I speak from experience. Before I knew better I tried a retractable leash. I thought it would be great to allow my dog the freedom to run but still be on a leash. That was before I realized I could not react fast enough to retract the leash if my dog really ran. I got tangled in it and burned my ankles. I dropped the leash and freaked out my dog who couldn’t get a way from this thing trailing it. Luckily I was in my backyard, not a busy street. Needless to say, I tossed the thing.

Now that I am a trainer, I have strong feelings about the dangers of retractable leashes. Veterinarians share this opinion. WHY, you may ask. Here is the list. You decide for yourself, but please know I have great trepidation for any dog to be on a retractable leash. I will talk about small dogs in a bit.

• If a dog runs and your retract the leash, it can damage the dog’s neck and trachea. Vets see a lot of injuries from this leash.

• If it gets tangled on your dog or you, it can cause cuts or burns. If it gets tangled on your finger, it can cause an amputation.

• Very difficult to control at high speeds.

• You do not have total control of your dog. You can encounter an aggressive dog. Everyone becomes entangled.

• How good are your reflexes in a panic situation? If you drop the leash, it can frighten you dog, enough to run into traffic.

• The cord can break, fray, or tear. The retraction button can malfunction. Unpredicatable.

• Trainers do not like them. They encourage dogs to pull. Much harder to teach a dog to walk calmly by your side.

If you have a small dog, they are a little less dangerous, but I still do not recommend them. Use a harness, not a collar. Be sure you are always alert, paying attention, and be able to react fast if needed.