Allowing the dog to go out fully extended on retractable leash onto somebody else's yard/property is called
TRESSPASSING. It's not public property!
The first thing that ought to go is the retractable leashes. There is at least one sad account here of an elderly lady in Spanish Springs, walking down the sidewalk, and a dog owner had the cord extended out quite far. The cord is so thin it's not visible and the lady tripped over it and had what could have been a brain and spinal injury but fortunately wasn't.
Also, they are a danger when walking in the streets of neighborhoods without sidewalks. If the dog bolts toward moving car wheels it's a disaster to try to get him pulled back to yourself in an instant.
I saw a guy with his retractable lead the other night, doing 2 inconsiderate things at Lake Sumter Landing, on the lakeside of the Sales Center. First he let the dog go up onto the grass/landscaping at the side doors of the sales center and it was doing its business there. As soon as the dog was done he let it go out about 15 feet from him on the retractable cord. He was on the inside of the sidewalk and the dog was on the outside, with the cord able to trip anyone who came around the corner. It was dusk and the cord was barely visible. I told him people have tripped over cords like that and the dog needs to be kept close to the owner.
He growled and had no intention of doing anything about it. Especially in a town square/downtown, the dog needs to be kept close regardless of what type of leash it's on. Not everybody wants an unknown dog coming up to them!
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