Today, many dog owners prefer walking their pets on a roulette leash. A simple device, an aesthetic design, the ability not to pull the leash, but to fix it by pressing a button - it has a lot of advantages. However, even such a walking option has certain nuances that an inexperienced dog lover might not know about.
What it is?
The dog roulette lead is a plastic case equipped with a handle and a latch-latch. Initially, all roulettes were equipped with a button that made it easy to unwind and rewind the cable.
Modern models are equipped with a number of useful features. For example, the installed button allows you to fix the cable at the same length and will not allow the pet to run out onto the road, chase cats or run to passers-by.
There is a function of long-term locking of the cable, which is fixed for a certain length for a long time. This is very convenient when you need to let the dog go, but not give her complete freedom.
A number of devices are equipped with a braking mechanism: if the animal crawls where it should not, the owner only needs to extend his hand towards the dog and pull the mechanism.
Advantages and disadvantages
The benefits of roulette are obvious. Unlike a regular leash, it does not get tangled or drag on the ground, therefore it does not need to be washed. The device is equipped with a convenient handle that is easy to hold with one hand.
Such a leash allows you to let your pet go as far as possible and at the same time control his behavior. For a dog, roulette is very convenient in terms of minimum pressure and tension, which creates the illusion of freedom.The animal quickly gets used to the device and ceases to notice the cable.
The roulette leash has certain disadvantages. First of all, the use of roulette affects the behavior of the dog. The pet learns to pull the leash, independently determines the distance from the owner. It will be difficult to bring her back to her, because the dog will believe that she can walk herself without the participation of the owner.
Such a leash is unsuitable for training a puppy: the owner cannot reinforce the “Near” command with a good jerk to himself, and the click of the latch simply will not be perceived by the dog. You will have to hold the dog with only one hand, which is not easy.
From the sudden movement of dogs of large breeds, the plastic case can easily fly apart. If the owner drops the roulette, the animal gets scared and rushes to run, and the plastic case will rumble behind him and scare even more.
A significant disadvantage of dog roulette is the risk of injury. An attempt to hold the dog by grabbing the tape or cable may result in a serious cut or burn. If a dog plays with other dogs on such a leash, his playmates can also be injured.
Standing on a tight leash adversely affects the health of the dog itself. Cervical vertebrae and neck muscles are especially affected, and a throat jam is possible. To avoid such troubles, it is worth fastening the leash to the harness.
What happens?
There are two types of roulette leads. Cable (or cord) is a device consisting of a thin nylon cord of circular cross section. At one end is a carbine, at the other - a plastic handle.
A tape is attached to the tape leash (wide, strong braid or belt). This option is less practical, since the tape can twist or get tangled right during the walk and you have to spend time unraveling.
If the pet gets into the bushes, you will first need to get the ribbon out of the branches, and then go with it to another place.
There are combined options, which consist of a thin cable, on one end of which there is a plastic handle, and on the other - a piece of wide braid with an attached carbine. The tape is not drawn into the tape measure.
All other differences between these devices relate to the manufacturing countries and the leash length. For instance, Leashes of the Italian company Ferplast from 8 to 10 meters long are designed for dogs weighing up to 60 kg. This is the best option for a walk in the city park.
German manufacturer Vitakraft offers leashes for dogs of different breeds, but the cable length does not exceed 3 meters. This is ideal for residents of densely populated areas or for owners of dogs of decorative breeds
Another German company - Trixie - produces leashes with a length of 15 meters. Roulette data is acquired when search work is necessary. This product is often chosen by hunters who do not want to lose sight of the dog. The length of the leash allows you to work out commands over a long distance.
Roulettes of these manufacturers are made of durable plastic. The handle and their body are completely rubberized, which increases strength and provides better grip. A spring device is mounted inside the case, the opening of the rotating bobbin is seasoned with a tape or cord made of nylon.
The product is equipped with a bobbin brake key, the rotation of which can be stopped by a light touch of the thumb. Lock the leash for a long time will allow the locking button. A special loop placed on the wrist prevents the leash from falling. Products from manufacturers are supplied with a warranty card and instructions for use.
How to choose?
When choosing a lead-roulette should proceed from the size of the dog itself. It is no coincidence that manufacturers label their products according to their respective sizes. So, "Giant" is designed for the largest dogs, whose weight exceeds 60 kg.
Larg and Medium designed for dogs of large and medium breeds - 25-50 kg and 10-25 kg, respectively. Finally, "Small" and "Mini" Designed for small and dwarf pets whose weight does not exceed 10 kg. If you have to choose a leash for two dogs, you should pay attention to double roulettes.
These designs are designed for small dogs and dogs of medium breeds, the weight of which does not exceed 22 kg.
The leash length is only 3 meters, and the spinning and retractable design provide free movement of the dog without the risk of getting tangled in cables or ribbons.
