Why Use A Long Line

Have you ever wondered who would need a 20-foot long line or longer leash?

The answer is you—or your dog, at least.

Dogs' bodies weren't really designed to move on a 6-foot leash all the time. Giving them the ability to really move and stretch their legs is important. Now, I wouldn't recommend using a long line all the time. For your walks through the farmers market or trips to the brewery or just walking around town, a standard flat leash is safest.

A long line is best used when you're in places with wide open spaces or out in the woods. A long line gives your dog the chance to follow scents as they come up, circle back and forth, and do a little jaunting. Who doesn't want to see a bit of a jaunt from their dog?

Why not go for a retractable? Retractables aren't our favorite thing at Ulti-Mutt, but this isn't a retractable haters post.

There are several really good reasons to pick a long line—especially when it's made of biothane—over a retractable lead.

1. There is no push-pull that comes along with a retractable. With a long line, you can keep up with all your loose leash skills. When the leash gets tight, you do what you would do on a regular leash. On a retractable, your dog is always pulling through tension, and the pulling gets them where they want to go faster.
2. Long lines (specifically biothane) are easy to grab along the length to pull your dog closer to you or you closer to your dog. A retractable can't shorten if there is any tension on the line, and have you ever tried to grab a retractable cord? Ouch!
3. With a long line, others can easily see your dog is on a leash. As a person with dogs who do not like other dogs running up on them, being able to see that a dog—even while a distance away from their owner—is on a sturdy leash helps me relax and enjoy my walk. That bright, clear leash is an immediate signal that I don't have to start my "Oh shit!" emergency plan. (My cardiologist would thank you if he could.)
4. Long lines don't come with a whole mechanical system that can get gummed up if dirt, sand, brush, or whatever else your dog is running around in gets caught up in it.
5. Long line walks can help your dog decompress. While "Fully Off Leash Decompression Walks" (as coined by Sarah Stremming) aren't always feasible for all of us, long lines can get us a heck of a lot closer to them. (Also, if you aren't familiar with Sarah, go listen to, read, and watch everything she has out there. Your dog will thank you!)
6. Make your side of the leash more enjoyable. If you struggle with walking your dog due to all the pulling or, on the other side, incessant stopping, long lines can be the answer to your problems. While traditional trainers will be quick to say your dog needs to walk at your side or behind you at all times, that's really the opposite of what they need. Giving them more space to move their body appropriately means a lot less pulling. A dog who is allowed to do a quick sniff while you're able to keep walking means they can trot ahead and catch up when they're ready. It is a much more balanced and healthy walk for both species.

If you haven't used a long line, what's stopping you? I know—picking a color is the toughest part!