bit more adventurous.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Lunging at Distractions
Even the best behaved can’t resist the call of the wild sometimes, and that can be in the form of things like squirrels, birds, other dogs and even passing cars! If they decide to try and bolt with a retractable leash, it is much harder to regain control and react without hurting them. With a fixed length leash, you have a much better chance of redirecting their attention with a quick treat or verbal cue.
Leash Anxiety
On occasion, some dogs can develop anxiety about being restrained, especially if they have had bad experiences with leash pain and discomfort before. Repeat instances are much more likely with retractable leash that can cause sudden changes in tension. If you want to provide the most consistent and smooth experience possible, then there is nothing better than the steady, soft connection of a fixed length leather leash.
Over Excitement
If you have a young or general excited pup, then pulling and jumping, especially at the start of a walk, is inevitable. As we discussed, a retractable leash can actually encourage this kind of behavior because of the initial feeling of freedom they allow before the sudden jerk. Instead, we recommend lots of positive reinforcement on a fixed length leash to instill calmer behavior on your walks. The more you commit to teaching this, the more enjoyable your outings are going to be.
The Lille Björn Has What You Need!
Hopefully we have helped you to see just how much the right equipment can contribute to making your walking experience a perfect one, both for you and your canine companion. If you want to up your accessory game, then don’t hesitate to head over to The Lille Björn where you can browse our collection of premium leather dog leashes, including the two recommendations we have highlighted.
For comfort, style, durability and environmentally conscious gear, we have got you completely covered! Our customer service team is ready and waiting to help you with anything that you need.
