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As pet parents, we love taking our pooch outdoors. Whether we are going for a morning and evening walk, a trip to the park, or even a hike, it helps to invest in a retractable leash to boost our fun time with our pooch. These are well-suited for active dogs that can be safe when used correctly.
But then, not all retractable dog leashes are created the same. Since we only want what’s best for our pooch, it helps to do our homework before buying one. We can use the following guide to find a suitable retractable dog leash for our Fido.
7 Best Retractable Dog Leashes
Here are the best retractable dog leashes:
- Best Overall: Fida Retractable Dog Leash
- Runner Up: Flexi Giant Tape Leash
- Most Durable: TUG Nylon Tape Retractable Dog Leash
- Best in Style: Ruff ‘n Ruffus Retractable Dog Leash
- Best for Small to Medium-Sized Dogs: Petimp Retractable Dog Leash
- Best for Large Dogs: Mighty Paw Retractable Leash
- Best for Sharing: Expawlorer Dual Retractable Dog Leash
Best Overall: Fida Retractable Dog Leash
Key Features:
- 10 ft nylon tape
- Durable rust proof swivel hook
- Impact-resistant ABS material
- Durable internal coil
- With reflective material
- Ergonomic anti-slip soft handle
- Quick lock, pause & unlock button
- Comes in 4 sizes and 8 colors
Among the favorite retractable dog leashes of pet parents is the Fida Retractable Dog Leash. It is ergonomic, functional, and attractive considering its affordable price. Its quick-lock, brakes, and secure but tension-free features make it the ultimate retractable dog leash perfect for new and adept pet parents.
Runner Up: Flexi Giant Tape Leash
Key Features:
- Good for dogs up to 55lbs
- 26ft tape
- Convenient handling
- Permanent stop feature
- Ergonomic soft grip handle
- Wide, neon-colored belt
- Comes in 3 sizes
The Flexi Giant Tape Leash is made in Germany. It offers pet parents excellent grip and control over dogs who love great freedom of movement. Its wide, stable belt easily retracts and extends and can accommodate active dogs weighing up to 55lbs
Most Durable: TUG Nylon Tape Retractable Dog Leash
Key Features:
- Easy grip, non-slip handle
- Nylon woven leash
- TUG’s patented tangle-free design
- Quick lock and break system
- Durable internal coil
- Chrome-plated hook
- Comes in 3 sizes and 3 colors
One of the most durable retractable dog leashes in the market is the TUG Nylon Tape Retractable Dog Leash. Dogs love this for its long and tangle-free coil. Pet parents, on the other hand, love it for its strong, effective, and easy-lock system. It offers a better grip and control of our pooch while we are off for long walks to the park.
Best in Style: Ruff ‘n Ruffus Retractable Dog Leash
Key Features:
- Made from extra-tough nylon ribbon
- With chrome-plated snap hook
- Unique ‘brake n lock’ system
- Anti-slip handle
- Premium retracting spring
- With free bone-shaped dog waste bag dispenser, 1 roll of plastic waste bags and a travel bowl
- With LED light feature
- Comes in 2 sizes and 3 colors
If we are after a stylish but durable retractable dog leash, then we will enjoy investing in a Ruff ‘n Ruffus Retractable Dog Leash. It comes in 2 sizes and 3 colors and already comes with a travel bowl, a roll of plastic waste bags, and a bone-shaped waste bag dispenser. Its brake and lock system, LED light features, and tough construction can handle dogs up to 110 lbs.
Best for Small to Medium-Sized Dogs: Petimp Retractable Dog Leash
Key Features:
- 16.4ft retractable and stretchable leash
- Easy lock and unlock
- Lightweight
- Includes a folding bowl, 1 dispenser, 2 waste bags and 1 big buckle
- Comes in 2 colors
The Petimp Retractable Dog Leash is so lightweight that even kids can handle it to walk our small-sized pooch? It comes with an easy lock and leash feature, giving us better control of our canine buddy using a single hand. It already comes with lots of accessories, meaning we don’t need to buy a separate waste bag dispenser, buckle, folding bowl to complete his essentials.
Best for Large Dogs: Mighty Paw Retractable Leash
Key Features:
- One touch quick-lock braking system
- With 360° tangle-free swivel clip
- 16’ heavy duty reflective nylon tape leash
- Durable stainless steel coil
- With a super reflective safety ring
- Ergonomic anti-slip handle
- Comes in 2 sizes and 2 colors
If we are after a retractable dog leash we can use even during late-night use, we can count on the Mighty Paw Retractable Dog Leash. Its ergonomic and tangle-free design, durable construction, and one-touch quick-lock braking system make it a worthy investment for dog owners like us. It is strong enough to handle dogs up to 110 lbs, which means we can use this for our large canine buddy.
