Fida Heavy Duty Retractable Dog Leash - 26ft - Blue

The Fida Heavy Duty Retractable Dog Leash is the long one — 8 metres of reflective nylon tape for dogs up to 50 kg, which is roughly five times the length of a standard fixed lead and needs to be treated accordingly.

Key Features

• 8 m (26 ft) of high-strength reflective nylon tape
• Rated by Fida for dogs up to 50 kg (110 lb)
• Housing roughly 21 x 15 x 5 cm, with a heavy-duty 8 cm hook that rotates through 360 degrees
• One-handed brake: the thumb button pauses the tape, pushes forward to lock and back to release
• 360-degree anti-twist inlet, so the tape feeds and retracts without winding up on itself
• Ergonomic soft anti-slip grip
• Available in black or blue

Before You Use It

• Fida's own note on this model is worth repeating: read the manual before using a lead this long, and be sure you can control your dog on it before giving it that much space
• 8 m is open-space equipment — a beach, a quiet park, a fenced field. It is the wrong lead for a pavement, a lift or a car park
• Reel in and lock before you reach a road. At 8 m a dog is already in traffic by the time you react

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

• Long tape stores more energy. If a 50 kg dog hits the end of 8 m at a run, the jolt goes through the hook, the tape, your wrist and the dog's neck — a harness is not optional at this length
• Do not use it while running or cycling, and keep it away from children. A tape at ankle height is a trip hazard and a burn hazard
• 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