Extendable leads...

Suzanne · Guru

Extendable leads...

evelyn · Old Hand

Oh my god I had no idea. I have always used an extending lead for Andie as its the only way he gets any freedom to roam. I cant let him off the lead as he has a high predatory drive which resulted in a poor whippet getting a fair old mauling. He's also very timid of unfamiliar dogs and cant be trusted not to pierce their ears if let off the lead! Add to that the fact that he has started collapsing if allowed to run. What should I do now?

skinnydugs · Master

Hi Evelyn, I have 5 greyhounds, saluki and 2 other little x's. I road walk my dogs all the time. No extendable leads.Red and Fynn are the only 2 greys that get off for a run up the golf course at night. The saluki can never get off. She was used for working, and can jump 6ft+. It took me a while to actually see that my dogs were happy walking along beside me and they could have a mad turn in the back garden if they like, but on the lead and muzzled they are safe. I sometimes hire an indoor equestrian centre mainly for Aisha,(saluki) but I have found that going to classes and doing agility is spending her energy. Another good thing to get into is tracking. I know they say that greys ect are sight hounds but they also use their noses and are good at tracking. This exercise makes them use their brain and body. Just a thought as people get frustrated at not letting their dogs off, but its better for them to have a nice home and owner and on a lead than stuck in a kennel somewhere unloved or worse.

Just a thought

esther

CAROLE ROBINSON · Old Hand

You could try using a training lead which are usually much longer than an ordinary lead, but Esther is right - better a dog is in a good home, lot of love, good food, warm bed and walked on a lead!

carolineasb · Old Hand

Hi all

Can I just say that as I have had a personal tragedy after the use of an extendable lead, it is not just the extending of the lead that is a problem but if you should drop the lead the handle is hard plastic and that hitting the ground can be enough for a nervous dog to run. Sadly my dog ran into the path of a car.

Please please please do not use extending leads!!!!!

Caroline

Jay · Old Hand

We always cover the dangers of extendable leads in depth in any homecheck which we do and this is now a "compulsory" topic, and as can be seen, for good reason.

Our three are always on the lead when out and they really don't mind, and it doesn't stop them having a root about if thats what they want. A while ago we went to a old fenced in 5 a side pitch to let them off... They simply stood and looked at us, and trotted along behind when I moved!! As for chasing the ball and frisby, or just having a run - that was too much like hard work!

Typical greys!

greyflintstone · Master

Your 3 sound just like our 2! On the few occasions we've let them off on the beach (muzzled) they look at us as if to say "now what?!"! I don't think they are missing out on anything being constantly on a lead!

Steve · Master

Well.. I love to disagree. My experience with an extendable is very positive.

The extendable lead for Pearly is the best thing I bought and for recall training it worked brilliantly. Use it most days and will continue to do so.

BUT....to be able to use one depends entirely on the dog's personality plus you MUST only use it with a harness.

If you have a dog that lunges or is a bit unpredictable then it is a BIG no no. Also - I'd never use one near main streets etc. One of the biggest probs I can see is if you let go of the handle and it zooms up and hits your dog - very nasty. I use a small strap to prevent any chance of it slipping. Also - you have less control in bringing the dog to you fast.

So - to use one you need to be very careful but it works VERY WELL for Pearly.

UndercoverElephant · Master

We had one for Blue, and it was fine for a while, before we could let him off the lead it was his only independance. The real problem was his scissor like jaws came out to play one day whilst tied up at the school and he decided that the playground would be a fun place to have a nice run round.

The local pet store then sold me a heavy chain lead, and advised me to use the phrase,
"Try chewing through that one, you little so-and-so.", each time he was left.

bluesmumanddad · Master

You talk tough but we all know Blue has you wrapped around his paw.

Have a nice webbing lead to use when walking him and the chain one only gets used if we have to tie him up anywhere.

Steve · Master

Skinnydugs - how do Salukis compare with greys? Are they a bit harder to train?

skinnydugs · Master

Hi Steve they have very different natures. Aisha was used for working but is good now at obedience within a class.

