The retractable leash works so far

LADY ON HER LEASH (NOT RETRACTABLE)...

We tried a retractable leash with our late mutt Lady, and, frankly, it didn't work at all. She saw/heard/smelled a rooster across the cul-de-sac and literally exploded the leash. All I had left of the cord was a few filaments dangling from the leash.

DIXIE ON A NORMAL LEASH...

She was gone.

We tried a retractable leash with Dixie, and my only complaint was that it was awkward to use with my cane; I use a cane in each hand for balance when I walk Dixie (I did the same late in Lady's life).

The biggest problem with the normal leash was that Dixie constantly got herself and me tangled up in it. We used the retractable leash today with fewer problems. The leash generally didn't get wrapped around her unless she decided to roll in the dirt (she did that once).

Otherwise, the device took up slack on its own when she got closer and gave out slack when she pulled ahead. My biggest worry is her being on the other side of the lane when a car comes, but cars don't come often, and they can't go fast as they approach the cul-de-sac where we live.

So, the retractable leash is a hit with me so far. I'll use it again.

• Woof! (translation: Go away, kid; you bother me)

CONTACT: I can be reached at tgilli52@gmail.com or nc3022@yahoo.com. Also, my Twitter handle is EDITORatWORK.

More entries from The Dog Blog

• Katie cried

• Growl and pull

• ... said the spider to ...

, • The Dog Diary (2015)

• The Dog Diary (2014)

• 13-plus years with my dog Lady

• OOH! OOH! The stereophonic huskies

• What Lady and Michael Jackson had in common

Blog entries by Tom Gillispie

• Resume for a writer and editor

• An editor's views on powerful writing

• Advice for be and would-be novelists

• Links to TG's stories online

• Favorite quotes

• What I do when I'm editing

Anecdotes by Tom Gillispie

• Good Samaritan

• The PRESS cap and my friend Mike

• Watching TV

• No luck with Billy Sims

• Wipeout at Death Valley

• Days with rainbows

• A desperate writer working in the dark

• Yer outta there!

EDITOR@WORK blog entries

• You really DO need an editor

• Reminders for would-be novelists

• What I do when I'm editing

• What I charge (it's a deal) and what I edit

• Slogging through the Internet

• J-school: More eyes on your stories

• J-school: Go out and learn

• Rookie mistakes for magazine writers

Blog entries from The Auto Racing Journal

• Angel in Black: Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr.

(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)

• Then Junior Said to Jeff...

(the book of great NASCAR stories)

• My best day as a sports writer

• Jeff Gordon's milk toast to Dale Earnhardt

• Wayne Auton: A life in racing