I have written about how much I hate Flexi leashes before. But lately, I keep seeing more and more of these things. Flexi leashes are those flimsy, retractable leashes (like a tape measure) that allow a dog to pull ahead 20 feet or so. I don’t know who is encouraging people to buy Flexi leashes, but they are a big problem. If you are considering buying a Flexi leash, it is a bad idea. Here’s why:
1. Flexi leashes are for lazy people.
These “leashes” allow you to stand there while your dog runs around you. If you are that lazy, you shouldn’t own a dog in the first place.
2. You can’t control your dog on a Flexi leash.
You just can’t. Sunday morning I was biking with Ace at my side. A block ahead of us, a German shepherd mix on a Flexi charged us, almost getting away from her owner who actually yelled at me to “hold on” as though Ace and I were the problem. We just quietly continued on our way. Ace barely lifted an eyebrow as the shepherd barked and pulled. Her owner was unable to pull her back. I was so proud of my mutt for being calm through the whole thing.
I’ve seen even worse situations where the biker actually has his dog on a Flexi leash! Please, if you are going to bike with your dog, buy a hands free bike leash.
3. Flexi leashes teach your dog to pull.
The more the dog pulls, the more leash it is given. What a great idea.
4. Flexi leashes cause accidents.
More than once, I’ve been biking, only to approach someone with a dog on a fully extended Flexi. Usually the owner just stands there with 20 feet of tight leash and a yapping dog on one end, unable or unwilling to pull his or her dog in. It’s hard to go around a 20-foot radius when you’re dealing with traffic and other pedestrians. I wonder how many people have been killed by these things.
5. Flexi leashes put the dog in control.
When the leash is tight, the only way to shorten it is to walk toward the dog. This teaches the dog she doesn’t have to come to you. You will instead come to her. But that’s OK, because people with Flexis don’t want control over their dogs.
6. Flexi leashes are not for big dogs.
I would never buy a Flexi for any dog, especially a dog over 20 pounds. Every day I see people in my neighborhood walking German shepherds, labs and even huskies on Flexis.
7. Flexi leashes are awkward to hold.
I’d rather run or bike with my dog without holding onto a big hunk of plastic (that’s what the leash retracts into).
8. The dog can easily get away on a Flexi leash.
It doesn’t take much for a dog to pull the leash out of her owner’s hands when she has a 20-foot head start. When I let Ace outside at my apartment complex, we have to walk around a corner to the grass he uses. I always make sure to keep him close to me because when we get around that corner there are often dogs on Flexis that lunge at us. These owners are always embarrassed to have their arms nearly ripped out by their dogs. No wonder on one picks up after their dogs around here. If they stop to pick up the poop, their dogs will get away!
9. Flexi leashes are the worst tool to walk your dog with.
In a proper heeling position, a dog should be at her owner’s side on a loose lead. Flexis are always tight and the dog is almost always several feet in front of the owner.
10. Dogs aren’t safe on a Flexi leash.
With that much slack in the leash, they can get hit by a car or bike, bit by another dog or just plain get away. They are a danger to themselves, their owners and others.
Of course, there are three or four people in this world who are responsible when they use Flexis. They use them to exercise their small dogs in an area where the dogs will be safe and under control, like out in a quiet field in the country. The problem is, the majority of Flexi users are careless and don’t use common sense.
If you think Flexis are great and want to prove me wrong, feel free to write me a guest post.
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August 18th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Um yeah, anything that allows someone to be lazy with their dog is not good in my book. Plus these are so dangerous! I see people losing control of very large animals all of the time on these and wonder what the problem is…can you say “clueless”!
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August 18th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I totally agree…and have you ever had an excited dog on it’s fully extended lead run in circles around YOU after your dog (who is off lead) winding the lead tighter and tighter around your legs?! Believe me it hurts and don’t look to pretty after…!
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August 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Thank you so much for this post, Lindsay. I’m one of those people who uses these things. I don’t consider myself lazy, since I never stand and always walk briskly along with my dog, but what you say about the pulling is so true! And I’m always so afraid of one day my dog being hit by a car. I’ve been thinking about getting a short leash for some time now, so I’m glad I read this today. What kind of leash would you recommend for a golden retriever? I use a harness because my dog once hurt his windpipe because of pulling.
Thanks.
