Can anyone recommend a good long line please. Not sure whether to buy 30ft or 50ft. Albert is 20 weeks and weighs around 19kg. Need one with a handle I think. Thanks for your help Jan
Re: Long training lead. http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/outdoor-training-line-10-metres This is the one I have. I only used it for a few weeks when Penny was 3-4 months old and she probably weighed about 8kg maybe, but I have used that one with the dogs at the kennels I worked in ranging from a 15kh staffi to a 30kg Rottweiler so it's definitely strong enough for your Albert. I can't remember if it's got a handle on it though... You could always just tie one on the end Edited to add: I think there's probably a reason they don't have a handle - as they're designed to trail along to the ground with the dog then if it hand a handle on there would be the risk that the dog could get caught on something. Tbh when I used it with Penny I didn't need to hold on to it as she never went the full distance away from me. I just let her run around with it on, knowing that it was long enough that I could grab it easily enough if she started to get away.
Re: Long training lead. I have just started using a long line. I started off with a thin nylon one from pets at home. 10m. It's very light, and cheap enough (£7) to "chop down" so I can get rid of it gradually. It tangles around his legs easily and has given him two, very mild, rope burns on his thigh. I have also tried a cushion padded line "air soft" 7.5m. It is easier to control, heavier so less likely to fly around and get tangled in his legs, and doesn't give him or me rope burns. It's a lot more "noticeable" and will be harder to remove without changing his behaviour. Costing £12 I'm a tad more reluctant to chop it up. And a heavy duty version of the pets at home one, which is also 10m and the same price online. No noticeable difference. I'm sticking with the air soft one for now, but this is because I don't really have the intention to use it for months and remove it without him noticing. I'm really using it as a "long lead". If not for this, I'd try to manage with the lighter nylon ones. So I think it's important that you work out why you are using a long line, and what its use is to you.
Re: Long training lead. Thanks to you both. By handle I really meant a padded loop of some kind so as not to get rope burns or have to wear gloves. I just want it as a long lead for now. His recall is mostly very good, and is tested live on the beach most days, however with school holidays fast approaching, and more and more people on the beach I want a bit more control of Albert as he approaches 6 months and the terrible teens! By that I probably mean I just need something to grab if he scarpers! I'll probably go with the soft one as I don't like the sound of the rope burns! Jan
Re: Long training lead. Yes, the difficulty I have found is that I do not want to step on the line if is between his legs. I have him on a harness (I think there is a real chance of neck injury stopping a dog on a flat collar who has 10m to build up speed). But there is also the risk of injury if you stop a dog at speed when the line is between his legs. For this reason, I often touch and adjust the line to make sure it always has a sensible run from the dog to me, being very conscious of when it is arranged so I could safely step on it, if he took off, and when it is not. This dramatically reduces the value of using a long line for me. But, it's good as a stop gap while I test his recall. I very much doubt it has any value in improving his recall though, as the line is just too obvious.
Re: Long training lead. We use a long line for recall training. We went to a trainer to help understand the best way to use a long line properly. He took us to Bath race course and admittedly I was very nervous! ;D Bensons recall had been a bit hit and miss before, and the thought of his disappearing off down the track had me a bit apprehensive! I needn't have worried, it was so useful. Benson was trained to ignore the line trailing alongside him, so it was very much like a normal "off lead" walk. We also used the technique to keep him fairly close which was call his name, when he turns to look, throw a treat on the floor, no more than 5 feet from where we where. We also had very high value treats to hand. When there was a distraction, e'g other dogs, he was recalled, the long line was used as a bit of a gentle nudge if it looked like he wasn't going to recall. We also ran back away from him when we called him. When he came back to us, the trainer made a point of holding him first then giving him a release cue to go off again so he doesn't associate a recall with cessation of play and he doesn't just come back, collect a treat then shoot off again! : His recall has improved 100% since. Other dog owners have observed that he is really improving too, specially as he was building a bit of a rep at the local walking area for being a mad chocolate lab... ;D
Re: Long training lead. Thanks Kate. Very useful info there. I've just bought the long line and will start to use it soon. Jan
Re: Long training lead. Molly doesn't get the point of a long lead. I walked her to the green. Swapped her ordinary lead for a long one, put it on the ground and walked away. Molly picked the end up and kept trying to give it to me. No, I don't believe it will last. I'll be panting after her soon.
Re: Long training lead. [quote author=Mollly link=topic=6728.msg91802#msg91802 date=1403886548] Molly picked the end up and kept trying to give it to me. [/quote] That's quite sweet.
Re: Long training lead. [quote author=Mollly link=topic=6728.msg91802#msg91802 date=1403886548] Molly doesn't get the point of a long lead. I walked her to the green. Swapped her ordinary lead for a long one, put it on the ground and walked away. Molly picked the end up and kept trying to give it to me. No, I don't believe it will last. I'll be panting after her soon. [/quote] Aww bless her.
Re: Long training lead. I too found a long training lead invaluable when we first had Millie and , as a rescue, we hadnt a clue what her recall was like . Because I tend to walk in woodlands , holding on to one end was a no-no , could imagine wrapping round and round the trees so I just let the end trail on the ground behind her , I honestly dont think she ever realised that she wasnt completely free
