Why do people tie knots in dog leashes?

The outdoor leash that connects you and your dog should be sturdy, comfortable, and beautifully unique to reflect that special connection between you. We also think that an outdoor leash should reflect the beautiful connection between you and your dog. The 48-inch long Knotted Leash is decorated with a knotted band. Indigenous Guatemalan artisans hand-tie the hardy knotted band from brilliantly colorful and durable nylon thread. The knotted band is available in two unique, unforgettable designs – Northern Lights and Tailwinds – and five color sets to perfectly match the collars and harness from our Knotted Collection.

Some people tie knots in the line so you can step on it and stop it easier. This is a practice used with long lines, which are 10 – 50 feet and are just one big long leash. A long line is used in quiet locations, such as parks, quiet roads, and trails, and is not appropriate for busy areas like downtown sidewalks or city streets. Have a harness on your dog when using a long line. Do your best to keep alert and focus attention on your dog. You might want to wear a glove and put the loop around your hand, but not around your thumb, then loop up the extra line and hold it, do not wrap it around your hand. Let 6-8 feet out or more if you are comfortable. Now you can walk, letting some out, bringing it back in.

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!