I guess that depends on your point of view, but I am generally anti-rape/mugging/kidnapping, so yes.
AnaMen, your posts in this thread are ridiculous, and you are helping me to understand all the obnoxious dog-owner behaviour I see in my neighbourhood.
As an absolute dog person here:
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Put your dog on a god damned leash. I don’t care what kind. There is nothing wrong with retractable leashes if used correctly. But don’t you pretend to me that your dog can’t get in a situation where it gets killed when off leash. You simply don’t have that level of command over a dog. If a car comes by at 90, and your dog leans close to the road to sniff some garbage…BAM! Don’t you understand? Use a fucking leash!
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I totally agree that if someone moves to another sidewalk to avoid your dog, leave them alone. They are doing YOU a favor by moving over. That being said…
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No dog walker/dog combo should be forced to move to a different walking area because someone has some nonsense phobia. If I am afraid of plastic bags, should you move to another sidewalk to alleviate my nonsense fears? People have been killed by plastic bags before!
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My dog doesn’t want your treat. I have no idea where you got it from, or if it is poisoned. And before you say it, YES it does happen. Google it.
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Step aside for bikers, they need momentum to enjoy a decent ride and you don’t. Just get out of the way.
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If there is no sidewalk, and I have to walk near the road, and your car does not make use of available space to allow me to walk safely, I MAY throw something at your car. Come on out, I’ve got 200+ lbs of vicious dogs with me and I carry. Seriously though, give people space if you can afford it.
I fish a local lake where people also like to walk their dogs, and many times I have had an unleashed dog come running up to me and jump all over my pole, that I had perfectly positioned. I find this to be annoying. One time this dog even started sticking his snout in my tackle bag because I had some snacks.
I’m glad you are learning something.
When I see someone walking their dog on a flexi leash, I usually try to cross the street. Because nearly always, that person is using that flexi to stop paying any attention to their dog.
I have had two dogs leave their owner and race toward my dog barking and snarling, running yards of their flexi out while the owner calls “don’t worry, he’s friendly!” Well, my dog could possibly snap your dog’s backbone like a twig if they make contact, but it’s all up to me to rush my dog away-- I gave you plenty of room before the flexi started paying out.
I have heard several stories of people losing a finger to their flexi leash when their dog saw a squirrel or something.
It all comes down to control your dog in public, pick up after your dog, don’t be a nuisance. And for God’s sake, respect the personal space of strange dogs and strange people, both of which may really not care to interact with your love muffin. Practice saying, “can my dog say hi?” before you release the switch on that flexi.
I was walking my 2 chihuahuas and 2 pitbull, leashed, in my neighborhood. A woman was unloading groceries and her kids let their little yappy poodle out. He rushed us, and sent the chihuahuas into a frenzy that tangled the leads and made it very difficult for me to get all four of us moving again. Not that it mattered, because he was following is anyway. When asked to please come get her dog, she just smiled and said ‘okay, let me carry in this last bag!’ I think she had no idea how perilous her dog’s situation was, as the pitbull isn’t aggressive but probably would have stepped in had her dog bitten one of my chihuahuas.
I’ve never taken my three out alone again, which means they can’t get walked every day. Pitbull likes to sit outside (on an appropriate lead) while JacksDad works in the garage. Often we have to bring him in because the neighbors German Short Haired Pointer is running loose. I had no idea a dog that big could have that much energy).
My biggest problem isn’t with dog walkers. It’s with dog owners that don’t walk their dogs. Or people without dogs. Or just stupid people in general. Moms letting their kids run up to pet the dogs without asking us. Seriously, I would like the chance to tell you that the little ones hate children and the big one will turn down food if there’s a chance a kid wants to scratch his ears.
I use a retractable leash with my big dog. But its all the way in on the street when we are walking to the park - and then he gets more leash off in the park - unless there is another dog or person coming, in which case it gets short again. I also have a prong collar because he isn’t a great walker when he gets excited and when I walk him on the ice if he pulls I’ll go over - so the prong collar keeps him from getting so excited he “forgets.” He didn’t handle a harness and doesn’t slow down with a choke collar, so its the prongs - poor thing. With the prong collar my six year old nephew can walk him. Yes, it would be cool if he learned to walk like a gentleman - but in six years of continually trying to get him not to pull - if he doesn’t have the prong collar on, he reverts to pulling.
He also is exceedingly shy about his toilet habits - I’ve had to use two bags in seven years - but I always carry at least three just in case.
Have you tried an Easy Walk harness, or a head harness like the Halti? What about some sessions with a trainer?
I hate prong collars, I hope you can avoid having to use it. 
Are you saying that because your leashes got tangled once you decided to never walk your dogs together again?
Three different trainers, obedience classes (two sessions), a halti, an easy walk and two other harnesses. A choke collar before the prong. The prong collar was a last resort. He’s a 65 lb dog. I’m a 130 pound woman who has reached menopause. Its Minnesota, there is ice. Its the prong collar or my hip.
(He sits, lies down, and shakes very nice. He’ll stay - if I’m in sight. But if he gets excited, all bets are off. Fortunately, he doesn’t get excited by small children, dogs, cats, squirrels. Just walks and treats and car rides…he’ll knock me over to get to the car if I say car ride. And Grandpa - he LOVES my Dad.)
(And he heels like a champ in obedience class - of course)
(My bolding). Really? I don’t believe that’s actually true, somehow.
