Looking for a way to make leash walks more enjoyable for you and your dog? An easy way to better meet your dog’s needs is to swap your traditional 6-ft leash for a long line!
The secret to a happy, healthy dog who is well-mannered on walks and settles at home is to meet their species and breed-specific needs as much as possible. Sometimes our dogs appear “stubborn” or “disobedient” to us: they are easily distracted, pull heavily on leash, and don’t respond to cues they know at home. One reason for this is simply that they haven’t had enough chances to move and sniff freely- both of which are basic needs for dogs! When our dogs feel confined, frustrated or deprived, they are less likely to listen to our cues; they may appear frantic on leash; and may have a hard time settling even after a walk. The good news is that for many pet dogs, a few simple tweaks to their routine that prioritize natural doggy behaviors such as sniffing, running, rolling, digging, etc., can have a major impact on their behavior. One of these tweaks is using a long line on walks.
A long line is simply a long leash; long lines can be anywhere from 10-100 ft long, and are made from a variety of materials. (See below for recommended products!).
5 reasons to use a long line
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- Freedom of movement for your dog: dogs who are walked on long lines can explore and use their bodies more freely, which means they’ll get more steps in per walk than they can on a traditional 6-ft leash. Your dog will get more exercise on the walks you’re already doing, without you having to change your routine or set aside extra time!
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- Allows them increased opportunities for sniffing and exploring: your dog will have more freedom to engage in doggy-specific behaviors on walks, which is very enriching and decompressing for them. Remember that dogs were not bred to walk in straight lines from point A to point B; rather, dogs naturally move in a zig-zag type pattern, following their nose (hence why so many dogs struggle with leash walking!)
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- Decreases pulling on walks: most dogs pull on leash simply because they walk faster than us humans do. Using a long line helps reduce pulling on leash because it allows your dog to walk at their natural pace without being confined to a 6-ft tether
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- Safe and effective way to train recall: a long line allows you to train recall at a distance, without risking your dog dog being off leash.
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- Keeps everyone safe: long lines allow your dog freedom of movement while still obeying leash laws. You can get many of the benefits of an off-leash walk with your dog by using a 30-50 ft long line, while keeping your dog and everyone else safe.
When and Where can I use a long line?
Long lines are best used outside (i.e. not in vet clinics, stores, and training classes (unless instructed otherwise)) .Other than that, you can use a long line anywhere you use a 6-ft leash! One of the many benefits of long lines is that you can adjust the length accordingly: if you’re walking on a sidewalk and need to pass someone by, you can shorten the long line temporarily and then lengthen it again. Likewise, if you’re in an open greenspace you can give your dog as much length as possible.
Keep in mind that some municipalities have leash-length regulations, so check your local bylaws to see what is allowed in your area.
Safety tip: Always attach a long line to a back-clip harness, not a flat collar and NEVER to a head collar. This is in case they run to the end of the long-line and hit the end with too much force.
Safety tip: to make gathering up the excess leash length easier, tie a small knot in your long line at 6ft of length and at 10ft of length, so you can easily grab the excess leash length in a hurry if needed.
Best Long lines
- Viper Biothane long line
- Long line (small to medium dogs)
- Overall Favorite – Mendota Long Line – We sell this in-house at the facility!
- Locally-made biothane long lines