08/15/2022
I give a long line to all of my clients! ☺️
They’re such a valuable training tool, especially with recall training.
In the theme of management, one of the most valuable management tools is the long line! This is a leash that is usually 10ft or longer in length and comes in a variety of materials. (Personally I am a fan of biothane as it is comfortable in the hand, durable, and easy to clean when dirty.) But often times this is a forgotten piece of the the learning puzzle for guardians.
Commonly I hear that "my dog pulls hard when on a leash for walks!" (and this is often the reason people want to do off leash walks, even before their dog is really ready for that kind of environment) They forget that giving the dog a long line to walk on reduces pulling, provides better access to enrichment like sniffing bushes, and makes a walk more enjoyable for everyone! For urban environments I like to use a 10ft to 15ft long line.
Another common issue are dogs who's recall isn't great, or who struggles to recall away from other dogs, or people. A long line can provide an off leash experience, while protecting your dog from chasing or engaging with animals that don't necessarily want to be besties. For hiking and off leash areas with a long line I recommend a 20ft to 30ft line. For recall practice in a wide open area use up to 50ft.
Leash reactive dogs often do much better on a long line. This is because when we keep a dog close, on a tight leash, it can make them feel trapped, cornered or unable to make the choice to leave. Giving your leash reactive dog 15 or more feet of decision making room allows them to make them choices. And making choices about leaving, or disengaging from their triggers. It can seem counterintuitive for dogs who might display aggressive behavior in the fact of their reactivity, but it can make a big difference in their ability to learn not to panic at the sight of a trigger.
I teach off leash classes for hiking with your dog. And every single class begins with dogs on long lines. Preventing undesirable behaviors (like not recalling, or pulling on a leash) is the first step in our dog's learning how to engage in behaviors we need!
