Extendable Leads

[whippetsrus]

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The lead I used for Beau was 25 foot long so was not used for walking on. This was used for practising recall. It did get wet and muddy but it worked fine for us. When I walk the whippys they are all walked on a five foot lead. They are not at the full extent all the time. But it allows them room to move to go for a sniff etc. I am lucky and have the canal 10 mins walk away for running. Not everybody has that but it does not alter the risk that extendable leads present.

 

[mamaroo]

Sorry bit of a newbie - hope I'm not intruding on this post (no whippet at present)

I really really want a whippet but I'm really confused whether i should or not as I don't want it to come to harm or cause anyone else harm.

I read a post about horses and all these thoughts of walking my dog when I lived at home (millions of years ago) flooded back. We had a gordon x collie who loved everything and everyone and would race up to horses as if best friend - i was petrified she'd get kicked in the head. She also had very selective hearing when recalled from potential friends.

So i thought a flexi lead would have to be the answer - something I'm not wild about because even without dogs we often use the term 'let them off the lead' when referring to the kids or husband - referring to freedom.

So now flexi leads are being damned i don't know what i'd do if i got a whippet. we have lots and lots of bridleways, busy roads, other dogs, grumpy people, canals, ponds and deer where we live (probably similar to anyone else - we don't have sheep though!) so lots and lots of distractions!!!! I always thought flexi leads would be better because you can reel them in when they go deaf and sight something but also gives them freedom to run to some extent where they want to go and sniff.

 

[~Sarah~]

Hi mamaroo

I don't like flexi-leads and wouldn't ever use one on my own dogs, or recommend using one on any dog that runs as fast as whippets do. I could imagine a dog breaking its neck very easily and I have heard of some failing (so the dog could run into the road for example).

I have, however, used one on a little dog that I have walked for the owners. He was not safe to be let off in the woods as he tended to run off after squirrels, so they always used a flexi-lead. It was OK, but I didn't like the fact that it seemed very difficult to 'rein in' the dog when you wanted to, and you needed to be very aware of any other dogs around.

With my own two whippets I haven't really experienced problems with letting them off lead. I think you just have to be sensible and be aware of the surroundings. I don't let them off around livestock although some on K9 have very well trained whippets around livestock. Janimal on here has 3 whippets and she often posts photos of her dogs off lead near sheep. :thumbsup:

We usually walk our dogs along the local canal towpath which I find very safe for free running. Water on one side, and fencing on the other. I always have treats in my pocket, so their recall is pretty good. :thumbsup:

Good luck. :luck: :luck:

 

[Haylsey]

My daughter was injured by a flexi lead when she was 18 months old. We were walking in the park when a man with a black lab that he didn't have control of managed to get it caught around her hand. It literally burnt her thumb she is 5 now and still has the scar. I personally wouldnt use one. i think they are too dangerous

 

[fallenangel]

Sorry bit of a newbie - hope I'm not intruding on this post (no whippet at present)
I really really want a whippet but I'm really confused whether i should or not as I don't want it to come to harm or cause anyone else harm.

I read a post about horses and all these thoughts of walking my dog when I lived at home (millions of years ago) flooded back. We had a gordon x collie who loved everything and everyone and would race up to horses as if best friend - i was petrified she'd get kicked in the head. She also had very selective hearing when recalled from potential friends.

So i thought a flexi lead would have to be the answer - something I'm not wild about because even without dogs we often use the term 'let them off the lead' when referring to the kids or husband - referring to freedom.

So now flexi leads are being damned i don't know what i'd do if i got a whippet. we have lots and lots of bridleways, busy roads, other dogs, grumpy people, canals, ponds and deer where we live (probably similar to anyone else - we don't have sheep though!) so lots and lots of distractions!!!! I always thought flexi leads would be better because you can reel them in when they go deaf and sight something but also gives them freedom to run to some extent where they want to go and sniff.

dont panic about getting a whippet there wonderfull some good basic training is all thats needed start looking round now for classes all the dogs i have had from pups i can walk off lead with anything about no problem and even some of the ones that came as adults after a bit of training are fine. the long training line is good to use at first when learning recall. A flexy lead carnt wined in to pull your dog back to you all it can do is stop it going further away than it allready is by pressing the button to lock it. the dog has to come back on its own as you carnt reel it in on themit only rewined as the dog gets closer. you can get hold of a long traning lead and pull the dog back on it. but if your near a road or animals your not sure of just pop your dog back on a lead. after they have had a quick run there happy trotting along side you on a lead

 

[oakmoorehill]

The other morning on my wat to work I saw a man walking a dog on a flexi lead. Of all dogs to walk on one of them it was a great big st bernard

 

[~Annie~]

Sorry bit of a newbie - hope I'm not intruding on this post (no whippet at present)
I really really want a whippet but I'm really confused whether i should or not as I don't want it to come to harm or cause anyone else harm.

I read a post about horses and all these thoughts of walking my dog when I lived at home (millions of years ago) flooded back. We had a gordon x collie who loved everything and everyone and would race up to horses as if best friend - i was petrified she'd get kicked in the head. She also had very selective hearing when recalled from potential friends.

So i thought a flexi lead would have to be the answer - something I'm not wild about because even without dogs we often use the term 'let them off the lead' when referring to the kids or husband - referring to freedom.