Mayra
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August 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Mayra, I recommend a 6-foot leather leash. They are easy to grip, comfortable on the hands (especially after a few months), sturdy and a good length for controlling the dog. I still think you should get a Gentle Leader if you haven’t tried that. If you can’t find one there, try eBay. Or I’ll mail you one! Ha.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I HATE HATE HATE flexis! They are awful! Have you ever had a dog run in cirles around you with one of those damn things and burn your legs? I had a pair of min pins get away from their owner and run around my legs. The leashes burned the backs of my legs and now I have scars from it. The owner just laughed nervously and said i dont know what to do with them.. blah blah blah. Min pins!
There’s no control with one of those stupid things either. I personally think they should be banned.
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August 19th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Hi! New commenter but I’ve been reading for a while.
I hate FlexiLeads too! There are a lot of narrow country lanes in this area, and I once saw an owner walking on one side of the road with their dog on the other side due to the length of the FlexiLead. A car came around the corner and drove over the Flexi line, and the poor dog was nearly throttled — I was horrified! I was thankful that the car had only run over the lead, I can only imagine how much worse that could have been.
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August 19th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Hi Leanne. Thanks for your comment. That is an awful story! I’m glad the dog was OK!
August 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am
GREAT post. I think it may save some dog’s life or limb… people are just not aware of how badly you can be burned on the leg by one of those things. And we have all seen dog walkers try to grab the flexi line itself, rather than push the button to stop the dog from lunging out, only to scream in pain at the burns on their fingers. Can burn dogs pretty badly too. Anyway, I do use one but I’m happy to say it’s in just the manner you describe, alone in the country with no hazards nearby, no cars. She can’t jerk me off my feet since she’s only 12 pounds. I use the Flexi to keep Pepper from racing into another ZIP code after a squirrel, but I don’t have to hassle with adjusting the leash while swinging my arms during a hike/workout. But if there will be cars or other dogs around, I reach right for my 6′ leather leash. Pepper sure knows the difference. Thanks Lindsay! PS: I used to spot a HUGE Cane Corso dog, must have weighed 120 pounds, being walked on a Flexi by a tiny 90 pound woman. Needless to say I could see that recipe for disaster coming. I’d always reroute to avoid getting within a football field of that pair.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Thanks, Bonnie. Glad to hear from someone who uses the Flexi responsibly. I am surprised by how many people have been burned by these leashes.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Thanks, Lindsay! I’ll go to the pet shop tomorrow. Are gentle leaders the ones that tighten around the neck as the dog pulls? I had one of this, but it didn’t help with the pulling. Thanks for your tip about the length of the leash. That helps. I have a leather one just as you describe but it is from when he was a puppy, about half the size, so I need to get a longer one. I’m glad I’m finally doing something about this. Thanks again.
Mayra
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August 19th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Gentle Leaders fit around the dog’s muzzle, so they do not choke the dogs, but they eliminate much of the pulling. Plus the dogs can still pant and bark and drink of course. I suggested a Gentle Leader because you said choke collars were ineffective with Amigo.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Lindsay, this is a great post. I hate flexi-leads too. We have one in Vermont, but I never let it get beyond 6 ft (the length of our nylon lead). I’ve found that teaching Biggie to walk nicely on a loose 6ft lead is well worth the effort, and so when we use the flexi in VT, he tends to stay right by my side anyway. If anything, I keep the flexi lead shorter!
I so agree with you, I think the ONLY good use of a flexi is in a *controlled* environment if you are working on commands like “stay”, for example, and you want to walk farther and farther away from the dog but still have control if he runs off.
Mayra, I use a gentle leader (the head harness that looks like a muzzle but isn’t) on Biggie, a 98-lb kuvasz. Our leash of choice is a flat 1″ wide, 6ft nylon webbing leash. I would prefer the weight of a leather lead and a softer handle, but leather is a little too stretchy for me, just my preference.
I have some posts on my blog about using the Gentle Leader (Biggie used to call it the Benevolent Dictator and then the Kim Jong Il, but I think he’s gotten over that!)
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August 19th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
wholeheartedly agreed!
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August 20th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I agree, flexis in general are misused by most people. In defense of the flexi though…they can be a good training tool when used properly. For example: in teaching skills like a retrieve over a jump they can provide a means to help guide a dog without the problems that a regular leash has of getting caught on the jumps. That doesn’t mean that I think that they should be used at all times though, just that they do have some useful purposes.
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August 20th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Okay, I’ll look into the Gentle Leader, Lindsay. Thanks for your advice!
Mayra
Mayra Calvanis last blog post..Review of Janoose the Goose, by J.D. Holiday
August 21st, 2008 at 5:49 am
We don’t have any dogs, but my parents have 2. They own a flexi, but only use it when taking the dogs out to use their outdoor restroom. For walks, they use the traditional leather leash.
