Retractable dog leads

[Dinky Dillon]

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I'm sitting here watching the TV and just heard a dog barking, looked out the window and a man is walking two Cocker Spaniels each on a flexi leads, both leads out full held in one hand and a mobile phone in the other hand. not watching his dogs at all. What planet are these people come from.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Yet again not the tool at fault unless thats what you call the guy?

 

[Dinky Dillon]

Yet again not the tool at fault unless thats what you call the guy?

True..... I know it's not the lead, but 90% of owners haven't got a clue how to use them safely, which puts their dog and others in danger.

 

[Violet Turner]

Well the other day I was out walking my two and down the road a man with a GSD and he was on a flexi and they crossed over the lead come undone/unravelled completely oblivious this man just carried on walking with all of the lead rope on the floor, then to make matters worse the oncoming traffic started. Well this numty just shrugged his shoulders and picked the lead up about 2cm's at a time. Watching this from a distance I walked over to offer a hand as the traffic was building up badly so i offered for him to have my old dog lead which I always carry in my pocket for emergencies or strays. He took the lead and left the flexi on the road... So their I was having to hold my two and trying to pick up this lead. Some people are just annoying. But I do use flexi leads but after seeing this I am considering a shock absorbing lead similar to this EzyDog Zero Shock Dog Lead, Blue, 25".

 

[Mad Murphy]

Classic just now. We come off the roundabout alongside local park. Black lab on left kicks off at a GSD and a JRT on the right. Woman on right trys to juggle GSD , JRT on flexis whilst maintaining her phone conversation.. Result we almost had a JRT pancake under our car as it shot out to the full length of the lead.. As for the owner she yanked the lead and just kept on talking.
Again not the fault of the lead (or the phone) just the idiot holding them.

 

[Dinky Dillon]

Well I've seen it all now, this morning I was in the front garden and heard a car braking hard, looked up to see the driver jumping out of his car shouting at a man on phone, his dog on flexi lead on other side of the road, the owner hadn't even noticed his dog had crossed the road. Just dread to think what would have happened if the driver hadn't had his wits about him.

 

[leashedForLife]

.

I was crossing a busy street in downtown Boston, & a driver rolled right thru the zebra crosswalk, TEXTING WITH BOTH THUMBS, holding the steering-wheel fixed with his RIGHT ELBOW.

A short distance along the street, he was stopped by a red light, & I tapped on his passenger side window; he rolled it down, & I asked if he'd seen me, crossing the street?... [Since i was pushing a 28-inch tall, purple, hard-shell rollaway, i'd be hard not to notice.] He said no, he hadn't.
I told him i was the one in the crosswalk that he'd rolled thru while texting with his eyes on his mobile. :--\
He didn't even blush or look abashed - he did apologize, but i doubt very much he's changed his habits.

Distracted driving is dangerous, & not only to the distracted driver.
The use of mobile phones has also sent ppl to hospital, when they trip while reading the screen, or fall into a hole - walking right thru the construction tape, or past the barriers, to tumble in. At least when it's a pedestrian & they're not on the roadway, only the individual is at risk! No innocents get hurt.

- terry

.

 

[Dinky Dillon]

.

I was crossing a busy street in downtown Boston, & a driver rolled right thru the zebra crosswalk, TEXTING WITH BOTH THUMBS, holding the steering-wheel fixed with his RIGHT ELBOW.

A short distance along the street, he was stopped by a red light, & I tapped on his passenger side window; he rolled it down, & I asked if he'd seen me, crossing the street?... [Since i was pushing a 28-inch tall, purple, hard-shell rollaway, i'd be hard not to notice.] He said no, he hadn't.
I told him i was the one in the crosswalk that he'd rolled thru while texting with his eyes on his mobile. :--\
He didn't even blush or look abashed - he did apologize, but i doubt very much he's changed his habits.

Distracted driving is dangerous, & not only to the distracted driver.
The use of mobile phones has also sent ppl to hospital, when they trip while reading the screen, or fall into a hole - walking right thru the construction tape, or past the barriers, to tumble in. At least when it's a pedestrian & they're not on the roadway, only the individual is at risk! No innocents get hurt.

