Retractable Leash Buyers Guide - The Automatic Stop Retractable Leash
Welcome to our 4-part Buyers Guide on Retractable Leashes.
This is Part 2 and concerns the automatic brake retractable leash.
Launched by Fida, this interesting modification to the base retractable leash incorporates an automatic slip clutch. As soon as your dog starts to run away the leash tape suddenly becomes a lot harder to pull. At first this sounds like an improvement of the base retractable leash, one that helps solve the major disadvantage of standard retractable leashes, the stop button and the dangerous jerk stops it causes. However, in practice I found that this isn’t the case.
I noticed that the retraction mechanism on this leash was robust and smooth, and it also includes a stop button and leash lock just like the base retractable leash design. However, the automatic nature of the braking feature meant that it frequently surprised us (my dog and me) during our walks. Adding to my concern was the inability to control the stopping force of the automatic brake. This experience made this design of retractable leash unappealing.
Just like base retractable leashes, that call their stop button a brake, when it is in fact just a stop button, Calling the automatic clutch mechanism a brake, is, in my mind, somewhat misleading as well. The design does apply a form of brake, but that brake is very stiff and a set amount. It is not the same as a typical brake found on a car or a bike, one that lets you vary and control the stopping force. For me this means that the sudden and painful jerk stops found on base retractable leashes are made even worse because with the automatic brake you have no time to recall your dog before it activates.
I think that the automatic brake retractable leash is a move in the right direction. It highlights and attempts to solve a major flaw in base retractable leashes, which is that by giving a dog the freedom to roam also allows them to run and build up a lot of momentum and energy. Even well-trained dogs can have a lapse and forget what to do when their owners yells stop. Especially if their best friend is close at hand and ready to play. So, the unpredictability of the automatic brake, and the lack of being able to vary that braking force, still may lead to surprising and painful jerks for you and your dog.
Pros:
The auto slip clutch helps lesson the jerk stops of standard retractable leashes
There is an eyelet where you can clip a treat or bag cannister
Cons:
The automatic clutch feature can turn on without warning and surprise the owner and their dog
I found that the slip clutch mechanism started out very stiff and the loosened significantly over time
Do test the leash before you buy it, as some leashes we found at stores didn’t have the auto clutch function working
Rating:
Available Models:
