Introduction: Retractable Dog Tie-out
I needed a way to tie my dog outside for short periods of time, but didn't want the eyesore of a cable or rope strung across the sidewalk or lawn, especially since I'd have to pick it up every time I mowed. I did find some retractable cable tie-outs available commercially, but they didn't get great reviews and were a bit pricey, it did however provide some inspiration for this solution.
Step 1: Gather Supplies
All supplies were purchased from my local Harbor Freight, but you could use your existing leash or yard stake.
- 24' retractable leash - $5.99
- spiral yard stake - $3.99
- 5" carabiner - $1.50
I already had a retractable leash, but it was only 16' long so I decided to buy the longer one to give her a little more range.
Step 2:
- Find a suitable position for your stake. I decided to put mine in the rock bed so I wouldn't have to mow around it or remove it.
- Clip the carabiner in the ring of the stake
- Clip the leash handle in the carabiner
You also want to extend the leash fully and walk the path to make sure that your dog will be confined to a suitable area and not able to reach the street, driveways, etc.
Step 3: Tie the Dog Out
Now I can tie my dog out to do her business while I get ready for work in the mornings.
There are several benefits of this setup:
- The leash comes in the house with the dog so it won't have to withstand the elements
- No unsightly cables or ropes spread across the lawn
- Auto retracting so no tangles in the leash
- No need to pickup before mowing
- Gives more time to get ready in the morning without waiting for nature's call for my dog
Step 4:
If you'd like to watch the video, it's here.