A Frightening Experience with Extending Leads: Keeping Our Dogs Safe
- Avril Munson
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 12
I had a frightening experience this week that I feel needs sharing — not for sympathy, but because it highlights an issue that many dog owners either don’t realise or don’t think through fully.
A Close Call at the Motorway Services
I was at a motorway services, just a quick stop, with Moose on the lead. As we returned to the car park, I noticed a woman with her dog standing at the open boot of her car. I gave them both a wide berth — being cautious, as I always am — and had just walked past when everything changed in a second.
There was no bark. No growl. No sound from the dog at all. What I did hear — and what made my heart jolt — was the sudden whirring of the extending lead, racing out at full speed. That sound alerted me. By instinct alone, I scooped Moose up into the air by his lead and collar — just high enough, just in time. The dog collided hard with my leg as it went to shoot through my legs, bruising me in the process. I’m lucky I stayed on my feet.
Moose is a Papillon — a toy breed. Gentle, light, and small. He would have been no match for the other dog. Had it managed even a single bite, it could have been fatal.
The Risks of Extending Leads
What if that lead had wrapped around my legs and taken me down? What if I hadn't been aware of what that sound meant? What if I’d dropped Moose? What if I hadn’t reacted to that sound?
The dog was big. Strong. And fast. If it had made proper contact, the outcome could have been devastating — a serious injury, a traumatised or injured dog, a fall that could have had long-term impact on my body, my work, my life. All of it came down to one thing: a lack of control.
Extending leads often give the illusion of control, but they offer no real way to stop a dog when it decides to bolt. They allow dogs to move too far, too fast, with no real restriction. And when the dog is reactive, overstimulated, or too strong for its handler — the risk becomes all too real.
Understanding the Danger
I know people don’t mean harm. Many simply don’t realise how dangerous these leads can be. But this was a wake-up call — even for me, someone who works with dogs every day.
So please — if you use an extending lead:
Keep it locked in busy areas like car parks, pavements, or fields.
Stay aware of your dog’s range at all times.
Know your dog’s behaviour and how they might react.
Don’t rely on the mechanism to reel them back — it won’t help in a moment like this.
Better still, don't use extending leads on pavements or busy areas, or if you must, additionally use a muzzle to protect your dog and others.
Raising Awareness for Dog Safety
I’m beyond grateful Moose is OK. I’m grateful I didn’t fall. But it could have gone so very differently. And that’s why I’m sharing this — to raise awareness, to encourage safer choices, and to protect the dogs and people we all care about.
Let’s be mindful out there. Let’s look out for one another. Because safety isn't just about your dog — it's about everyone else's, too.
I’m sharing this because I care. Because I’ve worked with so many families who just didn’t know another way until something went wrong.
Please, let’s look out for one another. Let’s keep all our dogs — large or small — safe from unnecessary harm.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the use of extending leads can pose serious risks. It’s essential to understand their limitations and to prioritise safety above all. By being aware and taking precautions, we can ensure a safer environment for our dogs and everyone around us.
With heartfelt thanks for reading,
Avril 💛thedogcalmer
Postscript: the week after I wrote this, the Australian parliament was updating their ACT laws for keeping dogs. One of the proposed changes is to ban the use of retracting leads! *https://www.instagram.com/p/DL1nBOyPUGv/?hl=en
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