16/10/2025
BettyB working dog, working girl
Leads, leashes, long lines oh my!
This reminds me of our experience this morning, during our walk and train. BettyB is always on lead, not always in my hand. I use 15' long line during these kinds of walks. Because she's learned how to behave on this lead. When we enter public buildings and/or outside venues where crowds are she's always on 6 ft training type lead. Bold lead, 8-way for example. This morning, we probably encountered 20 or more individuals, many know us by sight as I recognize many of them. Part of using long line is for proofing and security reasons, especially in public domains. But professional dog trainers many of us know our dogs know what these kinds of things mean. Leads, harnesses, collars (all types) acquire meaning over time. Especially if we use them in consistent ways.
This morning, a woman, who we've passed before, more than once, decided to tell me to pick up the lead. This happens rarely, that anyone says this, perhaps it's because a lot of people recognize us and/or they're very perceptive. They know what training dogs can look like. This particular person for whatever her reasoning has a personal problem, likely w me. I responded she needed to make her two flashlights 🔦 less weird!
When you're walking in the dark and you spot flash lights approaching it's not always easy making out exactly what's approaching. Hoping she gets this.
Part of training dogs, teaching them well must include or should include testing your dogs ability to respond in the way you'd like. It's unsafe to expect dogs to be totally off lead and it can be against the law. But knowing they know IF they are on lead and/or what lead, it's helpful to use long lines that can safely drag. This gives the dog a sense of control AND our ability to test how reliably they behave.
Understanding this point can be very helpful for us and our dogs. For example, a dog can do fetch and retrieves with long lines during early phases of teaching completely off lead reliance. It can provide substitute for using an e-collar for example.
Personally, I couldn't safely trust any dog that someone deemed needed that type device IF they weren't in secure type location.
Dogs with long lines can, in many situations learn limitations without shock because they understand they are still attached. To me, this physical attachment, the lead not under ones direct control has the ability to still act like control. This is a safety strategy.
She was pretty attentive this morning. We're getting through bunny 🐰 territories with some freedom of complete control over her. Training/teaching using positive teaching methods that need and should include meaningful consequences, communication and guidance really can work when consistently applied.
This morning I told her she wasn't just smarty pants but also smart a&% because she is both! Pitbull type dogs had to be strong, courageous and smart to survive, it wouldn't be wise to take on a stronger opponent BUT sometimes their smart arsery can get them into trouble.
