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By Morgan Wendt Across the United States, more than 50 million homes choose dogs as their companion animals, according to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association. In addition to providing exercise and stimulation, taking the dog for a walk can help decrease destructive behaviors, help with weight loss, and improve socialization. Furthermore, walking can help caretakers feel closer to their animals and can improve the physical and mental health of humans. Taking the dog for a walk, however, may not be as straightforward as it seems. Retractable leashes are an option often promoted in pet stores as easy to use and providing the most freedom to your dog, but can actually cause harm to both animals and humans, and should be banned from use. So, what exactly is a retractable leash, and how is it different from a regular one? A standard leash is exactly what you think of when you imagine a dog leash. It’s a woven cord that’s a few inches wide and 6-12 feet long, usually with a metal clasp on one end to attach to a collar, and a loop at the other end that serves as a handle for the caretaker to control the leash. A retractable leash is usually a thin cord, just a few centimeters in diameter, that is attached to a reeling mechanism. This mechanism automatically retracts when there is no tension on it, hence the name “retractable leash”. These mechanisms also come with two buttons on the handle, one to lock the mechanism so the leash no longer retracts and the pet can stay on the current length of leash, and another button to release the lock. These leashes can vary in length, but can be anywhere from 12 to 30 feet. The first priority when it comes to walking your dog should be concern for safety. Dogs can injure themselves and suffer from tracheal, neck, and spinal injuries from pulling too hard on a flexible leash and the harsh “snap” when they suddenly reach the end. In addition, sustained pressure on the neck and the trachea of leashed dogs may lead to tracheal injuries after long periods of time. This issue is compacted by the use of retractable leashes, which encourage dogs to pull. Dogs have an “opposition reflex” when on leash, which means their response to pressure from their collar being pulled (via the leash) is to pull harder. Many dog walkers and caretakers take this reflex as a sign that their dog wants to explore, and they reward the dog’s pulling behavior by allowing it more leash. This creates a feedback loop in which the dog is rewarded by pulling, and continues to pull more. In addition, injuries can result from acute pulling, in which a dog sees something (like a rabbit or another dog) and decides to chase it. Many walkers and caretakers do not pay close enough attention to their surroundings, and by mistake, allow their dogs to quickly run to the end of the leash, causing a sudden and jolting “snap” when the dog reaches the end of the leash. This can cause muscular and spinal injuries to the dog and unnecessarily cause both short-term and long-term pain. While these injuries may occur with standard leashes, they are much less common because of the usually short length of a standard leash. Flexible leashes can be difficult to control and are more prone to malfunction than a standard leash. Because retractable leashes extend so far (some up to 30 feet), there are many risks associated with the use of these leashes. Dogs are often hit by cars or become tangled with bikers, rollerbladers, and skateboarders, which may cause them harm. In addition, dogs can approach people and other dogs uninvited, which may lead to conflict. Walkers or caretakers of other animals should always be asked before approaching, because some dogs are not friendly towards other people or animals, and a retractable leash makes it much easier to violate that rule and invade a stranger dog’s personal space, as pointed out by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2014. The simple appearance of a dog pulling on its leash toward another dog could be seen as aggressive by dogs that are more fearful or submissive. It can also be difficult to control or correct the behavior of your dog from such a far distance, which makes these leashes a poor option. Furthermore, mechanical failures of the leash could have harmful consequences. If the retracting mechanism fails, the walker or caretaker may have a dog that is 15-30 feet away from their person, with no way to reel them back in. On the opposite side, if the leash breaks from the mechanism, the dog may get free, which is a dangerous possibility. Neither of these issues could occur with a standard leash, as the simple design makes them harder to break. Lastly, if leashes are accidently dropped by the walker or caretaker, the leash may retract, or may make loud noises when dragged against pavement. This in effect “chases” the dog and may make it much more difficult to calm and catch a scared or submissive dog. Lastly, humans can suffer injuries from improper use of retractable leashes. Most common are rope burns and cuts from attempting to control the leash, but humans can also be tripped by the extended cord, or in the worst scenario, be seriously injured by attempting to hang on to the leash. In 