Are Retractable Leashes Bad? Risks, Safe Use and Alternatives

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Retractable leashes are everywhere, and so are trainers and vets who tell you not to use one. They are not banned or useless, but they come with real risks and they teach the opposite of loose leash walking. This page sets out what the sources say about the risks, when a retractable leash can be reasonable, how to use one more safely, and what to use instead.

The short answer: for everyday walks on sidewalks, near traffic, at the vet or around other dogs, use a standard 4 to 6 foot leash. A retractable leash is best kept for a well trained dog in a large, open space with nobody around. If you use one, choose flat tape over thin cord, never grab the tape or cord, and lock it short near people, dogs and roads. For freedom to sniff or recall practice, many trainers prefer a fixed length long line.

How we wrote this: the advice comes from the American Kennel Club, Consumer Reports, veterinary behaviorists writing for VCA Animal Hospitals, professional trainers writing for PetMD, Preventive Vet and Whole Dog Journal, and the safety instructions of TUG and Flexi, all linked where they are used and checked on 29 October 2026. We did not test these leashes ourselves. If you or your dog is injured by a leash, get medical or veterinary care.

The risks of retractable leashes

Injuries to people

Consumer Reports reported in 2009 that, by its analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data, there were 16,564 hospital treated injuries linked to leashes in 2007, about 23.5% of them to fingers. That figure covers all leashes, not only retractables; CR noted the data did not separate leash types, though it thought the amputations were likely caused by retractable leashes. The most common injuries were burns and cuts when the cord touched skin as it paid out quickly. Makers warn about the same thing: TUG says retractable leashes can cause serious injury, including finger amputation, cuts or burns, and Flexi says not to grasp the cord or tape and not to wind it around any part of your body.

The veterinary behaviorists who wrote VCA’s guide to pulling advise avoiding retractable leashes because they can cause serious friction burns to both people and animals.

Injuries to dogs

The AKC warns never to let your dog run full tilt as the leash pays out: when the dog hits the end, it can suffer injuries such as a damaged trachea or spine. PetMD adds that locking the leash while the dog is running can stop it abruptly and injure the neck or throat, that thin dark cords are hard for other people to see, and that the internal mechanism can jam or break.

Less control

The AKC points out that the leash only retracts when it is slack, so if your dog is pulling you cannot reel it back. A dropped handle can clatter after the dog and frighten it into running away, according to the AKC and PetMD.

It teaches pulling

The AKC says a retractable leash rewards pulling: the more the dog pulls, the more leash and freedom it gets. Preventive Vet puts it this way: on a retractable, dogs learn that moving forward needs tension on the leash. Many trainers do not allow retractable leashes in their classes, and Whole Dog Journal says it does not approve of them at all. If pulling is the problem, see our guide on how to stop a dog pulling on the leash.

When a retractable leash can be OK

The AKC lists an unfenced backyard and large, open spaces such as parks or fields, as long as no other dogs or people are around, and says to hold off until your dog walks politely on a standard six foot leash. Preventive Vet suggests retractable leashes only for well trained, reliable dogs, in places such as beaches, open fields or open trails, and says only adults should use one. The AKC says to use a standard six foot leash instead at the vet or pet store, in crowds, around lots of other dogs and on sidewalks.

How to use a retractable leash more safely

• Choose tape, not cord. The AKC says thin cord can more easily burn or cut as it pulls across skin, and TUG also calls tape styles safer.
• Hold only the handle. Never grab the tape or cord, and never wrap it around your hand or fingers (TUG, Flexi, AKC).
• Pick a sensible length. The AKC says 16 feet is the most common length and 26 feet is likely too long for most dogs.
• Lock it short near roads, people and other dogs, and before your dog reaches the end at speed.
• Match the leash to your dog’s weight and do not use it with a dog that chews leashes; TUG says its leashes are not meant for chewers or teething puppies.
• Use a harness, not just a collar, so a sudden stop does not land on the neck. Our view, not a quote from the sources.
• Check it before each walk for frayed tape, a sticky brake or a cracked clip. Our view.

Alternatives: standard leash and long line

For everyday walks, VCA suggests a leash that feels good in your hands and is 6 to 10 feet long, and Preventive Vet suggests 4 or 6 foot leashes for regular walks. For sniffing, hiking or recall practice, a long line gives more freedom with fixed, predictable length: VCA describes it as a fixed length leash 15 to 50 feet long, and Whole Dog Journal says long lines can run from 10 to 60 feet and suit long distance recall practice. Our view: with a long line, wear gloves, let it trail rather than wrapping it around your hand, and use it in open spaces away from roads.

For how leash types compare, see our best dog leash picks and the leash, harness and carrier buying guide.

Our picks

PetSafe Nylon Dog Leash

A simple standard leash. A flat nylon leash with a loop handle in 4 and 6 foot lengths and three widths matched to dog weight. Treeline Review named it the best affordable leash. See the product page for sizes and sources.

Mendota Pet Snap Leash

A comfortable rope leash. A braided rope leash with leather splices in 4 and 6 foot lengths, in two thicknesses by dog weight, and machine washable according to Mendota. A good everyday alternative to a retractable.

TUG 360 Tangle-Free Retractable Leash

If you want a retractable for open spaces. A 16 foot flat tape that rotates around the housing to reduce tangles, with a one thumb brake and lock. In TechGearLab’s hands-on test, the tape is not chew proof and held up poorly in a durability test, and the leash felt bulky. Use it only where the AKC says a retractable can be OK, and follow TUG’s safety guide.

FAQ

Are retractable leashes bad for dogs?

They carry risks for dogs and people: neck or back injuries if a dog hits the end at speed, burns and cuts from the cord or tape, and less control. They also reward pulling. They can be reasonable for a well trained dog in a large open space with nobody around.

Why do vets and trainers dislike retractable leashes?

VCA’s veterinary behaviorists cite serious friction burns, and trainers say retractables teach dogs that pulling earns more leash, which works against loose leash walking.

Is a tape or cord retractable leash safer?

Tape. The AKC says thin cord can more easily burn or cut skin, and TUG calls tape styles safer. Neither is safe to grab.

What length leash is best for walking?

Most sources suggest a standard 4 to 6 foot leash for everyday walks; VCA says 6 to 10 feet. For more freedom in open spaces, a long line of 15 to 50 feet is the trainers’ usual alternative.

Can I use a retractable leash on a puppy?

The AKC says to wait until your dog walks politely on a standard six foot leash, and TUG says its retractables are not meant for teething puppies.