- terry

.

OK, but whats that got to do the an idiot not knowing his dog had crossed the road and a good driver noticing what was happening.

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

I really like my extendable lead, I use it for normal walks, as has already been mentioned, short around main roads/traffic and full most of the walk. Because we're in the countryside we don't see alot of traffic on walks as it's mostly back roads that are quiet. Obviously there's no need to have her on a normal short lead when the road is quiet, obviously I shorten it and jump into the hedge if there's a car coming haha! It's handy because Roxy stops every 30 seconds to sniff something or pee so I like that I don't have to stop with her and can just keep walking and let her catch up. Also good for the beach if it's busy and don't feel comfortable enough to let her off. Have also just bought a 15m training lead for the beach or in the garden (it's a big garden and I don't like her eating all the bird food that accumulates on the floor!).

 

[Nanny71]

Meeting someone with a dog on a Flexi-Lead is my worst nigthmare most not all are on mobile phones or have no idea what their dog is doing, they wonder all over peoples gardens even trying to get in the road or running at my dog, who doesn't like that sort of rude behavior. They are OK for off road walking when you can't let your dog off lead, but not for street walking.

You are of course entitled to your opinion..maybe I am lucky where I live but have never had a problem with extendable lead, either using it or meeting people with it..
I have never met anyone walking their dog and spending the whole time on their mobile phones. However, people do need to occasionally answer their phones whilst out.

I now carry my phone at all time after collapsing in the street whilst walking my dog, while he was on his extendable (held short). He never left my side. That day I did not have my mobile phone with me. Heart attacks are not nice!

 

[Nanny71]

True..... I know it's not the lead, but 90% of owners haven't got a clue how to use them safely, which puts their dog and others in danger.

I think 90% is an exaggeration and I would be I interested where you obtained your statistics.

 

[Nanny71]

I really like my extendable lead, I use it for normal walks, as has already been mentioned, short around main roads/traffic and full most of the walk. Because we're in the countryside we don't see alot of traffic on walks as it's mostly back roads that are quiet. Obviously there's no need to have her on a normal short lead when the road is quiet, obviously I shorten it and jump into the hedge if there's a car coming haha! It's handy because Roxy stops every 30 seconds to sniff something or pee so I like that I don't have to stop with her and can just keep walking and let her catch up. Also good for the beach if it's busy and don't feel comfortable enough to let her off. Have also just bought a 15m training lead for the beach or in the garden (it's a big garden and I don't like her eating all the bird food that accumulates on the floor!).

I do like my extendable, it can be used short or allow dog to move more freely in safe areas.
Today we have been out, in town, to Garden Centre and in a pub for a meal. Used a normal lead.
Tomorrow I am going for a long walk which is almost all off lead. I will have the extendable because part of it is canal towpath. He does not like water but I would rather use the extendable than have him completely loose there

 

[Nanny71]

.

I was crossing a busy street in downtown Boston, & a driver rolled right thru the zebra crosswalk, TEXTING WITH BOTH THUMBS, holding the steering-wheel fixed with his RIGHT ELBOW.

A short distance along the street, he was stopped by a red light, & I tapped on his passenger side window; he rolled it down, & I asked if he'd seen me, crossing the street?... [Since i was pushing a 28-inch tall, purple, hard-shell rollaway, i'd be hard not to notice.] He said no, he hadn't.
I told him i was the one in the crosswalk that he'd rolled thru while texting with his eyes on his mobile. :--\
He didn't even blush or look abashed - he did apologize, but i doubt very much he's changed his habits.

Distracted driving is dangerous, & not only to the distracted driver.
The use of mobile phones has also sent ppl to hospital, when they trip while reading the screen, or fall into a hole - walking right thru the construction tape, or past the barriers, to tumble in. At least when it's a pedestrian & they're not on the roadway, only the individual is at risk! No innocents get hurt.

- terry

.

