Hi, I had my 2 dogs on retractable leashes the other day, supposedly the leashes would hold a dog up to 65 pounds. My dogs are about 50 pounds each. I am not sure how (it happened very fast) but one of the leashes came off my dog - the link part was stretched and went flying and hit me in the face. Blood was everywhere, but turned out just to be a deep cut & some scratches, however I was very lucky because the cut is less than an inch from my eye!

Also, the leashes were BRAND new. I am just wondering if anyone else has had this happen, or if this particular leash was a defect. I am a little scared to try them again, but it's nice for my dogs to be able to walk a little farther in the park (by the way, they are both leash trained and used to 4 foot leashes).

Thanks!

Before I moved here I used the Flexi make of extending leads for years without any trouble. Had the spring go on one, which ment it would not rewind but other than that no trouble. What make was the lead, and have you taken the matter up with the manufactures?

Hi, I have no experience of this happening myself (don't use them) but have heard of this happening before. Like you say, thank God it wasn't your eye!!

Fiona and Saffy

I once comfortably held my Lab on one while walking around the Lake, he suddenly took off for the water, the lead didn't hold him, snapped, and he spent a blissful half an hour swimming up and down the Lake until a yachtsman managed to town him in by the remainder of the lead. I was probably lucky it snapped near the handle

Hayley

I have use the Flexi make for years with no problems at all. I bought the tape type rather than the cord as it occured to me any fraying etc would be easier to spot.

Our vets advised against extending cord type leads, as they say they see too many cases where the dog has got the cord wrapped round its legs etc, and carried on running, cutting into the flesh. They also said another common injury was the handle flying out of your hand, and clunking the poor dog on the head!
As we only have little dogs, we did buy the tape type of extending leads, for over the fields, but when we tried them on a windy beach, with 3 excitable dogs all wanting to go in 3 different directions, my husband got well and truly "hog-tied" within 3 minutes! :D

Sami
PS I have heard of someone's dog running into traffic because the "Stop" button jammed, so I personally wouldn't use one near a road, just in case.

My mother-in-law lost the sight of one eye to a dog on an extending lead.

Yes - I have had several snap in the past - the cord type - I found they lasted about a year in daily use (abuse?) with our lot. When they snap they are really dangerous as the cord flicks back as you experienced - glad it was not as bad as it might have been. Personally I think the cord ones are deadly - I have also had serious rope burns from one when I had to catch hold of it to stop the dog when the mechanism jammed - ouch! I now only have the full webbing ones (and heavy duty!) and they are fine - have had the same ones for years!

Must confess though I have gone back to good old fashioned leads in recent months - with two attached together where a longer one is needed - somehow gives far better feel for the other end of the lead than the hard plastic box!
Janet

We only use our flexi-lead in the field, when a dog is not allowed off the lead because of illness/season etc (never use them on road walking). I find that control of the dog is very limited using them, so our dogs are either on a 'proper' lead or 'off' lead. Flexileads are never allowed at our training club also.

Daisy