TorontoBarks.com

If I had it my way, there would be no ban on Pit Bulls - there would be a ban on retractable leashes on city streets and in dog parks. You may be shocked and appalled at such a bold statement, but allow me to explain.

Retractable leashes are wonderful in the hands of experienced dog-owners whose dogs are well trained, non-aggressive and under control. They are a great tool when hiking in the country or on trails, or even when the dogs are out swimming in the lake. In my humble opinion, these are the only instances when they are safe and effective.

Retractable leashes do exactly what their name states: they retract, meaning they also apply constant pressure on the collar unless they are locked and the dog is heeling or loose-leash walking beside the handler (which I still have yet to see). If you have a leash-reactive or leash-aggressive dog and are using a retractable leash, that constant pressure on the collar is only exacerbating any anxiety that the dog might be feeling, causing them to have an even stronger reaction, possibly leading to an outburst or attack. Even with regular nylon or leather leashes any tension will increase anxiety.

Here’s how it works:
• tension on the collar or harness (from the leash) causes the dog to feel like the handler is stressed and that there is something to be anxious about
• high tension on the collar temporarily restricts the breathing and blood flow to the brain, which in turn causes the heart to work harder, beating fast, which then increases the feeling of anxiety
• constant pressure from the leash is very misleading - it feels vastly different from a loose leash and a dog who is used to that feeling is more likely to think “woohoo! I’m free!” when there is slack. They will run ahead, only to be corrected and choked by a taut leash seconds later.

Dogs rely heavily on our energy when faced with a situation; if we are calm, they feel secure in our ability to manage the situation and will be less likely to try to protect us from every passing dog or blowing leaf. If we are tense, they will react strongly in order to help control the situation. It’s important to always exert a calm energy with our dogs so that they can feel confident in us.

Let’s look at leash length now.
• A regular nylon or leather lead is between 4 and 6 feet long. These are used in training and on regular walks. The idea is that your dog is never more than 6 feet away from you at any given time, allowing farm more control and ensuring safety.
• Nylon training leads range from 10 and 50 feet long and are used in off-leash recall training so that we can work safely at a distance with no tension on the leash, causing untimely corrections or pain.
• Retractable leashes range from 10 - 30 feet and as previously stated, these are great only when the dog is well-trained and has a 100% reliable recall (“come when called”), no fears or phobias that can spook them and cause them to run away, no reactivity/aggression issues, etc...

When you’re walking down a city street, there will never, in any circumstance, be a reason for your dog to wander more than a few feet away from you. There is so much happening on city streets and sidewalks, that it’s proper etiquette to keep your dog close to you, but it’s also a safety precaution.

There have been far too many dogs who have been on a retractable leash, gotten spooked and have darted into oncoming traffic, only to meet a tragic end. If the dogs had been within 4 feet of the handlers, there would have been enough time and proximity to control them and keep them safe. No one, not even the most experienced dog-handler has as much control with a retractable leash as with a regular nylon/leather leash.

Braking systems in cars are wonderful, aren’t they? Yes, when they are applied in a timely manner. Too late is too late. If you’ve ever used a retractable leash, you are most certainly familiar with the following routine when trying desperately to get your dog back to you quickly:
Lock - pull - release - retract - lock - pull - release - retract - lock - pull - release - retract - etc...

Also imagine a situation from the perspective of a nervous dog-owner whose dog, Fido, is a very nervous dog:
You are walking Fido down the street on a 5 foot leather leash, when all of a sudden, a dog on a seemingly endless leash is running full speed towards you, clearly excited to meet Fido. Fido stiffens up and you try to swerve to avoid this dog as you know how Fido reacts to dogs getting in his face. The owner of the running dog has her hands full and is trying to hit the lock on the leash as she calls Fluffy’s name. Fluffy, too excited to listen, gets to the end of the 25 foot retractable leash and stops short while practically hanging herself, but not before Fido lunges and bites her right on the snout. Fluffy’s owner has finally reached the scene and is furious and panicked - “He bit her face!! Control your vicious dog! I am going to sue you and have your dog put down!”

You can imagine the rest. You were in control of your dog, well-aware of his reactivity and this furious woman is telling you to control your dog, when it was clearly her dog who was out of control while she was 25 feet away.

This is an all-too-common incident in the city and is entirely preventable. If I were Fido’s owner, I would be the one suing the other woman based on all the behavioural issues Fido will be dealing with after the attack as well as the fear and anxiety the incident caused me.

We, as dog-owners must be responsible dog-owners - not just passive ones. We must know, train, respect, protect and advocate for our dogs. We must also be respectful of others who may be afraid of, allergic to, or simply uninterested in dogs.

You cannot protect your dog from 15 feet away, but you certainly can from 5 feet away. You owe it to your dog to be responsible, and as a fellow dog-owner, you owe it to the rest of the population too.