I've seen several mentions about the use of long lines, though now I start looking I can't find the posts. Can anyone tell me where to get such a thing and anything about them please? I assume they aren't extending leads. Just had an awful experience with Molly while we were out and I'm going to have to back track on training to stop this wretched leaping on people and other dogs. Sometimes she's fine then other times completely bonkers, totally ignoring any attempt to recall her and stop her leaping. Today's episode was awful. One person, 3 dogs, 2 of them little Shi Tzu type things who snapped at her and she submitted to but then STILL leapt on them and the owner. I'm hoping trying this long line rather then letting her off the lead completely may help.
You can get them in Pets at Home. I got a 7 metre one from them when Molly was small. I'm sure other pet shops will have them too. http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wc...44bpv5wDNGy8So_JwwuUfpcRiQ780dji9ihoCHyHw_wcB
I got one in my local pet shop so I would presume that most pet shops will sell them. It was just like an ordinary lead but about 8 meters long. I used it for quite a while in conjunction with very tasty treats. Jess is now 13 months and her recall with a whistle is very good
I use biothane lines - they don't soak up water or mud. I use the lightest one for Betsy and I've cut it down to about 5m now. I use a 15m one if I have to, but usually only in specific training scenarios. Be warned though, they are not the easiest thing to use. If you make a mistake and a puppy runs up to people and dogs with a line attached you can end up with a right old mess of people and dogs tangled up in the line. I once threw one in the bin after trying to use it on Charlie in a park! I nearly broke someone's ankles! They are best used, in my view, on flat clear ground, when you have a clear view to distractions and plenty of space to work with distance etc. You also need your dog on a harness and to make sure the line runs clear between you and the dog, without slack if you are going to stop the dog, and not tangled up in its legs etc.
Thanks JulieT. Can I get one of these biothane lines in any pet shop? Useful clue about the tangling too. I'm hoping to see the approaching problem and using the line, get her back/stopped before the crisis happens.
I just made one with some rope we had. I wonder how you imagine it will stop the jumping if she's at a distance? I will guess you intend to reel her in so she can't meet those other dogs and people up close? But my long line takes a while to reel in so I wonder if one of those extendable leashes might be better? I actually don't know if you can reel a dog in with them and I suppose with an excitable dog there is potential for injury if you can.
I got mine on Amazon. This is the larger one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meter-Biot...&qid=1480701270&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=bothane But I find this one better for day to day use: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Recall-Yel...&qid=1480701270&sr=1-3-spell&keywords=bothane It's not a relaxing thing to use, I find it impossible to 'walk' a dog while using one, only to do quite carefully thought through training using one. I usually use it on the golf course, where I know the distractions of people and dogs will be at the side, on the paths. If she goes still and ignores me, I quietly pick up the line before she decides to run. I don't use it if she starts running.
Thanks Snowshoe and again JulieT. Reading your replies, I'm beginning to wonder if this is the right way to go. Ghastly Tom & Jerry type scenarios are flicking around my mind. Perhaps yomping Molly round Tesco's car park for most of Saturday on a short lead may be more effective. Sadly OH says it won't make a jot of difference. Not sure how to deal with this now but thanks for your help and the info.
Yes it will. Anything that desensitisers her to things she finds exciting will help. It won't solve the problem on its own, but it will help.
I bought a long line off amazon when Quinn went through a bad patch with recall. I only used it a couple of times...I found it too tangly and she would run not knowing she wasn't off leash and then yank me if she managed to the end of it. At a training class, we were working on proofing against balls and I warned them that she would be too fast for a long line..sure enough, she pulled the trainer clear off her feet and along the grass a couple feet I decided that it was either on leash, or off leash in a safe zone, working on recall and ditched the long line. I will use it in the summer when we go swimming places that have mandatory leash laws etc but not for anything that involves her running!