2007, there were nearly 17,000 hospital-treated injuries associated with leashes, the most common of which were burns and cuts. In 2008, Worldwise Inc recalled around 223,000 retractable leashes after receiving reports of malfunction of the metal clasp, which caused facial and bodily injuries to owners upon breaking. When polled via Facebook, members of “A Better Dogspotting Society” provided many anecdotes as examples of this issue. One user broke her tibia and fibula when pulled down a muddy hill by her 8 month old puppy, who was chasing a bird. Another user was pulled so hard she became airborne and suffered shoulder injuries. In 2012, The Scientific Journal of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists reported an incident of a woman who received extensive eye injuries while walking her greyhound on a retractable leash which broke. While these injuries may also occur while using a standard leash, the short length of the leash usually doesn’t allow the dog to travel a long distance away from their caretaker or build up speed, which causes collars and leashes to break. Proponents of retractable leashes will argue that these leashes provide more freedom to pets, or more privacy when going to the bathroom. In addition, many will have anecdotal evidence that these leashes are harmless. While these leashes do work for some dogs under some circumstances, these dogs are the exception, not the rule. With great freedom comes great responsibility, and as previously stated, many walkers and caretakers simply do not pay as much attention as is needed with a retractable leash. Because of this, it’s common for municipalities and even states to create “leash laws”. For example, Mississippi has a law which states that dogs cannot be on leashes longer than 10 feet when on state property. The city of Mankato has the same law (leashes cannot be longer than 10 feet) when off the owner’s property. These rules are not widely enforced, simply because these types of leashes are so popular and because this issue is not a pressing matter of public safety. The solution to this problem begins with education about the risks and dangers of these leashes. Many people buy these types of leashes simply because they don’t know any better and because they are offered as a safe option in almost every pet store. Some stores have refused to sell these types of leashes, and many experts encourage these kinds of actions. Unfortunately, many larger retailers continue to sell them because people continue to buy them. It may take time to implement these large-scale changes, but in the meantime, individuals can help by simply refusing to buy these types of leashes and by supporting anti-retractable leash measures in your community. In addition, be sure to observe etiquette when interacting with other dogs and educate other walkers and caretakers when appropriate. References“Animal Control.” Animal Control | Mankato, MN, www.mankatomn.gov/city-services-a-z/city-services-a-m/animal-control. “Dog Leash Laws - State-by-State Requirements.” Edgar Snyder & Associates, www.edgarsnyder.com/dog-bite/leash-laws/#minnesota. “Facts + Statistics: Pet Statistics.” Insurance Information Institute, www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-pet-statistics. Gerson, Lawrence, and V.M.D. "Pet Points: Retractable Leashes Risky for Pets, Humans." McClatchy - Tribune Business News, Apr 12, 2014. ProQuest, http://ezproxy.mnsu.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.mnsu.edu/docview/1515279537?accountid=12259. Green Dog Pet Supply. “Why We Discontinued the Sale of Retractable Leashes.” Green Dog Pet Supply, 25 Jan. 2016, www.greendogpetsupply.com/blog/why-we-discontinued-the-sale-of-retractable-leashes/. “Leash Pulling • MSPCA-Angell.” MSPCA, www.mspca.org/pet_resources/leash-pulling/. McKenzie, Kelsie. “5 Benefits of Walks with Your Dog.” Victoria Stilwell Positively, 2015, positively.com/contributors/5-benefits-of-walks-with-your-dog/. “Retractable Dog Leashes: Know the Risks.” Doghealth.com, www.doghealth.com/care/safety/2239-dangers-of-retractable-dog-leashes. “Retractable Leashes Pose Problems for People and Their Pets.” Product Reviews and Ratings - Consumer Reports, 5 Mar. 2009, www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/03/retractable-leashes-pose-problems-for-people-and-their-pets/index.htm. Wagar, S, and P Simcock. “Retractable Dog Leashes: Are They as Safe as They Seem?” NCBI, Eye (London), 6 Jan. 2012, https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ezproxy.mnsu.edu/pmc/articles/PMC3325572/. “Worldwise Inc. Recalls Retractable Dog Leashes; Metal Clasp Can Break and Cause Facial and Body Injuries to Dog Owners.” U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 29 May 2017, www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2008/worldwise-inc-recalls-retractable-dog-leashes-metal-clasp-can-break-and-cause-facial. Author BioMorgan is a senior at Minnesota State University, Mankato, studying general biology and geographic information systems. She hopes to work for the Minnesota DNR upon graduation, focusing on ecotourism. She has had a variety of companion animals, but currently shares her home with two companion dogs, both senior rat terriers.
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