Fida

Fida makes dog walking gear, and specialises in retractable leads — the company says it has been building them for more than 27 years and supplies pet brands worldwide. The range here runs from a plain slip lead to a 26 ft retractable, plus harnesses and a padded collar.

Retractable leads

• JFA — the everyday model, four sizes from 3 m for an 8 kg dog to 5 m for a 50 kg one
• Styleash and Mars — the same mechanism in different housings, four sizes each, 12 kg up to 50 kg
• Autobrake — the one worth paying more for if your dog lunges. The brake triggers on its own when the tape is jerked, and a damper absorbs the rest of the force
• Heavy Duty 26 ft — 8 m of tape for open space, and a lead to be respected rather than used on a pavement

Fixed leads

• Heavy Duty with traffic handle — two padded handles, in 4, 5 or 6 ft. The short handle near the clip is what makes it work in traffic
• Slip lead — 6 ft of 13 mm braided rope with an adjustable leather stopper, and no collar needed

Harnesses and collars

• No-pull harness with saddlebags — front and back clips, plus zip-out side pockets your dog carries
• Reflective step-in harness — for dogs that dislike anything going over their head
• Heavy duty padded collar — neoprene-lined, with a solid metal buckle and a separate tag ring

Choosing a retractable lead

Buy by the dog's current weight, not its breed, and size up if it pulls — the rating assumes a dog walking rather than hitting the end of the tape at a run. Clip a retractable lead to a harness rather than a collar, keep it locked short near roads, and never grab the tape to reel a dog in: that is where the injuries come from. A retractable lead gives a dog freedom; it does not give you recall.