The Fida Autobrake Retractable Dog Leash is a retractable lead with an automatic brake — if the dog lunges and jerks the tape, the lock triggers on its own, and a damper absorbs the rest of the force instead of passing it straight to your arm.

Key Features

• The automatic brake works with the thumb button left in the free position: a sudden jerk on the tape triggers the lock, and continued hard pulling brings in a damping speed limit
• Once it has triggered, feed the tape back into the take-up port and the lead returns to normal retractable operation
• The damping is the reason to buy it — it takes the shock out of a lunge, which spares both your shoulder and the dog's neck
• 5 m (16 ft) of high-strength nylon tape in every size
• 360-degree anti-twist inlet, so the tape feeds and retracts without winding up on itself
• Rustproof swivel hook that turns with the dog instead of twisting the tape
• Ergonomic anti-slip soft grip over an impact-resistant ABS housing
• A hole hook on the housing for a poop bag dispenser or keys

Size Guide

• Small — dogs 5–12 kg (11–26 lb), 8.3 cm handle
• Medium — dogs 12–25 kg (26–55 lb), 8.3 cm handle
• Large — dogs 25–30 kg (55–66 lb), 9.3 cm handle
• Extra Large — dogs 30–50 kg (66–110 lb), 9.3 cm handle. Housing roughly 18.5 x 11.5 x 9 cm
• Fida's own advice: if your dog is an energetic puller, choose one size up

Using A Retractable Lead Safely

• Never grab the tape to reel your dog in. Nylon tape under load gives friction burns, and this is the most common injury associated with retractable leads
• Keep it locked short near roads, car parks and blind corners. A dog can be several metres ahead before your thumb reaches the brake
• Do not let go of the handle. A dropped handle retracts noisily and chases the dog, and a frightened dog then runs
• Clip it to a well-fitted harness rather than a collar. A dog hitting the end of a long lead at speed puts a hard jolt through its neck
• A retractable lead gives a dog freedom. It does not give you recall — that still has to be trained

Good To Know

• The automatic brake reduces the jolt of a lunge. It does not stop a determined dog, and it is not a reason to walk a reactive dog on 5 m of tape beside a road
• Leave the button in the free position for the autobrake to work. Locked, it behaves like any other retractable lead
• Check the tape and the hook regularly for fraying or cracking, and retire the lead once either shows wear. Retractable leads fail at the tape, not the housing
• Do not let a dog chew the tape. A partly chewed tape can fail under load without warning
• Many UAE communities require dogs to be leashed in public areas. A long lead is not the same as an off-lead dog, but it can look like one