Many years ago, when I was younger and stupider, I briefly used a flexi with an 80 lb dog who was generally very well-behaved but had a high prey drive. (As I said, younger and not as well-informed as I am now.) Anyhow, she took off after a rabbit that ran in front of us and somehow my hand was or got around the line when she lunged and went. No lost fingers but holy Christ did I have some deep lacerations. I don’t think I’ve used a flexi since then (I tend to have larger dogs.)
It’s true.
And at least one manufacturerknows it.
Little sticks, like tongue depressors, to scoop the poop into the baggie. Heck yes!
(Ew!)
(Also a smidgeon of toilet paper, cause sometimes a little poop clings to the doggie’s butt. Ew! again.)
The ABC page won’t work for me - just constant ads and the “skip this ad” button doesn’t work.
I interpreted the statement “I’ve heard several stories…” to mean having heard from people in real life. If you want to cite bizarre and unusual accidents reported in the news, and one particularly manufacturer that’s bad enough to have a particular leash pulled, then that’s different. I mean, that would also mean we shouldn’t use baby cribs, or beds, or stairs, or almost anything.
During my time with three trainers plus two obedience classes, we were taught to be very careful with a retractable leash - if anything I’m more observant with one. The leash can’t get wrapped around you, or between the dogs legs, and its really important to pull it in tight with other people or dogs around - because you can get some pretty serious injuries from a big dog taking off on you when the leash is wrapped around something it shouldn’t be.
But in six years, I’ve never managed to wrap the leash around my wrist or finger. There have been a few times for a few moments where I’d have had my legs taken out as the dog gets to the wrong side of me, but moving the leash in response to the dog takes care of that problem. Extra people would create an issue - but he’s on a short lead when we are around others. And a “wait…” will have him stop so I can reorganize the leash when its gotten between his legs.
I keep him on-leash on the street, but after he’s done his business I’ll sometimes let him off-lead on the golf course, as do others who live nearby (despite a leash law). If it becomes a problem, we’ll quit. We have a small yard and no fence, but we’ll often let the dog outside with us (but never outside alone). He’s usually good about staying near, but we have to keep reinforcing it. Sometimes he runs off to one neighbor’s yard to chase squirrels, which the squirrel-hating neighbor loves. (He was delighted when the next neighbor, who had a deer feeder that the squirrels loved, moved away. I can only imagine how they must have got along!)
The few times that he’s been outside off-leash and deer have appeared, they’re all gone in a flash, but fortunately he’s returned remarkably quickly, inside a minute or so. Thank goodness. We make a point not to have him out at prime deer times.
I love the retractable leash, so my dog can get more exercise than I do. That said, it’s on the shelf for a while, while my 2-yr-old dog gets better. The problem isn’t the dog so much as me; I let it out too often and he gets too used to having his head. More discipline on my part would also solve the problem. The retractables are also nice when my dog sees a deer, squirrel, or toad, because the handle is a lot easier on my hand than event the fairly thick leash my wife bought (bless her).
Long ago, I raised a Great Dane that I used a tiny strip of a leash with and never had a problem, though he outweighed me by 10 lbs. Even some 90-lb girls I lived with walked him a lot and never had any issues.
You should pay attention no matter what! (As you clearly know.)
Too bad you live amongs assholes.
The newer ribbon ones are better than the older cord ones. But still, like any long leash, if you’re a moron, you’re better off avoiding them. Better yet, get a cat; they require less attention. (My apologies to morons everywhere, lumping them in with people who don’t pay attention to their dogs!)
Bingo.
I have two thoughts on this one:
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I love the retractable leashes. When I tried walking my dog on a normal leash, I continuously have to stop and remove the leash from under her leg, because she will end up walking close to me, step one leg over the slack in the leash, and then move back away. The retractable takes up the slack automatically. My dog also has a weird thing about crapping and doesn’t seem to like doing it when she is close to me, so she prefers the extra distance.
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I understand that you don’t like it when my dog walks in front of your yard and your dog barks it’s head off behind the fence, so I do keep moving. That said, perhaps you should encourage your dog not to bark as I do. They make humane no-bark collars and I can assure you that if your dog is barking at mine, it is also barking at that bird, the jogger, the UPS guy, the gardener down the street with the lawnmower, and several dozen other common items that are a ‘threat’. You know who really suffers from all this? It’s your neighbors who don’t own a dog. Because sometimes I get home late and still need to walk my dog. That means your this is going to bark his head off, albeit for just a moment as a quickly walk by, after their kids have gone to sleep and they are now being woken up.
I use a regular nylon 1" wide 6’ leash. It’s double-thickness so my big girl can’t snap it. However… I was once standing in the cemetery with her, fiddling with my phone trying to get to a song I liked (I had ear buds in) and not really paying attention to her. There weren’t any other people or dogs around – I had chosen a good spot to stop and fiddle distractedly. Now, I tie a big knot in the center of the leash and keep one hand between the dog and the knot at all times, so if she bolts for some reason, the leash won’t slip out of my hand or cut my palm to ribbons. I can clamp my fist around that knot and hang on much better. Well at that moment, I wasn’t holding the leash properly and SQUIRREL! Dog bolts after a squirrel, yanks my left arm up and back, hyperextending my shoulder (still hurts) and my left index finger got caught in the loop as 70 pounds of dog ran the other way. She broke the everlovin’ shit out of my finger, which is now permanently crooked because it didn’t heal right.
So yeah. Pay attention when you’re walking a big dog. :o