I understand that London is considering putting traffic signals at ground level for people who never look up from their phones

 

[Dinky Dillon]

You are of course entitled to your opinion..maybe I am lucky where I live but have never had a problem with extendable lead, either using it or meeting people with it..
I have never met anyone walking their dog and spending the whole time on their mobile phones. However, people do need to occasionally answer their phones whilst out.

I now carry my phone at all time after collapsing in the street whilst walking my dog, while he was on his extendable (held short). He never left my side. That day I did not have my mobile phone with me. Heart attacks are not nice!

Well where I live I just surprised how many people walk round with phones glued to their ears, it's as if the world will ne dif they are using them

 

[Dinky Dillon]

You are of course entitled to your opinion..maybe I am lucky where I live but have never had a problem with extendable lead, either using it or meeting people with it..
I have never met anyone walking their dog and spending the whole time on their mobile phones. However, people do need to occasionally answer their phones whilst out.

I now carry my phone at all time after collapsing in the street whilst walking my dog, while he was on his extendable (held short). He never left my side. That day I did not have my mobile phone with me. Heart attacks are not nice!

I have no problem with people having phones and answering them, it's when you see them leave the house talking on the phone take the dog for a walk and still on it when they get home that's what gets me cross. I went out to the shops out for nearly an hour saw this person many times in the area and they were still on there phone when they got home.

I think 90% is an exaggeration and I would be I interested where you obtained your statistics.

Well where I live its seems like it, more often than not when I look out the window and someone is walking past they are on their phone.

 

[Mayblossom]

I had a phone walker this morning Molly , our Springer is very nervous and will bark if a dog rushes towards her, this dog did just that but the owner was oblivious to the noise Molly was making because she was on the phone chatting away quite happily to her friend she couldn’t hear me saying would you be kind enough to call your dog back to you ( or words to that effect ) the dog continued doing just what it wanted , luckily we found a path through the woods to escape , Molls has the noisiest bark ever and drives me nuts so how this woman was able to block it out or listen to her call I’ll never know!

 

[Nanny71]

Mobile phones, like so many other things, seem to be a necessity nowadays.
I find my grandchildren are permanently on their phones.
Maybe I am lucky but when out with my dog, either alone or with friends, I do not use my phone unless absolutely necessary.
I do answer it if it rings as my daughter works and I am the emergency contact for the childrens school.
Also after what happened to me I take it with me when I walk the same as I take it with me when I drive. It is for emergencies.
When walking in the evening I take it with me but I don't have long conversations on it. I prefer to see my friends face to face than talk on the phone.
Dudley is my companion and I am of the generation that believe in communicating with companions and that using the phone when you are with others is extremely bad manners

 

[JudyN]

Dudley is my companion and I am of the generation that believe in communicating with companions and that using the phone when you are with others is extremely bad manners

A good proportion of our walks, Jasper and I are wandering along in our own little worlds, him smelling intently where deer and rabbits might have been, me admiring the view or daydreaming, so I don't think he minds if I check my email or view the latest posts on a forum from time to time. I only do it where it's safe to do so, though - and I don't post anything while walking along, that takes too much concentration!

I really don't like it if I'm walking with a friend though and they spend half their time reading and replying to texts. Now that is rude!

 

[Nanny71]

It is not just talking on the phone. Those that are permanently plugged in listening to (I assume) music. Cyclists and runners seem to be the worst offenders. How can they be alert to other road and pavement users.

 

[Nanny71]

Have been very involved with the retractable debate and while I still believe they are very useful, when used correctly, Dudley has done a lot of visiting and 'Shopping' over the past two days. This evening I realised I haven't used the retractable at all over those two days. Nice walk this morning, with his friend Betty, mostly off lead. Pet shop for sundries and food. Pub for lunch. Acupuncture after tea. (me not Dudley).
He has been with me all day. Slept under the table in the pub (Dudley not me). Slept on the acupucturists sofa.
Also pleased to realise I haven't used the car either.
Answered two calls from my husband, wanting to know if we were ever coming home.