Long line

[ali2010]

Hi, please could someone tell me the difference between a long line and a extendable lead?  I have had a behaviourist out to Albert (a 6 year old rescue cocker spaniel we rehomed 4 weeks ago) about various issues and she is concerned about his recall and we have to go back to basics with it.  She has suggested a long line, am a bit concerned that a long line will get tangled up when Albert is out on walks.  I have been letting him off his lead and for the most part his recall is ok just occaisionally he ignores me!!  Thanks, Alison

[Geordietyke]

Hi, I use a longline (literally a lead with clip to go on collar) when I take Odie to the park.  His recall is fine when we are out on walks where we meet no dogs but his selective hearing comes into play when he spots a dog!  I am able to grab him a bit easier when a long lead is training behind him   I think they are available in PAH in 2 sizes or maybe Ebay have them?  You could walk him on your usual lead until you want to practice recall then slip the longline on. Oh, I also use a whistle for recall too.

The extendable leads are sometimes lethal, my poor daughter got slashed across the back of the knee in the summer when Odie abruptly done a u-turn and tangled her up   She still has a small scar   You also can't let an extendable lead trail as it would be dangerous.  Lesley

[ali2010]

I see, so you leave a long line trailing behind without holding it?  So its easy enough to catch up with him and pick up the lead?  Sorry if I sound a bit daft asking questions like this!!  Would just be a little be worried the long line would get caught up in something, a lot of the walks we go on are in the Peak District and very rural!

[Max X 2]

I think it's also advisable to use the long line with a harness rather than attaching it to the collar

[Geordietyke]

Well, I suppose you have to judge if it is safe to use it in whichever setting you are in, but so far it's been fine in our park.  Do you practice recall in a safe area?  As Odie hit 6 months old, his recall went downhill so I keep practising in the garden with him.  Trouble is, we NEVER see any dogs on our walks which Odie can play with, so when he spots any dog, he wants to play.  His only interaction with another dog is once a week  :-\when I visit my mam (and Charlie whippet ). 

ETA - I've just bought a harness and I can see it would be less dangerous if it did become tangled (no pulling of the neck area) Good luck!

[Sheepscheeks]

Trouble is, we NEVER see any dogs on our walks which Odie can play with, so when he spots any dog, he wants to play.  His only interaction with another dog is once a week  :-\when I visit my mam (and Charlie whippet ). 

Aww poor Odie!! Have you tried asking on the meet up forum if there are any other cocker owners in your vicinity? Odie looks gorgeous and I think he and Freddie would be great friends but we are 250 miles apart! I made an enquiry on here and found 3 other cocker owners in Didcot with another 2 within 20 minutes drive! We are meeting up on Sunday. Or, how about advertising for doggie walking pals in your local shops/newsagents? I'd go with a friend, though, if you get any replies, just in case. Good luck, cockers so love to play it's such a shame for Odie, and you - it's great to watch them play.

[black taz]

ebay has lots of long lines. 

[Geordietyke]

Thanks Sheepscheeks   There is a Yorkshire meet hoping to be arranged at the end of Nov I'll try to go to - no shortage of cockers there

[tritonx]

I'm curious about long lines too. I looked at the ones on eBay and they look like regular flat nylon leashes except long. I have one that is about 1 inch wide and 15' long. That seems an awful lot of heavy leash to drag around. Then I went to Youtube to look at an example of recall training on a long line and the one the fellow used looked more like a cord than flat leash. So, still confused.

[Bluebell]

I'm curious about long lines too. I looked at the ones on eBay and they look like regular flat nylon leashes except long. I have one that is about 1 inch wide and 15' long. That seems an awful lot of heavy leash to drag around. Then I went to Youtube to look at an example of recall training on a long line and the one the fellow used looked more like a cord than flat leash. So, still confused.

This is the one that I have used - the 10m one
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-accessories-dog-collars-dog-leads-c-628_127/long-line-for-recall-training-p-812

It sounds very similar to the one you have described. The line will not be heavy unless it is wet quite likely this time of year! But TBH it is not a bad thing. Just going from personal experience, you need the line to have some substance to it or it would just run free from under your foot if you needed to tread on it to help stop your dog! Also a harness means the line does not become entangled with your dogs legs or tug on it's neck as it would if you attached it to a collar

[cockerlover1]

Do you mean horse lunge lines ??