Many people believe that retractable leashes can be harmful, or at least can put your pet in hazardous situations, which can be as true as it can be a false presumption. Most of all, what matters is how much attention you pay to your pet while you’re outside playing together.
It is your duty to keep your pet from being harmed, so unless you’d like some unfortunate accidents to take place, you’d better get well informed before setting off to buy a retractable leash. There are some basic rules you have to follow when using one and we’ve made it our purpose to deliver a brief guide to help you act correctly in any situation.
Protecting your pet from harm starts first of all with his education. If you know that your dog has a bad temper, acts aggressively around strangers or can’t keep himself from picking up and eating everything he finds on the ground while you’re walking him, then it might not be such a good idea to buy a retractable leash.
If you’ve educated him properly and he knows how to behave himself in public, then there’s nothing to fear. You can attach the leash and make sure that the collar or harness fits perfectly because otherwise, you’re going to cause pain or even discomfort to your pet.
The next step would be to make sure that you only hold the leash by the handle and never, under any circumstances, pull your pet closer by grabbing the belt, because this is how you’re likely to cause injuries.
Keep your pet within a comfortable walking distance and remember to always lower your arm before pulling him closer, after locking the brake button of course. It’s essential to keep him close in order to be able to quickly pull back in case of a hazardous situation.
Having control is crucial, but it’s just as important to allow your pet to roam freely, while under your supervision of course. Make sure that he has enough personal space and that he can explore his surroundings, but be on the lookout for any unusual situation that might occur.
In case you see a vehicle, another dog or a pedestrian approaching, or if you know your pet reacts unpredictably to these circumstances, you need to lower your arm and keep him close, allowing the leash to extend only to a short length. This way you have full control and after the danger has passed, you can allow him to distance himself again.
Letting the leash too loose isn’t a good option either because if it’s not tight it might get tangled, knots might appear or your pet might interfere and get tangled in it, resulting in an unpleasant situation.
An extra tip that few dog owners know but many might find useful is that in case it starts to rain while you’re outside walking your dog, you need to extend the leash to its maximum size when you get home in order to allow it to dry properly.
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