The DIXY’S No-List exists to make public the criteria behind what enters — and what does not enter — our selection.
It is not a list created to cause fear. It is a statement of method.
Every product is observed for function, structure, materials, real-life use and its impact on the dog’s everyday life. When an accessory promises freedom, comfort or control, the question is simple: in practice, does it truly keep that promise?
In the case of retractable leads, the answer for us is no.
What is a retractable lead?
A retractable lead is made of a rigid handle with an internal mechanism that releases and rewinds a cord, tape or webbing.
The dog can move several metres away, while the person can lock or brake the length using a button.
The commercial promise is clear: more freedom for the dog and more convenience for the person walking them.
The problem is that between dog and person there is no stable, readable and easily controlled lead. There is a long, often thin line, kept under tension by a mechanism.
The problem with “freedom” under tension
Retractable leads are often presented as tools that allow dogs to explore with greater freedom.
But that freedom depends on a tape or cord that extends, tightens, locks suddenly and can retract quickly.
When the dog reaches the end of the available length, or when the brake is pressed, the dog’s body may experience a sudden stop.
If the lead is attached to a collar, the force of the pull can concentrate on the neck, trachea and back. If it is attached to a harness, the traction can still create a sudden interruption of movement.
The central point is this: a walking accessory should not create false freedom based on tension, difficult-to-manage distance and sudden stops.
Less control, not more control
A traditional lead allows distance to be managed in a more immediate and predictable way.
With a retractable lead, however, the dog may already be several metres ahead before the person is able to intervene.
This becomes especially problematic around bicycles, cars, other dogs, children, cats, narrow pavements, sudden entrances or crowded urban environments.
It becomes even more problematic when the dog finds something on the ground and manages to reach it before the person can intervene. It may be leftover food, rubbish, faeces from other animals or any object that catches their attention.
In many cases, the distance allowed by a retractable lead makes it harder to prevent the dog from ingesting potentially dangerous substances or objects, often leading owners to urgent veterinary visits or unexpected costs.
The issue is not only how well-trained the dog is. The issue is that the structure of the lead grants distance before the situation has been properly assessed.
Risks for the dog
The main risks for the dog are linked to sudden stops, tangling and loss of control.
Sudden stops
When the dog reaches the end of the tape or the brake is pressed suddenly, the stop can create a sharp jolt.
This type of traction can be particularly problematic if the lead is attached to a collar, because the force is concentrated on a delicate area of the body.
Greater momentum
More distance also means more opportunity for the dog to build speed before the line locks.
A dog who suddenly moves towards another dog, a cat or a road can reach the end of the lead with much more force than during a walk managed with a fixed-length lead.
Tangling, cuts and friction injuries
The cord or tape can wrap around the dog’s legs, neck or body.
When moving, especially if the line is thin and under tension, this can cause friction, cuts or small friction burns.
Risks for people
Retractable leads are not only a risk for the dog.
A thin tape or cord moving quickly can cut or burn the skin if grabbed instinctively. The hands are often the most exposed area: palms, fingers and wrists may be affected when the person tries to stop the dog or regain control of the lead.
Another risk is losing hold of the handle. If it falls to the ground, the rigid handle can scare the dog, follow them while making noise and increase their flight response.
In some cases, accidents involving retractable leads have also affected the face, eyes and legs, or caused falls for the person walking the dog.
It is not only a matter of “using it properly”
One of the most common objections is: “If you use it properly, it is not dangerous.”
It is true that every tool can be used better or worse. But a product should also be evaluated for its margin of error in real life.
A walk is not a controlled environment.
A dog can suddenly lunge. A cat can cross the road. A child can run nearby. Another dog can appear unexpectedly. A hand can slip. The mechanism can jam. The tape can wrap around someone’s leg.
When a product requires ideal conditions to function safely, it is not a good product for us to select.
It is risky for both the dog and the person walking them.
For us, this is enough to choose not to include it in the DIXY’S selection.
The lead is a form of communication
A lead is not simply an accessory.
It is a form of communication between dog and person.
The length, the tension, the way it is held, the distance maintained during the walk: every element sends information to the dog and influences how they experience movement, the environment and the relationship with the person walking them.
A traditional lead generally allows for more stable, readable and predictable communication.
It helps manage distance, rhythm, direction and context without relying on automatic mechanisms or continuous tension.
This does not mean turning the walk into rigid control.
It means creating a clearer, more balanced and safer relationship for both.
What we choose instead
We prefer fixed-length leads, proportionate to the dog’s size and the context of use.
For everyday walks, a stable lead allows clearer communication between dog and person.
For open and safe spaces, a fixed-length long line can offer greater freedom of movement without a retractable mechanism and without the same constant automatic tension.
The point is not to reduce the dog’s freedom.
The point is to distinguish between real freedom and uncontrolled distance.
Why it does not enter the DIXY’S selection
The retractable lead does not enter the DIXY’S selection because it does not respect our criteria for function, safety and real-life use.
It is sold as a tool of freedom, but often reduces control.
It is perceived as convenient, but can increase the risk of accidents.
It is easy to buy, but complex to manage correctly in everyday life.
This is why we do not select it.
Not for ideological reasons. Not because of trends. Not to create alarm.
But because a walking accessory should support the dog’s movement, protect the relationship with the person walking them and reduce foreseeable risks.
The retractable lead does not pass this criterion.
0 comments