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September 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Well, I like flexis, in their own way. I like them with Chase, my BC, who is a nasty puller and I have to have him on a halti or a harness or a flexi or he’ll pull my arm off. We did the whole ‘be a tree’ thing and he can stand there and stare at the enironment for hours without even glancing at me. =P So I gave up with him. I admire anyone who can take a rescue dog, who has learned that clipping a leash on the collar is the cue to pull and be a nut. Me.. I haven’t had the patience yet to train that out of a dog, and I don’t want to leash pop!
Angel, our 12 year old girl, loves to potty out in the front yard, at her own pace, and we take her out on a flexi. Her pace is pretty darn slow, mind.
I jog with flexis, too. Mostly because of Chase, again. Though I do keep control of my dogs when they are on flexis. I just can’t drop one behind Tatum, or she panics because something evil is chasing her. =P
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November 26th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Hey, thanks for your input Cynthia! Sounds like the Flexis do work for your dogs. I know you are responsible, unlike so many others.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:56 am
If you’re walking an untrained animal these 10 reasons make sense, otherwise this advice is a bit draconian.
1. Lazy people? Is that honestly what you see, people standing still? I walk my pup 2 times a day, 45 mins each time and I run or jog the entire time. The pup enjoys running and discovering along the roadside of our mountain community or along the trails in our public parks.
2. Controlling you dog? When did controlling your dog with a leash become a replacement for command training. My pup returns to my side immmediately when I issue a “walk” command. He stays there until I “release” him.
4. Flexi’s cause accidents? Yes they do, but are you being sincere when you imply that people are being killed by Flexi’s. I wonder how many more accidents occur by unleashed dogs than dogs on a flexi.
5. Dog in Control? A well trained dog will never be confused with who is in “control” regardless of what leash he happens to be/or not be wearing.
6. Flexi’s not for big dogs? A dog has at least a 3:1 lb for lb strength advantage over a human. An unruly uncontrolled 80lb German shepard would be a handful even for a large 250lb man regardless what leash he is using. Point here is regardless if you use a 6′ leather leash or a 20′ flexi, controlling your dog isnt a question of his leash. A well trained German Shepard police dog would be much safer on a flexi than your average yapping 20lb lap dog.
8. The dogs in your apartment complex sound untrained, bored, insecure, and their owners are utterly confused on who is in charge.
9. Regarding proper “heeling” position. So are you saying your dogs is always at a “proper heeling position” when you walk him? The proper heel position includes a loose leash…so why would it matter how long the leash is? Whether its a slack 6′ or a slack flexi retracted to 6′?
Flexi’s can definitely be dangerous, but so can bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, and everything else folks enjoy using. If you want a well controlled dog then train it.
I appreciate your passion for the topic, but honestly the one salient point of your post that I accept on face value is that irresponsible people should not walk dogs in public. I’ll add that I’d advocate responsible folks who chose not to train their animals to only use 6′ leashes.
Hey I just realized that between Cynthia and myself we represent at least 50% of the world wide population who use Flexi’s responsibly.
“there are three or four people in this world who are responsible”
January 5th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Sounds like the Flexi leash works well for you and your dog and that you are using it safely. I wish other Flexi users would do the same.
When I allow my dog to run and sniff away from my side, he is off leash. He comes when I call him, so I have no use for a Flexi. It’s awkward to hold, and I don’t want to risk someone coming around a corner and getting caught in the slack. When a leash is necessary, Ace is safely on a loose leash in heel position, so I don’t know why I would ever need a Flexi. Maybe they would help when teaching a dog the recall, but they are too flimsy for a dog over 20 pounds.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Thank you Brook for your very fine and detailed rebuttal. You expressed so elequently exactly what I was thinking. I too am a Flexi user and I love it. It’s not the leash, it’s the owner. I walk my dog. I don’t stand there and let her run around me in circles. I agree that some people are lazy, but it’s not a characteristic shared by all Flexi owners. I have a Cairn Terrier and I live in a townhome community with a lot of common grassy areas. Our walks are meant to be an enjoyable and socialable activity for both of us. I have neighbors who walk their dogs in heel position and don’t allow them to sniff the grass or approach other dogs. Over time, they become anti-social and nasty. The Flexi enables my little girl to vere off to the grass or bush to take a sniff or do her business with a little distance and privacy, which she prefers. She doesn’t pull because I don’t let her.
The point about them causing rope burns is legitimate and for that reason I only use the all belt model. That eliminates that problem.
I never walk her without my finger permanently fixed on the break mechanism. A push of the thumb keeps me in control and keeps the leash taught so there’s no slack tangling around her feet or legs.