Best for Sharing: Expawlorer Dual Retractable Dog Leash
Key Features:
- Nighttime reflective tape
- Non-slip handle
- Quick lock braking system
- Tough nylon strap
For pet parents with two Fidos, our ideal choice is the EXPAWLORER Dual Retractable Dog Leash. It has a non-slip handle, reflective tape, and double-head control leash. Each leash can hold dogs up to 80 lbs and has rotatable metal locks to avoid entanglement.
Who Should You Use Retractable Dog Leashes?
These types of leashes can be useful in many situations, including the following.
High-energy dogs that can be tricky to exhaust
Some dogs have so much energy to burn. Retractable leashes allow our pooch to enjoy more room, so he can roam farther while still giving us better control when tugging him.
For those who love to walk, run, and jog
Some pet parents love to stay active but their dogs are constantly stopping to sniff on something or pee. If this is our case, then we can use a retractable leash to keep our legs moving while accommodating our dog’s needs.
Dogs who often end up with a tangled leash
Our active pooch often ends up tying their leash in a knot. With a retractable leash, we no longer have to worry about twists and tangles while enjoying a walk or hike.
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Retractable Dog Leashes
Type of Leash
A retractable dog leash comes in different designs and shapes. These can also be made with different materials. We need to consider our dog’s needs before choosing a leash type.
Dogs that are bigger and heavier will need a durable and thicker leash. Pet parents and their dogs who love going out on an evening or early morning walk can benefit from a highly visible leash. For smaller, active dogs, an easy-t-retract tape leash can be a good choice.
Weight
Some retractable dog leashes can handle heavier dogs. We need to consider our dog’s weight when choosing a leash. This way, we won’t be investing in one they can easily break.
Length
A leash that is too short can hurt our pooch. A leash too long can increase his chances of getting in an accident. We should be careful when choosing a leash to make sure its length won’t cause pain to him or obstruction when in crowded areas.
Control Designs
It is worth buying a retractable dog leash with various control buttons. Some of the control features worth investing in are locking, switch and recoil systems. This will give us better control of our pooch when outdoors.
Accessories
Some retractable dog leashes come with different accessories. This includes waste dispenser bags, buckles, and foldable bowls. If we haven’t got these accessories for our pooch, we can simply buy a leash with these free accessories.
Tangle-Free Design
Not all retractable dog leashes come with a tangle-free design. The last thing we want is to waste our time only to detangle his leash. A dog leash with a tangle-free design also helps improve our dog’s safety at the same time.
Durability
We want to get our money’s worth when buying any product. This is why we should check the materials used and the product reviews to gauge if the leash is durable enough and long-lasting.
How to Walk Your Dog with a Retractable Dog Leash
Here are a few useful and safety tips when walking our pooch with a retractable dog leash.
- Practice using the new retractable leash in controlled situations first.
- Never allow him to wander across the street
- Keep his leash dry
- Retract the leash fully before unhooking our pooch
- Don’t allow him too much slack
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called a retractable leash, and how does it work?
A retractable leash is a long rope that we can release and recoil from inside a plastic casing using a push button. It does not stretch or break when our pooch tries to tug on it. We can adjust the length according to our preferences to keep our pooch at a safe distance when walking outdoors.
What’s a suitable length for the chain?
Retractable dog leashes can vary from 6ft to 26ft. When choosing one, it helps that we consider the size of our pooch and his weight. Manufacturers of dog leashes include a recommended size and weight limit to guide dog parents when purchasing.
Are retractable leashes dangerous?
Some experts call these accident-prone leashes. But in reality, most of these accidents related to retractable dog leashes result in negligence and human error. Pet parents should stay alert and vigilant when using a retractable dog leash for pets.
Are retractable leashes good for dog training?
Such a leash can help dogs enjoy their freedom when exploring the great outdoors while keeping them at a safe distance and under our control. We just need to keep safety leash practices in mind to train dogs and puppies to behave in open spaces.
Conclusion
A retractable leash can be a good investment if we want better control over our pooch while still giving him his desired freedom to explore. We can enjoy our time with our pooch outdoors if we practice using his leash in a controlled environment first. This way, we can have better peace of mind knowing we already know the ideal length we can use once we take our pooch on his new leash to explore the great outdoors