So now flexi leads are being damned i don't know what i'd do if i got a whippet. we have lots and lots of bridleways, busy roads, other dogs, grumpy people, canals, ponds and deer where we live (probably similar to anyone else - we don't have sheep though!) so lots and lots of distractions!!!! I always thought flexi leads would be better because you can reel them in when they go deaf and sight something but also gives them freedom to run to some extent where they want to go and sniff.

Will you be getting a pup? In the early days they generally don't want to lose sight of you so out and off lead (somewhere safely away from traffic) they never stray far. In my experience recall training off lead at that stage means that you are unlikely to have problems later. I posted about Finn in the thread on horses but after the one incident where he was more interested in the horse than me I upped the training and solved the problem (with a little help from some garlic sausage!). Training should be ongoing throughout a dogs life and it helps you too - if you are confident and act as though you expect your dog to come when you call it's much more likely to. And of course he/she will benefit from lead walking as well as free running so when/where it's too busy it doesn't hurt to keep them to heel on a lead.

HTH, Annie

.

 

[Janimal]

When I had mine years ago...I had more god darned rope burns on my hands... :angry:

and once I dropped it ..the handle thingy....it coiled back like a snake hitting chip on the head...

and the times its got wrapped round his legs too....and the cord is so thin and strong...leathal...

I decided then and there....binning it was the best thing to do ...and go back to proper leads. :lol:

never had one since and never will ....

 

[Garry Comber]

I still say they are brilliant when you are camping and your dog wants a wee in the night, you can shove them out the door and reel them in when they have been.

Am I the only one who has found a SAFE use for them? everyone seems to be chucking them away! :b

I got mine originally when my dog broke his leg, as it mended I could limit his exercise without him doing anything silly. but reverted back to conventional leads as soon as I could

Having said this I dread meeting people with them :rant: and I have also have trouble deciding if dogs are loose or not when approaching them in the car, they extend them so long there is no way they could stop them going in the road if they wanted:rant:seems no point in having them on a lead at all

 

[Nicola]

I have to hold up my hand and confess I use one for my mini schnauzer on longer rambles (but not for every day walks to the park and back). His recall isn't perfect, he's not livestock trained, so I have to keep him on a lead in areas where there are sheep or nesting birds about (just about most of the Peak District really). The flexi lead (I now use the ribboned ones rather than the chord ones) allows him much more freedom, and I'm very adept at reeling him in at short notice when necessary (it's clipped to his harness and not a neck collar). I occasionally use one for Fred too (who doesn't run and caper about anymore), but only if we're on holiday in an area I don't know, and only when my OH is around so we have a flexi lead each. I couldn't use two at the same time because you end up knitting with the leads and can get into an uncrontrollable tangle if you're not careful.

I like these leads, they have their uses, provided you realise their dangers and shortcomings, but I do take the point that if my dogs were perfectly trained and had 100% reliable recall then I probably wouldn't have too. I don't think they are suitable for all breeds of dog , or for everyday use, but I'm happy to use one for my little terrier chappie when I'm out on longer walks on the moors or if I was camping. I'm always very careful not to be a hindrance or danger to anyone else with them.

 

[mamaroo]

Hi Everyone

Thanks very much for all your advice.

When I do get a Whippet I will be hopefully getting a pup and plan to take it to training sessions from an early age. I have some bad memories of our family pet dog as she was a rescue dog and the rest of my family weren't as keen as me in training her (you can't choose your family!). She was a lovely dog but recall wasn't her strong point. Hence my fear now of having a dog that doesn't come back and one that will be very focused on something in the distance that i can't even see.

I also got the impression they are a complete nightmare near any thing potentially dangerous - falling canals and rivers or falling off cliffs for example as they look 'ahead' of themselves rather 'in front' of themselves. I may have just come across some extreme examples - trying to do as much recearch as poss. Not the same as learning in situ but some mistakes I'd prefer to avoid if poss.

I have taken on board the dangers of using a flexi lead with a whippet and will not be buyng one... however may regret it when i'm camping with him and have to go out in the rain :thumbsup:

Thanks again

Roo

 

[fallenangel]

Hi Everyone
Thanks very much for all your advice.

When I do get a Whippet I will be hopefully getting a pup and plan to take it to training sessions from an early age. I have some bad memories of our family pet dog as she was a rescue dog and the rest of my family weren't as keen as me in training her (you can't choose your family!). She was a lovely dog but recall wasn't her strong point. Hence my fear now of having a dog that doesn't come back and one that will be very focused on something in the distance that i can't even see.

I also got the impression they are a complete nightmare near any thing potentially dangerous - falling canals and rivers or falling off cliffs for example as they look 'ahead' of themselves rather 'in front' of themselves. I may have just come across some extreme examples - trying to do as much recearch as poss. Not the same as learning in situ but some mistakes I'd prefer to avoid if poss.

I have taken on board the dangers of using a flexi lead with a whippet and will not be buyng one... however may regret it when i'm camping with him and have to go out in the rain :thumbsup:

Thanks again

Roo

we go camping and use a long tranig lead for middles of the night loo breaks aswell so dont even use a flexy lead for that and through the day we use the lead and a groud spike if were just sat about with the dogs