My Flexi extends 12 feet, not 20 and is never fully extended. On average, she has about 6-8 feet of leash, at the most, at any given time since knows she is to stay close to me while on walks.
Nothing is black and white. Just as with bicylces, skate boards, roller blades and anything else controversial, the Flexi is not a dangerous tool in the hands of the right person.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Thanks, Bill. I can tolerate a Flexi leash when it is used by a responsible owner and a small dog like a cairn terrier. I disagree that 6-foot leashes and proper “heel position” make dogs antisocial. Proper training is what allows dogs to become more social because they are able to be out more and experience more situations.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Lindsay,
Thanks for responding and for starting this interesting discussion. It’s always good to hear both sides.
Point taken about the heel position. Corey and I went to obedience school and we learned all that, but I just found it too regimented for a nice evening walk around the neighborhood. In the end, it depends on the dog. My Corey just isn’t a problem on a leash, so allowing her to explore within reason works for us. I found the same to be true with crate training. She’s never chewed or got into anything, so leaving her sleeping on the sofa when I leave the house is fine and she sleeps in bed with me. Some people find that unnacceptable, but it works for me. She’s a family member and putting her in a cage when I don’t need to bothers me. She’s almost 15, so it obviously worked for us. My next puppy could be an entirely different experience.
It’s a great topic of discussion. With dog owners, I find there are people who either really hate the Flexi or really love it. I always feel a little on the defensive when I hear “people who use Flexis are lazy” or that they kill people. It’s hard not to take it personally.
Overall, I think we live in a culture of alarmism today. Do this, don’t do that or else something horrible will happen. I can’t live my life like that. People die in car accidents everyday, yet the vast majority of us drive and do it responsibily.
The Flexi will work for some people and not others. There are benefits to it over a standard leash just as there are benefits to a standard leash over a Flexi. Just as there are cars with automatic transmissions and cars with manual transmissions, it all comes down to the end user and personal preference and responsibility.
Thanks again for starting this discussion.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I appreciate your points, Bill. Sounds like you and Corey are getting along great. I wish the people around here would be more responsible with their Flexi leashes, then it would be easier to consider the benefits of a retractable leash.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Lindsay,
Thanks Lindsay. I wrote those posts in the present tense so as not to confuse the situation, but my precious Corey passed away in November from complications of kidney failure. She would have been 15 next week. What a devastating blow that was. I had to euthanize her and that was heart wrenching. She was my baby and I miss her with all my heart, but I can’t live without a dog, without a Cairn. A few hours from now I’ll be picking up my new puppy. She’s a cousin to Corey which makes it very special. Her name is Lacey. They’re all different, so I don’t know how she’ll differ from Corey or how she’ll be similar. All my arguments about the Flexi and the crate might go right out the window. Two years ago I bought new leather furniture. If it comes down to the furniture or the crate, the crate will win out. I’ve met her a few times and the breeder has told me that she is the most mellow of the four, hopefully she’ll have those Corey genes. Her three sisters are little rips.
Thanks again,
Billy
January 27th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I’m very sorry to hear about little Corey. I’m also excited for you and your new dog. Best of luck with Lacey. What color is she? My grandpa has a tan cairn and my uncle has a black one. They are smart, cute little dogs.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I’m sorry to hear of your loss, Bill.
Just wanted to chime in here that what struck me about your response was this paragraph:
“I never walk her without my finger permanently fixed on the break mechanism. A push of the thumb keeps me in control and keeps the leash taught so there’s no slack tangling around her feet or legs.”
Here in NYC I have yet to run into a Flexi-user who does that! As you can imagine, that can wreak havoc on a busy city sidewalk, not just for the dog owners but for the innocent bystanders.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Yeah that’s the problem with the people I encounter with Flexi leashes. The dogs always manage to charge all the way to the end of the Flexi. The owners always seem to be embarrassed, too. You’d think they’d learn.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Thank you Lindsay and Biggie-Z for your kind thoughts about Corey. It was a tough decision, but the right one in the end for her.
The break of the Flexi is everything. Having control of that button is what made it ideal for me. Corey almost never had full run of the lead unless we were in the appropriate setting. I wouldn’t use it if I lived in an urban setting such as Manhattan. I agree with you on that.
Lacey is a red brindle. She’s very brownish red. Corey was a grey brindle. She looked just like Toto. They are smart and cute little dogs. The first night went very well. She slept in her crate by my bed and never cried once. Yes, I decided to give the crate another try since the breeder, an excellent quality breeder, trained the litter to be crate trained.
Thanks again.
