Are long leads better than retractable?

[SmirkoffOnTheRocks]

I have a retractable lead for my small dog but I want to work on his recall. Long leads are supposed to be better for this but I can’t quite get my head around how they work .

The ones I’ve seen have no handle. If your dog won’t come back, do you just have to reel them in like a fishing line? What about rope burn?

Won’t it take longer to reel them back in on a long line if they won’t recall as you’ll have to ‘gather’ the lead up?

I've only ever used short leads with my dogs, and done relentless recall training with them, and training to walk to heel without pulling on the lead.

I think retractable must be so confusing for the dog - I mean, are they free or not?

On the lead means you're absolutely in charge. Off the lead means they have to be alert to being recalled.

I've never used a long tape, but seen them being used for vigorously exercising dogs that can't be off lead (like lunging a horse) and they seem to be good for that.

My view is that really the lead is secondary containment for the dog, they should be able to walk beside you with slack in the lead if they are well-trained enough, and come back when they are called when they are off lead. This is by far the most enjoyable way to walk with your dog!

The tape (rather than cord) are okay but better still get them trained (eg use an enclosed field) so they can be off lead

My dog is trained and is frequently off lead when it's appropriate but there are certain places where it I live that could be hazardous: high banks beside water courses, cliffs and so on that dogs can and frequently do fall over.

She's small and if she fell down a high bank into water or over a cliff, she wouldn't survive.

Given that I would have no way of getting to her I'd really rather not have to stand and watch while she drowned or slowly died of her injuries.

Meant to add, which is why I use a retractable lead for her. It allows her to wander away and have a good sniff and I can relax knowing she isn't going to tumble over something.

“The tape (rather than cord) are ok but better still get them trained (eg use an enclosed field) so they can be off lead”

Some dogs will never be off lead though... medical conditions that mean bombing about like they’d want to needs not to happen, or behavioural issues that are really slow to resolve.

“I think retractable must be so confusing for the dog - I mean, are they free or not?”

Not at all, they know they’re on a longer lead.

I have all three types- short for road walking and when I need him close, long line for training recall and retractable as others have said for when he can have a little freedom but we are not actively training and he needs To be on lead. Long and retractable attached to harness, short on collar. He's also going to a daycare where he can't be off lead in public places due to local regulations so I'd rather he was taken for walks on a retractable than not taken out when they are not going to secure fields. I think they are all useful tools when used sensibly and I'm trying to train my boy to be happy on all with the goal of eventually ditching the long line!

A retractable lead is not confusing for my dog , he knows if he’s on his normal lead or his retractable at a fixed length that he needs to walk to heel , which he does . If he is on his retractable in the woods or prom and it’s not fixed he wanders , if I fix it short he walks to heel again . When he’s offlead he does as he pleases . He is always walked on a harness irrespective of what lead I’m using .