Why do people tie knots in dog leashes?

First, unravel the line so that there are no kinks or knots. Wrap the line up loosely into your hand, creating a hoop to hold. Too much slack can cause you to get tangled up and even lose control especially if you are in a busy environment. If you or your dog do start to get tangled, try to stop your dog from moving. If they’re food motivated, throw some treats on the floor to divert their attention and keep them still while you untangle. Without a handle the long-line should move more safely across the ground and should avoid getting caught as easily on things like branches. Long-lines are great for giving your dog more freedom whilst still having some control of what they are doing. 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. Keep an eye on the length of line your dog has. 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.

Sometimes we need to secure our dogs outside for safety. Camping is great fun with dogs but when there’s work to do such as setting up the tent or cooking you may need to tether your dog until it’s time to play again. With a good knot, you can be confident your dog is safe in the meantime. If you are using your dogs lead, you can of course secure your dog very easily by slipping the lead around the object and through it’s own handle. However a) this may not provide the desired length and/or b) long lines don’t typically have a handle so use this knot to attach the end to the ground stake as shown in the example below. Just be sure the object is strong enough to hold your dog!