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:53 am
Obviously I am a few months behind on the Flexi leash topic. I just wanted to say that I am a Flexi leash user, and I feel that I use it appropriately. The leash only has a few inches of slack because my dog heels beside me when we walk. I live in an apartment, so it is nice to go to the grassy areas (without side walks) and have my dog fetch a toy with the extended leash. I acutally feel that it is more comfortable to hold when walking (when I ride my bike I use a standard leash). I think you are simply seeing a lot of irresponsible dog oweners. I have seen my share of them on regular and flexi leashes. I can understand how when used irresponsibly they are dangerous, but that doesn’t mean that ALL dog owners with Flexi leashes are irresponsible.
May 5th, 2009 at 6:48 am
Amanda, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a dog on a Flexi leash heeling. So just that fact alone shows you use the leash responsibly. When you said you are able to bike with your dog, that said a lot, too. Anyone who can safely bike with their dog has obviously managed loose-leash walking.
Perhaps I only notice Flexis when the dog is out 15 feet. When the dog is actually heeling on a Flexi leash, it’s possible I don’t even notice what kind of leash it is on.
July 11th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I was recently burned by a german shepard puppy being walked on a Flexi leash. I walk the same path everyday with my dog and I have never encountered such a bad dog owner. The german shepard darted at my dog, then wrapped himself around my legs and ran back towards his owner. My legs are now very burned and I’m furious and upset at the scars that I will have to live with due another to a careless dog owner. I fully support all 10 reasons not to buy a Flexi leash! I wish I could post the picture of my legs to prove a point.
July 12th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Oh wow. Thanks Lauren for sharing this information. Flexi leashes are an accident waiting to happen! I hope your legs are OK!
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I thought I’d join the discussion again after 8 months. I’ve been busy raising my new puppy. I’ve had Lacey now for 8 months and so far so good. She’s all Cairn and I love her. I’m still a die hard Flexi user, but I only use the all belt models. The cord models are the ones that burn. Sorry to hear about your legs Lauren. I had the inside of my palms burned this summer trying to prevent someone elses cord model from wrapping around my legs. As a responsible Flexi user, I know there are plenty of people who don’t use them properly. If you’re going to use it, getthe all belt model. It costs a little more, but it’s worth it. Everytime I see someone with a cord model and I’m wearing shorts, I get nervous. Ocassionally, I have neighbors who will come in to walk Lacey if I’m having a long day at work. I only trust a few of them and they all know that they are to use th regular leash and NOT to use the Flexi. I only trust myself with it. I still believe in it, but in the hands of the right person. I totally understand those who don’t like them.
was burned by
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Thanks, Bill! You make a good point that there is a cord version and a belt model. I totally agree with you that the belt model is much, much safer. Glad to hear you and your pup are doing well, and that you use the Flexi leash responsibly!
December 30th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Just a quick question. I welcome your thoughts! I recently adopted a black lab, 2 years old, who we lovingly call Rosie. She is pretty well mannered, quiet and very teachable. She doesn’t really have any “red flag” behaviors so we are not sure how she ended up being put up for adoption.
The only thing that concerns me is I see potential for her to be a “runner.” When she gets nervous (not crazy anxious but a little skittish) she disappears. She wants to get away, and quick. We are thinking this may be why she was in the shelter. Perhaps she ran away and got lost? Who knows…
She hasn’t tried to bolt out the door and we are working very diligently on having her sit and go through the door after us, walking with a slacked leash, and other basic obedience techniques. One of our top priorities is teaching her to do a very dependable recall and making it really fun to be around us and paying attention to what we are doing. She is good in the house, and I would like to practice with more distractions but still have control. We live in the city and have no fenced in yard. We have a flexi and I am very comfortable using it in a safe way (grew up around well trained agility dogs and have good manner…and a brain…which some dog owners lack). Do you think using a flexi would be a good way to provide some extra support in working her recall? We could go to an open area as to not put others at risk, but I am very aware that she is NOT ready for off the leash, nor is it allowed in most parks here. It would be nice to give her more exploring freedom at the park after a heeling, working walk. I also don’t want to give her a command that I cannot follow threw on and it seems like a flexi would in fact give me an extra bonus of security.
Thanks! Any other ideas are welcome! I want her to be safe, attentive and confident as she transitions into our pack
December 30th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
You know, the Flexi would probably work OK for training the recall since you know what you’re doing. But why not use just a long lead or rope? I prefer a long rope for better control and because you can buy one that’s even longer than a Flexi leash. One problem with the flexi leash is if she for some reason decides to bolt or run, it would be harder to get her back under control. I just hate how flimsy they are.