Esther

evelyn · Old Hand

I totally agree with Steve. I have used extending leads with both my greyhounds and have found them to have positive benefits if used properly. I do intend to continue to use them as it allows a little bit of freedom for a dog who otherwise cannot run free. I feel this post was started as a result of something I posted on a different thread and I feel suitably chastised.....as if I should have known better. Unfortunately my dogs were from a SSPCA centre and information on how to care for them was absolutely non existent. I did not have the fantastic support that GAL offers their adopting families.

Evelyn

bluesmumanddad · Master

Hi Evelyn

Blue wasn't a Gal dog either (edinburgh dog and cat home as I have mentioned before)!

I sympathise with lack of information given, we didn't even have a home check as they didn't have the staff!!! This shocked me as although we knew that we would take good care of the dog not sure the same could be said for everyone who has got a dog from there.

Having said that the lady who prossessed the adoption informed us of GAL as she was a member and had a greyhound of her own and was rather taken with Blue.

At least GAL and its members are very friendly to all of us with none GAL dogs and make us feel very welcome.

I'm sure people didn't mean to make you feel bad we are all just so passionate about our dogs!

evelyn · Old Hand

Hi Bluesmumanddad

No home check for either of our dogs/ lack of greyhound information/ Zelda was handed over to us covered in her own faeces/ they didn't even recognise the mange she was covered in/they knew Andie was an ex racer and didn't warn us about ex racers little quirks.....and so on it goes. I feel quite disappointed with the SSPCA although I do understand they are understaffed and underfunded.

Thank goodness I have learnt such a lot from visiting this site.

Evelyn

Dawn · Guru

I have read all the postings on the extendable leads and having heard both sides of the 'argument', I only have a wee bit to add.

The Vets at the Vet College suggested that I put Kaz on an extendable lead, and I was horrified. When I first got Kaz I put him into a harness, muzzle etc etc to take him for a walk and he cried like a baby. Reluctantly, bit by bit, I removed all constraints and bought an extendable lead. Kaz was a very placid dog by nature (like most Greys), but old enough to get enjoy his freedom, fortunatley without any problems. However, over the years, I did drop the lead a few times and had Kaz not been an tired old boy, he would have taken off, I know this because, every other animal within earshot took off!! Please, please take the good advice from the experienced guys at GAL and be 100% sure of your dogs personality before using one of these leads.

Dawn

Dave · Enlightened One

thought I'd throw my hat into the ring...Dawn's last post is spot on, a new owner of a Greyhound should never use an extendable lead and it's something we insist on during the homing process, even an experienced Greyhound owner with a new dog should not use one till they get to know their dog.

Only when both owner and Greyhound are experienced with each other should an extendable lead be considered and even then appropriate precautions should be used (see Steve's post!) that said the unpredictable can happen even to the most experienced owner (see carolineasb's post)....

Suzanne · Guru

Hi evelyn - sorry started this post without seeing your other comments - spotted them after tho - I was actually grazing the internet about Greys which I sadly tend to do a lot - loads of stuff out there to read, quite a lot contradicts itself tho so Ive learnt to always keep looking & never take some advice at face value as there are bound to other experts on other websites that say differently.

That is before I came to the GAl website where the experts really are experts & know what they are talking about because they have learnt from trial & error. This place is the best learning block anyone could get. I even handed out a GAL business card to a lovely old couple y'day who had a Grey & were chatting to me about Murphy. Their knowledge, even tho they had her for 6+ yrs was really poor on GHs so I told them about this site & forum & how invaluable it was & they said they would most definitely log on to read up about the breed & get some advise on feeding/quirky habits/health etc....cant beat it!!

ps. I have a brilliant lead which is far better than normal dog leads as its more than twice the length so they can roam a bit further. I got it out of a horse catalogue - its a 2 metre halter lead for horses so its very strong & has a good clip on it & its nice & thick & soft so when it gets wrapped around Murphys legs (which infuriatingly happens ALL the time - forever untangling him!) then it doesnt cut in at all. Big plus is that he could never chew through it either (sadly lost 2 nice leather leads to this fate). AND it was only £3....("Robinsons" horse cat/website)