I think it is hopeless stopping a dog running at speed on a long line. Even if the dog is wearing a harness - and it must be to avoid injury - it's an awful shock being stopped that suddenly. I do think they have their uses - I have found them useful with Betsy and chasing birds. Because I know where the birds are, and I can choose to work on flat, clear ground, I've managed ok. She stops, and looks at the birds. I have about 2 seconds to get my recall in, and if she doesn't respond I pick up the line. This stops a reward following a failed recall, and that's useful. I don't believe you can 'walk' a dog on a line though unless you basically use it as a lead (that does have its uses, although I'd use an extendable lead because it's the same but the line is not such a faff to use), there is too much tangling and risk of lines round legs and so on.
We used one for a while, when Coco initially went off lead. On flat open ground, being extra vigilant to ANYTHING that might spark him off, ensuring the trailing line is ALWAYS near enough to step on. As long as he doesn't get speed up, there is no sudden jolt - vigilance is the key - one pair of eyes looking ahead, one pair looking behind. We did walk him on it with it just trailing behind him, but it does get trailed through everything - mud 'n' poo ! Once, just once we were caught out & he ran off to a group across the field, lead wining around. Total nightmare. It's a useful tool, but not very relaxing.
I must admit I didn't really use it for training. During the first summer when she was 10 - 12 months old I used it just on the beach. Having had one excruciatingly embarrassing day when she grabbed people's belongings and ran off with them, playing keep-away, I decided I had to have a safety-net. It meant I could reel her in if the worst happened. Though actually she was much better by the end of the summer so maybe it helped a bit by stopping the reward of the chase.
I don't find the long line a problem at all, but that must depend on the dog. I used some very light rope that I found in the shed, and cut it down to not quite 5 m. Buckle on one end, then I tied knots along it for easy grabbing. Xena stays pretty close to me when she's off lead because I've heavily reinforced check-ins with stinky fish, but she's not a bolter anyway thank dog. If I spot somebody ahead of me on the trail I just grab/stand on the rope and pull her to the side. If I see her contemplating a dash into the bush I stand on the rope and encourage her to me. The line then goes into a plastic bag in my backpack, and I periodically chuck it in the wash. Xena's also prone to jumping (she's improving) and the line gives me peace of mind.
Thanks everyone for your replies and telling me your experiences with these long lines. Having read all this I'm not at all sure about trying it. The times Molly has done this, twice in the past couple of weeks have been when we have failed to notice someone approaching and by the time we have, she's put up a terrific turn of speed and there's no stopping her.
I know you can walk a dog on a long training line because we did for 3 WHOLE YEARS, 7 days a week with our rescue dog Charlie who had NO recall whatsoever It takes a lot of getting used to, vigillance and care when using it. I wonder Fay if you might be better off training a "look at me" cue IF you see the dog/person in time? A lot easier and very useful. x
Hi, I agree with a lot of the comments about long lines especially the potential to get tangled and end up in chaos. Other thoughts include: Beware of using a long line on sand/sea as if the line gets caught round your or others legs and it will act as a very painful rasp. Investing and wearing leather gloves is a hand even if they are not a life saver. A long line over the fields or other deserted area really works well. As I painfully found out several times a dog running at full pace on a long line will give your are socket a massive jolt when they run out of slack lead. A piece of advice I received was to go to the local saddle makers and ask them to make up a long training lead approximately two to three meters long in their best horse rein leather, not to be confused with a long line. It cost a lot, however twenty years on and it is still the best lead I have ever had. I use it all the time and it doubles up as a ordinary lead. Cannot recommend it enough. I did buy a second training lead from a reputable dog lead manufacturer but rarely use it as it is not as pliable as my bespoke lead. Good luck with your training. Diana
Thanks for your info and ideas Charlie and Labsetter. I haven't tried a long line of any sort yet and was hoping to avoid it by foreseeing potential situations before they happen. We haven't had a repeat thank goodness as I've spotted approaching people and dogs before Molly has. In that situation her recall is still superb - but I know once she's set off, I've lost any chance of getting her back. Lots of work still to do with meeting and greeting with manners
