Are long leads good for dogs?

Switching my a standard 6-foot leash to one with more room was a game changer for both me and my dog. The extra 4-9 feet of room allows my dog more opportunity to sniff and explore without pulling on the leash - he gets what he needs, and so do I. Long lines are a fantastic tool for granting your dog freedom while maintaining control over where they are going. A long line further grants your dog the space to explore the world around them without sacrificing safety for them or others in the environment. Long lines are an excellent management tool during recall training to ensure your dog is successful, and is unable to ignore your recall cue or wander off into a potentially dangerous situation. Long lines can be a fabulous investment for dog guardians if you are looking to provide your dog with more freedom (without sacrificing safety), to reduce leash pulling, for dogs still in training, for dogs who are unreliable off-leash, or in spaces where leash laws are in place.

A long line is to give your pooch freedom to explore, go sniffing, go play fetch, with the ability to interrupt any unwanted behaviour quickly, simply by standing on the long line and offering your dog an alternative cue. My Line is made from Biothane rubber, so it’s not only super hygienic, but soft on the hands and legs – it does not shred a layer of skin. A long line, ideally 5 x metres long, is used to give your dog freedom while allowing you to interrupt unwanted behavior and guide them back to you. It’s also great to train a recall, again allowing for the cue to be followed through quickly, kindly and reinforce the recall with high praise and tasty treats. We’re living in a world where over 54% of dogs do not have a reliable recall, yet these dogs are running around our open spaces. My Line gives me the chance to pre-empt an annoying situation where another dog has no recall, and will not leave my dog alone. For me you have a long line for when your dog is running free in the park, or in your garden and for indoor ‘boundary’ training. The lead is your connection to your dog, it transfers energy from you and vice versa, and the aim is to train your dog to walk nicely on a relaxed loose lead. The training at this point will have also focussed on the recall, arguably the one cue that could save your dog’s life.

They don't teach loose lead walking. A retractable lead automatically lengthens and shortens as the dog moves around so there is always some tension on the lead. This can be a bit confusing for the dog in terms of learning not to pull on the lead. They can be dangerous if used incorrectly. That’s not to say that I’m totally against them, we use one for EB when we’re on holiday somewhere we don’t know or near cliffs. As long as you’re paying attention and bring the dog close if anyone else is around they can be useful. Trainers usually recommend a long line instead as it means the owner is having to pay attention to where the dog is as they need to manage the letting out and reeling in of the lead themselves, although it does take some skills to get used to it! Generally an owner using a long line is spending more time engaging with their dog on a walk, which can only be a good thing.