Do people judge owners with their dogs on a long line?

[Blubell281]

Our dog is 19 months old, despite our best efforts his recall isn't as good as it should be. He has a very high prey drive. I can recall him from people and other dogs but when he gets a scent he's so focused and he sometimes bolts. I don't think he'll ever be off his long line as we live in a very rural area with sheep everywhere and he can squeeze himself under stock fencing.

I have literally never once seen anyone with a dog on a long line, not even a puppy. All I see is dogs off lead trotting alongside their owners. I feel like such a failure, I feel like people must see me and think I dont know what I'm doing, that I haven't put any effort into training. I'm just embarrassed using it. I'm sure I wouldn't be if they were a tool that lots of people used but as I said, I've never even seen 1 person with one, in 18 months!

I have a biothane (fluorescent orange!) long line, it's so much better this the fabric one. I have a teenage dog with some issues I'm working on. The long line helps as she has more freedom to sniff around, but can still control her if necessary.

Biothane isn't cheap, but it is sooo much better

Yes mine’s bright orange @MotherForker
One of the best things I ever bought for my teenage dog. He actually doesn’t really run off much and doesn’t want to go too far but likes to have a sniff and this gives him freedom.

Hated the fabric one we had, it was permanently tangled.

7 year old dog on long line over here. He's dog reactive with other males, with shaky recall and just cannot be trusted. It's not always a reflection on our training. My other dog is very well behaved and hardly ever wears a lead but the 2 of them are complete opposites.

Its better to be safe and have them under control than risk not being able to intervene if they get an idea in their heads to take off and play chicken with the main road.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

7 year old dog on long line over here. He's dog reactive with other males, with shaky recall and just cannot be trusted. It's not always a reflection on our training. My other dog is very well behaved and hardly ever wears a lead but the 2 of them are complete opposites.

Its better to be safe and have them under control than risk not being able to intervene if they get an idea in their heads to take off and play chicken with the main road.

I think you probably mean you use a retractable lead @nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut - not a long line. The OP is talking about a training aid called a long line.

No, I do know what I mean and it's a long line. This one specifically.

www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_collars_dog_leads/nylon_leads/special/194643?variantid=194643.0&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-OeBBhDiARIsADyBcE4woJEnmaf6u2ARDut1hSOckslla9tWbqfSggcS6NHqphROiW_XP9AaAhKNEALw_wcB

Having raised 2 puppies, I'm quite familiar with training aids, thank you. He is far too strong for a retractable lead, he breaks them and they're dangerous.

@delatron My longline are made from reinforced webbing. They don't tangle just get muddy. I dry them off in my boot room.

19 months is bang in the awkward rebellious stage! I've only had collies but they're all lovely obedient pups and then from 1 to 2 years they push all the boundaries Am sure your spaniel will improve as he matures.
My current collie is highly interested in sheep but is generally obedient now the rebellious years are over, and has excellent recall, well over 99%. I still don't let her loose near sheep. 99% is not enough. About half of dog owners here put their dogs on leads near sheep. The other half tend to be dogs that are not sheep-motivated (there are of course a tiny minority of tw*ts who don't care). If I see a dog on a lead, I think 'responsible owner'.
You can definitely fix the issues with recall and obedience though. What methods have you tried to teach recall? How consistent are you?
If you don't want/feel unable to teach him yourself, is there a trainer nearby you could ask?