Retractable leads and training lines

[RedHelenB]

I might be being naive but how does using a training line help , surely it can get wrapped round and entangled too and must get very muddy in bad weather?

A training line gives the dog much more freedom to decide to come back when called (which is what you're trying to train in!) and is much longer than a flexi.

They do get disgustingly muddy. A length of washing line is a good substitute in wet weather.

You can get biothane ones that don't get so disgusting. The idea of a longline is that the dog can practice recall but if they decide to suddenly run off then you can stand on the end.
Flexi leads tend to get tangled and the "lock" isn't always secure. Dogs have gone under cars when they have been used by a road.

I don't use mine on the road only when I want to give him some freedom off road. Never seen anyone with a training line. Think I need to see it in action to get my head round it.

And flexi leads should never be used with sight hounds or on a collar.

Beware if you have a large breed dog. I was holding one end of a long line and he took off after another dog which had appeared in the distance. I was flat on my face and had bruised knees for weeks.

If you go for a training line make sure you wear gloves and take bags with you. Mine tends to get dragged through other dogs poo that hasnt been picked up which I then have to gather up the disgusting line and stick it in my car

To be honest I'd try to find an enclosed space to practice recall instead.

I have never got on with retractable leads and whilst I have seen people use training long lines when practicing recall I never did because where I walk it would get caught on all the forest foliage.

I had a longline for wolfiepup. Now she's 50kg I don't use it!

I use one - yes it does get caught in stuff but a sharp tug usually shifts that and Elpup has learnt to reverse out the way he went in! It's a thicker and softer than a flexi lead and doesn't tangle anywhere near as easily.

They do get really disgusting so yes gloves and plastic bag. They are also surprisingly weighty. I let the pup off completely the other day and didn't want to pick up the line so I dragged it myself. I could really feel the resistance so Elfpup must find it heavy. It would probably be too heavy for a small delicate breed.

We're only talking a shitzu!

Elfpup is around 9kg so not that big. He'll be about 10.5kg when fully grown