The Bottom Line: TheFlexi Soft Grip Comfort 3 Retractable Tape Leashis a practical means to make your dog walking more enjoyable for both you and your dog.
For most of her 5 years, our not so Miniature Schnauzer has been walked using a retractable leash. They’re very common these days and they give your dog a little more freedom to roam without necessarily dragging you behind.
Our Brandy is a fairly well-trained house dog. Though I take her for at least one daily walk, for the most part she goes out primarily to relieve herself. She will generally walk in circles in order to find her spot which has a tendency of changing from day to day. When out for longer walks, Brandy’s failure to learn to heel makes using a conventional fixed length leash a challenge at best.
In the past we’ve generally purchased the Flexi 2 Retractable Cord Leash designed for dogs up to 44lbs. with cord lengths of either 16 or 26 feet. Brandy, who is considerably larger than a typical Miniature Schnauzer at almost 23 pounds demonstrates typical terrier strength and can be at a full sprint in less than a second if a reason exists. Her Flexi 2 leashes would generally last a year to perhaps 18 months before she would wear out the tension spring in the unit. When we recently had need of purchasing a new leash, I decided to step it up to the Flexi Soft Grip Comfort 3 Retractable Tape Leash. Flexi Soft Grip Comfort 3 Retractable Tape Leash The Flexi 3 is similar in design in that it has a handle/trigger mechanism that houses a retractable leash of 16 feet in length. It is generally used with larger breeds (up to 110 lbs) and instead of the thin braided nylon cord, it uses a ½” nylon tape.
Like the Flexi 2 it has both a push button brake and a separate push button lock-up to limit the length of the tape. The handle of the Flexi Soft Grip Comfort 3 Retractable Tape Leash is equipped with a rubberized grip to add to the comfort of using it.
Why the Switch?
Brandy, a very muscular terrier often tested the retaining power of the Flexi 2’s braided cord. The higher tension mechanism of the Flexi 3 seems to provide just the right amount of tension to remind her that she is under a leash. She may extend the leash fully, but usually doesn’t pull against it once fully extended. It better allows me to walk her without feeling I’m being pulled behind her.
The use of the ½” tape in place of the thin braided cord offers greater safety to both Brandy and me. Should her leg or my hand get caught in the cord there is much less likelihood of injury such as a cord-burn or an actual laceration should she get frightened and decide to bolt.
16’ vs 26’ Legnths
As mentioned earlier Flexi offers both 16’ and 26’ maximum lengths. In the past we’ve tried both. I find that 16’ is long enough to provide her a reasonable amount of freedom to roam without my relinquishing effective control of her. The 26’ length seemed to test the limits of control in situations where it is necessary to “reel her back in” quickly. Brandy is not beyond chasing fast moving objects that catch her eye and imagination.
Reeling in Brandy takes little effort. Releasing the brake button I either move toward her allowing the tension spring to retract the tape, or in more immediate situations swinging the handle toward her without the brake on then applying the brake while pulling her toward me. Once she moves toward me I release the brake again in order to take up the slack of the tape. If all this sounds confusing, be reassured that operation of the retractable leash is pretty intuitive.
A Caution
When using a retractable leash it is important to keep in mind that the tape is constantly under tension. It’s important to attach it to only a sturdy, well constructed collar or harness.
A couple of years ago I made the mistake of accidentally attaching it to the light duty ring of her rabies vaccine tag. When the ring broke, the leash with its buckle came hurtling back toward me narrowly missing my face. That’s an accident worth avoiding.
Final Thoughts
The Flexi Soft Grip Comfort 3 Retractable Tape Leash is a practical means to make your dog walking more enjoyable for both you and your dog. With a minimum of practice it can be used by just about anyone. I highly recommend it.
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
Consumer Digest deemed this retractable leash with an ergonomic handle a Best Buy. Allows you to maintain control while giving your dog more freedom. ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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