The plastic case is equipped with two colored buttons, similar to the color of the leash. If you need to draw a specific pet, just click on the appropriate button. If you need to brake both dogs, you need to press both brake buttons.
Another important point: The leash for the dog must be with a certain margin of safety. For example, if a pet weighs about 22 kg, it is worth taking a closer look at models designed for 30-kilogram dogs. Then the tape measure will withstand heavy loads and will last much longer than the model, which exactly corresponds to the weight of the restless four. Directly Before buying, you should make sure that all elements of the mechanism are in good condition.
A smooth push of the buttons should ensure the unwinding and reeling of the cable, perform the function of a short and long-term stop, and also fix the set leash length. Extraneous sounds like rattling or creaking indicate poor assembly of the product.
You should look at the leash along its entire length to make sure that the cable or tape is of good quality. Then you need to pay attention to the carabiner, which will be attached to the dog collar. It should be a solid, reliable, temperature-resistant device.
It is important that it is equipped with a swivel, which prevents the twisting of the tape or cable and does not interfere with the movement of the animal. For decorative breeds, a carabiner made of plastic is quite suitable, and for larger dogs it is better to choose a metal analog.
How to use?
Before taking the pet out onto the street on a new leash, it is worth trying the new thing at home. Depending on the manufacturer, the operating instructions for the roulette leads may vary, but in general the recommendations are similar.
Before use, the device should be assembled exactly according to the instructions.
- Insert one part of the quick coupler into another and close the safety clip. The latter should fit snugly against the connection housing.
- Then you should adjust the handle using a special wheel.
- After that, fasten the carabiner. This action is performed when the lock button is pressed. First, a safety loop must be put on the dog’s neck, and then a carbine can be inserted through it and through the collar.
Then you should take a walk with the dog around the apartment and make sure that it really moves freely, and that the cable or tape is automatically unwound and unwound.
It is necessary to work out the stop of the animal by pressing the brake button. When the dog runs up to its feet, the lock should be released so that the leash remains in a taut position.
To bring the dog back, you need to stretch your hand forward, press the brake button with your thumb and pull your hand back. Then the latch should be released and again pull the wrist with the leash forward. The leash will be reeled up automatically, and the indicated actions should be repeated until the dog is at the required distance.
It is worthwhile to work out the situation in advance when the dog should be near the leg. To do this, pull the dog towards you, press the brake button, and then start the long-term stop mechanism. After such a training, confidence will be much greater and you can go on a street walk.
It is important to pay attention to safety requirements for use:
- check the device for damage before each walk;
- stop using the leash at the slightest malfunction;
- do not let the animal play with him;
- always use a safety loop that will protect against injury;
- Do not grab the cable or tape with your hands and prevent people or tetrapods from getting entangled in it;
- make sure that the leash is in a tight position;
- always hold the roulette tightly by the handle in order to react in time to the unacceptable behavior of the dog;
- this device is designed only for walking, jogging with a dog with a dog is carried out only on a classic leash;
- Do not tie animals to benches, poles and other objects.
Dog walking on roulette can people who are responsible for it. Therefore, do not trust the walking of animals on such leashes to inattentive households or small children.
How to fix it?
Despite all the precautions, roulette may need repairs. There are frequent cases when cute pets break off the leash for walks, why the leash suffers and ceases to wind up into a reel, or bite the cord in calm home conditions.
If the roulette is broken, it can be repaired independently without the help of qualified craftsmen. Its mechanism is very simple, and the set of tools is minimal: a small screwdriver with a diameter similar to a dog’s bolt head cap, tongs or pliers, a new cord and a lighter.
Regardless of the nature of the damage, the structure will have to be disassembled.
To do this, unscrew and remove the screws, and then wring out the case and divide it into two halves. But then the instructions differ.
If you intend to replace the cord or attach a new carabiner, just fix the ragged end with a plastic plug (or completely replace the cord), and then attach the carabiner.
If the problem is related to the mechanism of action, you will have to open the middle of the coil. The convex part is pry off with a screwdriver, then the cover is very carefully removed. All subsequent repairs should be carried out by gently holding the spring.
Then you should find and remove the spring bend chip. After that, the edge of the spring is poked with tweezers or pliers and heated on a small fire. You can ensure high temperature with a lighter or gas stove.
The edge of the softened spring is bent so that it does not fly out of the center of the coil. It is not recommended to bend cold metal. Firstly, it is very difficult, and secondly, the spring may not withstand mechanical stress.
After the manipulations, the coil is closed with a lid, the buttons are put in place, the cord is wound around the reel and the case is tightly closed. The joints are fixed until a characteristic click, and then bolts are screwed.
Repair work completed. You can test the roulette at home to make sure it is reliable, and then again take the mobile pet out onto the street.
Even such a simple device as a roulette for dogs should be correctly selected, adjusted, follow the rules for its operation and periodically repaired.
See how to choose a dog roulette leash in the next video.