We use one when we take him to big areas that aren't fenced in, like a park or the beach, but when we walk him we use our standard nylon leash.

Our dog weighs 80 pounds. I can't imagine walking him WITHOUT one of these! When there is the extra string, it's harder for him to jerk me forward (until it gets to the end).

flexis can be dangerous. two years ago my sheltie was on one (about a foot away from me) as i put the garbage cans out front. my next door neighbor's pit bull came charging down the street (off-leash) and attacked him. it all happened so fast that before i knew it, the dogs were in the middle of the street (the pit attacking my sheltie) and the flexi had wrapped me tightly against the garbage can. luckily, the neighbor immediately came and pulled his dog off of mine and then freed me. what a mess. the line from the flexi burned my hands and arms ... those really hurt. however, had my dog been on a shorter leash, i might have gotten hurt in the pit attack instead of my dog taking the brunt of it for me.

We got one and use it only at parks with lots of open space, and even when we tested out some off-leash dog parks. I don't like using it for walks on a sidewalk because I can't "reel" Lulu in when she gets excited and sees a person or other dog.

When I first got the leash and was reading how to use it, it freaked me out with all the warnings! It did come with a safety strap for a collar, but we use a harness on Lulu.

Never. I like to keep my dog on a short leash

I use a flex leash pretty often, most of the time we go anywhere. I alway keep my thumb over the button so I cal reel him in if anything were to happen. I never let him just cruise wherever, hes good about staying on the sidewalk and whatnot, but he likes to explore and it's MUCH easier to do that with a flexie

No but for a different reason.

Our trainer told us that these leashes teach puppies that's it OK to pull because when they pull they get more lead and get to go farther. Maybe after Kasey has perfect leash manners I might get one for the park, but I don't want to reinforce bad behavior.

Not only can flexis be dangerous, but they promote untrained dogs. Think about it.... If you use a flexi leash why would your dog need to heel, or learn the command Come. I don't use them. My dogs are well trained. (Almost leash free for walks, currently at leash dragging with no corrections) When we go to parks even off leash parks I let them run free because I KNOW I can recall them in an instant if need be. I guess my point is that I would rather have a well trained dog then a dog on a flexi leash

After hearing so many dog walkers talk about how bad they are, I don't use one any more. And I've gotten tangled in others' since. So now I have to say I don't approve, and wish I'd never used one.

If your dog pulls a lot and that's why you use the flexi leash, try the Gentle Leader harnesses. They do wonders for even the biggest pullers I swear it works for my 50-lb pit/lab mix puppy!

http://www.premier.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/behavior/easywalk/pr...

I second the gentle leader harness comment. you'll notice and INSTANT difference.

I think they should be banned. But that is because I have had some bad experiences.

Definitely no flexis, my dog wears a prong collar on walks and you need to use a regular leash with that. We also didn't ever have one when he was a puppy because I read that it teaches them to pull.

Any dog school or trainer or dog expert will tell you not to use the flexi. It's dangerous- I've seen people get VERY badly cut and burned. It does not let you control the dog if there is an emergency. Also if your dog pulls you should teach him/ her not to pull. It's a pretty basic thing.

My dog is well trained, will come when I call him, and heel when I ask him to. But when we go for walks I let him explore, the walk is for HIM to enjoy not just me. So during those times I use a flexi. I feel it's safer than just letting him off leash even though I trust him. Everyone has their opinions

Lucy had a Flexi and she developed bad leash manners. Thankfully our roomies noticed it and bought a regular leash for her. Now she's a-ok and can walk with a flexi without problems.

We have a flexi, but I never use it. I prefer walking my dogs on a short leash on the street. They're both now off-leash trained for walking in the paths in our coulees (away from the streets). I see no positive use for the leashes when walking on the streets, and if you can't train your dog off leash, I don't see a flexi leash being a good thing. Just my thoughts though.

We never use them. Along with our trainers, I believe that it teaches a dog that the proper way to walk is with resistance, aka pulling and with some big girls at home, that was something we never wanted. We used a long leash for training, then moved up to something almost like a horse's training lead to give them the sense of a space. Now, our girls are able to be off leash with no problems. When walking on a leash, we always use a 6', which gives them some room and we still maintain control.

