At
Southeastern Guide Dogs, we are always looking for ways to helpfully add to our
puppy raisers’ training toolboxes! It’s always useful to add to your “training
toolbox” by learning how to use different training techniques and equipment.
Not all techniques and equipment will be used for every dog you raise, nor will
you use everything you have in your toolbox all at once. One item you might
have had in your toolbox is a long line. In the past, raisers have used the
long lines for practicing the command “come” or exercising their pups in an
unfenced area. However, there are several ways we can utilize these long lines
that will be beneficial to the direct training and socialization of your puppy.
The two specific ways we will discuss long lines over the next several
installments of the Blue Cape Journal are with socialization walks or “explore
walks” and with teaching stairs to pups.
Before we
get started on the training techniques, let’s talk about long lines – what are
they? How do we manage that much leash?
A long line
is a long leash. It’s very important to understand that the long line is NOT a
“flexi leash” or “retractable leash.”
A long line is made of cotton, nylon, or a
rubbery material and is about ½”-3/4” wide, just like a typical leash. Ideally,
a long line for training purposes will be 10’ to 20’ in length, with a handle
on one end and a clip on the other. If your line is too long, it will be
difficult to manage the amount of extra leash. You can purchase reasonably
priced long lines online or at major pet stores. The pet website chewy.com has
them for $6-8 (depending on color preference and length of either 15’ or 20’). Click here for the link.
You should
always keep your long line in nice, working condition. This means no knots or
frays should be in your long line, or you might need to purchase a new one. As
we all know, puppies will chew, especially leashes, so make sure your puppy
isn’t chewing through your long line while working. Also, some people like to
put knots in their leashes for marks about where to put their hand, but if the
leash weakens inside the knotted area, you may not realize it until your pup
takes off quickly and breaks through the long line. With a long line, the dog
may have enough length to build momentum if suddenly zooming or lunging after
something, causing more force on the long line – not good for a long line
that’s been weakened by fraying or knots!
Many people
initially get very overwhelmed with how much leash 15’ of long line really
equals! First thing’s first – NEVER wrap the loop of the long line or the extra
leash around your wrist! It’s important to practice the “gather and feed”
technique with your long line. This technique will help you learn to easily
manage the long line, giving you an easy way to feed some line out if the puppy
needs more length or gather it up if the puppy is returning close to you. Sometimes
it’s best to practice the “gather and feed” technique without a puppy attached
to the long line, first!
This technique will help you learn to easily manage the long line, giving you an easy way to feed some line out if the puppy needs more length or gather it up if the puppy is returning close to you. Sometimes it's best to practice the "gather and feed" technique without a puppy attached to the long line, first! Click below to watch a video tutorial for this technique.
Video to Learn the "Gather & Feed" Technique
Once you
have the “gather and feed” technique down, you will be ready to apply the use
of the long line in training situations. Our next installment will begin
discussing use of the long line for socialization for younger pups and helping
them to build their confidence levels at a young age!
