11/13/2025
🚫 Retractable Leashes: Just Don’t.
We know they look convenient — a shiny handle, a long cord, and the promise of “freedom.” But retractable leashes are one of the worst inventions in the dog world. Here’s why:
🐾 Zero control. When your dog is 15–20 feet ahead, you have no control over what they run toward — traffic, another dog, a child, or a squirrel. You can’t reel them in fast enough when things go south.
🐾 They get dropped — and it’s chaos. The big plastic handle slips out of your hand (it happens to everyone), hits the pavement, and chases your dog as it retracts. Many dogs bolt in terror, dragging the noisy handle behind them. Some run into traffic, others are too scared to be caught for hours.
🐾 They cause injuries. Rope burns, cuts, tangled legs, and even amputated fingers — yes, it happens. Those thin cords act like cheese wire when they whip around you or another dog.
🐾 They teach bad habits. Dogs quickly learn that pulling = more leash. That’s the opposite of loose-leash walking, and it’s why you see people getting yanked down sidewalks.
🐾 They create instant chaos. Picture this: you’re walking your calm, friendly dog. Suddenly a 20-foot missile on a retractable leash is charging toward you. It’s a recipe for panic, bites, and tangled humans.
🐾 They break. The mechanisms jam or snap all the time — especially with bigger or strong-pulling dogs. Once that happens, you’ve got a runaway on your hands.
If you want a safe, enjoyable walk, stick with a 4–6 foot standard leash and keep that connection between you and your dog. It’s safer, saner, and far less likely to end in rope burns, runaway dogs, or regret.
Let’s retire the retractables for good.
— The DCHS Team ❤️🐾
