Comments on: 10 reasons not to buy a Flexi leash http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/ a dog blog Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:42:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: New Puppy – What You Need to Know http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-27984 New Puppy – What You Need to Know Sun, 16 May 2010 05:42:32 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-27984 [...] more great dog information on the Flexi dog leash and choosing the best dog [...] [...] more great dog information on the Flexi dog leash and choosing the best dog [...]

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-25989 Lindsay Stordahl Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:38:50 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-25989 You're obviously able to make the Flexi leashes work for you and your dogs. I'm sure you're able to recognize the difference between yourself and most of the other people who use retractable leashes. You’re obviously able to make the Flexi leashes work for you and your dogs. I’m sure you’re able to recognize the difference between yourself and most of the other people who use retractable leashes.

]]> By: stratobill http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-25955 stratobill Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:30:06 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-25955 This wasn't a very fair-minded post. It was very sarcastic, negative, and full of hyperbole. Commenter, "Brook", did a pretty good job of refuting most of your list point by point, so I won't do the same, but I don't understand why you assume that people who use Flexi's are lazy. I walk my two 75 pound labs with Flexi's every day. In a typical week we walk at least 20 miles together, though some of that is off-leash. We also play hours of fetch. I really doubt that there is any correlation between leash preference and laziness! My dogs are very safe on their Flexi's because they respond to my verbal commands. So you're wrong about dogs not being safe on them. The problem with a regular 6 foot leash is that every time the dog wants to stop and sniff the human either has to stop as well, or the human forces the dog to keep moving, which deprives the dog of a chance to do much sniffing. With a Flexi, however, a dog gets much more opportunity to explore and sniff without forcing me to be right on top of him. I can keep walking at a fairly normal pace while the dog gets the opportunity to stop and investigate interesting smells for a few seconds. I suggest that you save your negativeness for people who don't bother to walk their dogs at all. Those are the ones that really bug me! Much better to walk your dog with any kind of leash than to sit at home watching TV! This wasn’t a very fair-minded post. It was very sarcastic, negative, and full of hyperbole.

Commenter, “Brook”, did a pretty good job of refuting most of your list point by point, so I won’t do the same, but I don’t understand why you assume that people who use Flexi’s are lazy. I walk my two 75 pound labs with Flexi’s every day. In a typical week we walk at least 20 miles together, though some of that is off-leash. We also play hours of fetch. I really doubt that there is any correlation between leash preference and laziness!

My dogs are very safe on their Flexi’s because they respond to my verbal commands. So you’re wrong about dogs not being safe on them.

The problem with a regular 6 foot leash is that every time the dog wants to stop and sniff the human either has to stop as well, or the human forces the dog to keep moving, which deprives the dog of a chance to do much sniffing. With a Flexi, however, a dog gets much
more opportunity to explore and sniff without forcing me
to be right on top of him. I can keep walking at a fairly normal pace while the dog gets the opportunity to stop and investigate interesting smells for a few seconds.

I suggest that you save your negativeness for people who don’t bother to walk their dogs at all. Those are the ones that really bug me! Much better to walk your dog with any kind of leash than to sit at home watching TV!

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-19512 Lindsay Stordahl Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:50:09 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-19512 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. 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.

]]> By: Autumn http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-19495 Autumn Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:29:07 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-19495 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 :) 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 :)

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-15108 Lindsay Stordahl Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:54:02 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-15108 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! 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!

]]> By: Bill http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-15107 Bill Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:15:30 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-15107 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 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

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-12078 Lindsay Stordahl Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:16:52 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-12078 Oh wow. Thanks Lauren for sharing this information. Flexi leashes are an accident waiting to happen! I hope your legs are OK! Oh wow. Thanks Lauren for sharing this information. Flexi leashes are an accident waiting to happen! I hope your legs are OK!

]]> By: Lauren http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-12077 Lauren Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:08:15 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-12077 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. 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.

]]> By: Lindsay Stordahl http://www.thatmutt.com/2008/08/18/10-reasons-not-to-buy-a-flexi-leash/#comment-10051 Lindsay Stordahl Tue, 05 May 2009 12:48:41 +0000 http://www.thatmutt.com/?p=763#comment-10051 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. 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.

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