@divadina--That sounds like the perfect plan!

my dog cisco and i never use a flexi.
ive seen way too many dog owners who have their dog on a flexi and just let them run all over on walks. ive seen them in the middle of roads... pestering my dog... ect ect.

we have a flexi but only for when he needs to go out to do his business and then for our walks or if we go hiking we take him on our shorter and sturdier leash (hes 55 lb pit bull)

We use one every day for our walks - I have a 13lb shih tzu, so I like it because it lets him prance a little more in front of me when he gets excited . But if I say to stop or wait, he will sit right down.

I didn't even think about the "danger" aspect. We used to have one, but my dog chewed through it because it's so flimsy. I prefer using a regular leash anyway - I feel more in control and I think they're more attractive anyway.

A Flexi is all we use. I definitely think it is a case by case thing (or rather dog by dog ), though. I have a Sheltie (Miko) and she would NEVER even dream of pulling on the leash. I always have my thumb on the button so that I have control over her. She will stop when I say to, but just to be safe I click the button whenever we are waiting to cross the street or near other dogs. I like the Flexi because when we go on walks she can linger sniffing things while I continue to walk and then she justs runs to catch up. I definitely wouldn't use it on a big or untrained dog.

I would never use one. Then again, I have a yorkie.

The best thing about this type of lead is the retraction. It allows dogs to run around without getting caught up in their own lead. (I prefer to call them leads rather than "leashes".) However, I think it's much safer to have a lead that you have better control over, personally. I'd much rather have it wrapped around my wrist in case of a an accident.

When I was 17, I had a dogwalking service for extra spending money. One of my clients used a flexi...one day her dog ran around my left leg and took off after a squirrel. The cord cut into my leg so deeply, I needed several stitches.

Good thing it was a little Jack Russell; if it were a larger dog I may have ended up an amputee.

We've used one with our 40ish lb Braque du Bourbonnais (similar to a German Shorthaired Pointer), and I think it's time to stop. She's already learned some bad habits, and I think we need to go back to a regular leash to keep her from hauling us everywhere on walks. Maybe we'll leave her on the extendable for potty time.

Thanks for the harness recommendations, by the way...I think the Easy Walk will help things too!

I have a flexi mini and i adore it. It's actually so simple to use if you have half of a brain. It re tracts so quick,and i love the braking system. I usually keep the leash super short(like traffic leash short) And let it go out when my dog has to potty(i'd prefer if she did that as far away from me as possible! lol) And in case of emergencies I run toward the dog and put the break on. It's just like a regular leash, except it retracts instead of hangs there.My trainer encourages use of it. It doesn't reinforce any bad behaviours such as pulling. My dog walks right beside me with or without the break on,Well until i say go potty.In that case she walks the entire length of the flexi.(god bless her! lol)As far as dog attacks...ect.Flexi or not....You should be paying attention. The flexi is mean for dogs that behave well on a lead,and are already lead trained. I wouldn't suggest it for anyone with a great dane with aggression and other behavioural problems. lol.

I work as a veterinary assistant/receptionist, and I have a different take on retracteable leashes than some people on here. Try looking at your use of the flexi, or similar leashes, from the perspective of veterinary office employees, petstore employees, small children that are afraid of dogs, people who are trying to enjoy a stroll down the street or through the park with out a dog bounding towards them, etc etc. None of US appreciate the fact that your dog has 10 or even more feet of access leash to do with what ever they want to. If you are out in public with your dog, whether you are out for a walk or ESPECIALLY if you are in a public place like your vet or a grooming facility or store, there is no reason why your dog should be anywhere but directly by your side. When I am at work I am absolutely amazed by the number of clients who let their dog wind its way behind the counter, or wind its way around the desk so it is on the other side trying to jump on other clients, etc. In addition, a retracteable offers absolutely no control if you have a large dog such as a Lab, Golden Retriever, or really any dog that weighs over 40 lbs or so, especially if the dog pulls. You need a leather or strong nylon leash for these pets in order to have good control over them. And if you have a dog that other people are intimidated by, such as a Rottweiller or Doberman for example, a short traffic leash is really the best answer. I own two German Shepherds that are the gentlest dogs in the world, but I am smart enough to realize that other people may be afraid of them, and a 1 ft leash is usually what I normally use when in busy places.
The Flexi has one purpose: for walks out on wide open areas where there are no people or other pets nearby. But unfortunately the leash is obnoxiously overused by people who are ignorant and don't realize that not everybody adores your dog like you do.