Are long leads good for dogs?

A longer lead can make life easier. If we use a short lead we are almost teaching our puppies to pull as they try to explore the world. At 1.2m they don’t have to move very far at all from our heel before there is tension in the lead. Something as simple as switching to a 2m lead, or even longer, can make for a much more satisfactory walk for everyone. Your dog, or puppy, can wander over to a sniff, and even if you take a couple of steps before you realise they have stopped, there is enough slack in the lead that they aren’t dragging you with them. Longer leads are also really important for helping our reactive dogs, if they are anxious they may ‘react’ to other dogs as they feel confined by a short lead, a longer lead gives them a sense of freedom, and means they can move away if they feel they need to.

Long-lines are great for giving your dog more freedom whilst still having some control of what they are doing. They’re a safe and effective way to practice recall training before letting your dog off lead completely as they give them more freedom and the feeling of being off lead. Long-line leads are great in big open spaces, but it’s important to be aware of your surroundings as they can be a trip hazard for others and can get caught up in the environment around you. Long-line leads are great for teaching your dog behaviours like a recall in a safe, controlled way. Keep an eye on the length of line your dog has, even if using a long line that is 5 metres, for example, the dog does not need to have the whole 5 metres reeled out all the time. Be aware of what’s around you when allowing your dog freedom on the long line. If your dog runs for something and you are caught off guard not holding the line properly it could run through your hands and cause an injury. We always recommend you attach the long-line to a harness and not a collar so that if your dog runs when they’re at the very end of the line they’re less likely to hurt themselves.

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.