---

Longline is an incredibly useful tool that can be used for dog training, walking, and more! Let’s dive into what longline is and why you might want to consider using it.

What is a longline for dogs?

A longline is essentially a longer leash and can range from 15ft to 50ft (5-15m) in length. Longline is supposed to be used loosely so the dog gets all the freedom to move around while still attached to the human. Longlines are used for recall, controlled play, puppy training, hiking, enrichment walks, or working with dogs’ reactivity.

Longlines can be made of different materials: flat nylon, rope, or biothane. Flat nylon or rope are the cheapest and often the lightest ones. Biothane is slightly heavier and bulkier but is waterproof and can be cleaned easily.

Longlines are not the same as retractable leashes and they are a much better option for training or walking since they are considered safer.

How to use a longline

To train & practice safe recall

When your dog is good at recalling on a regular short leash, before letting them completely off-leash, test them with a longline. Longline gives dogs some sense of freedom, but if they try to run away or decide not to respond to recall, you still have a line in your hand. Retractable leashes don’t give dogs a sense of freedom, since they can feel the tension on the line, while long lines can be kept loose.

Start recall training with shorter longline (15ft) and slowly expand up to 30-50ft.

Dragline

A dragline is longline that is dropped on the floor and your dog is dragging it around. Dragline is the next step after having a longline in your hand but before letting your dog completely off-leash. Your dog feels like they are off-leash, since they can move freely around without you controlling their move. But if they get naughty, it’s much easier to gain control over them by picking up the longline, you don’t even need to come close to your dog.

Dragline is also good if your dog is playing with another dog, and if play gets too rough you can easily pull your dog out of it just by grabbing the line or gently stepping on it. Grabbing their collar might not work, since they can wiggle their way out your hand.

Doggy daycares & shelters utilize drag leashes a lot because of the ability to quickly regain access to the dog.

Puppy training

Puppies should not be let off leash unless they are completely trained and grown up. Puppies are constantly developing and changing, one day they feel they get spooky or just more naught and run away. So for training and general safety – longline is a good thing. Use longline to walk them, to play with them etc. Even when playing within fenced area with your puppy, just drop the line, it will be much easier to regain control over them.

Puppies benefit from longline inside the house too. It helps them to get more comfortable to be on a leash. Or keep them tethered to you so they don’t get in trouble and you can superwise them more easily. Using longline will teach puppies to stay close to their human and learn to settle since they can’t go far from you. For puppies I would recommend 10-15ft longline.

Use longline when training puppies basic obedience, otherwise they might get distracted and walk away from you.

When training outside

After you trained your dog it home, you should repeat the same training in different places: backyard, front lawn, park, and neighborhood. Use longline so you can also practice skills that require you to step away from your dog: “stay”, “settle”, “wait” or “sit/down from a distance” etc. You can walk further away from your dog without losing control of them. When training in the backyard, use longline if your dog is distracted and tries to walk away from you.

Playing with your dog outside in an open area

When playing fetch outside you can put your dog on a longline and don’t worry about them running away. You can use 30-50ft longline.

Longline will also help you teach your dog to bring fetch toy back to you. If they try to run away with the toy, you can always regain access to them. Alternatively, you can attach longline to the toy and keep control over the toy.

Dogs that can’t be fully trusted off-leash

Dogs that are mostly okay off-leash but do get into accidents are great candidates for longline. Some good examples will be: dogs who are obedient, but fearful, and when spooked can they run away. The same goes for dogs with strong prey-drive, who are mostly obedient but would go crazy chasing something and might get lost or get in trouble.

With these types of dogs pet owners either refuse to ever let dogs off-leash or would let them off-leash and get stressed out if an incident happens. Neither option is good. It’s not great for a dog to be always on a short leash and also it’s not good for you to stress out. Longline (15-25-30ft) will get you peace of mind and get your pup the freedom to comfortably move around.

Hiking in areas where dogs should be on a leash

I hike a lot with my dog and usually off-leash. But some parks require hikers to keep dogs on leash. Unless it is specified that the leash has to be 6ft, I always bring longline, so both of us can have a more enjoyable hike.

Short leash is too restrictive, but with longline dog can have more areas to explore and sniff, without me constantly to follow my dog on leash, I can stay in the middle of the path while they are checking out grassy areas. I can even wrap he leash around my waist to keep my hands free.

For hiking I feel like 20-25 ft leash is optimum.

Enrichment walks

I live in the area where I walk my dog partially through the neighborhood and partially through parks. If I take them for a longer walk, I always use longline. I keep it short on the busy streets and give more slack on empty residential streets with wider sidewalks and in parks I can give her all the length of the line.

For regular walks I use 15-feet longline.

Working on certain training protocols

Some complex training exercises like BAT protocol require your dog to have a freedom of choice where to go and what to do, but since BAT protocol is used for fearful and reactive dogs we can’t just let them roam absolutely everywhere. So longline gives them sense of freedom while we still set it up so they don’t go where they are not supposed to go.

How long should a long line be for a dog?

If you just starting out to use longline, start with a shorter one (15ft) and learn how to manipulate it (can be tricky in the beginning). Later you can graduate for longer ones and keep 15 feet one for everyday walks.

The length of the longline depends on the purpose and the size of the dog. Smaller dogs or older non active dogs can get away with shorter leashes and larger ones and active ones with longer.

If you use a longline for everyday freedom walks in the neighborhood, then 15feet is your best bet. For beach walks or open grassy areas – go for 20-30 feet.

If you practice recall or use longline for fetch, you can go all the way to 50 feet.

How to choose longline

Choose the right material: flat nylon, rope or biothane.

Best one is biothane – it’s waterproof, easy to clean, soft to touch yet very durable. (Make sure it’s real biothane, there are lots of look-alikes that are not durable). Biothane will cost around 30-40$.

Nylon or rope is more affordable and also more lightweight than biothane.

If you take your dog to the beach, lake, or hiking in wet/muddy areas, you going to use it during rain – definitely invest in biothane. Biothane can be easily washed and will dry fast (or can be just wiped).

For smaller dogs & small puppies use nylon since it’s more light. Rope & rough nylon have a disadvantage in that if not handled properly they can give you rope burn.

Width/Diameter

Longlines have different widths (or diameters if it’s a rope) and it’s important to choose properly otherwise your longline will snap quickly or will be too heavy for your dog to drag around.

Small dogs, puppies, or small-to-medium not active and non-pulling adults: flat leash ½ -¾ or ⅓ rope

Medium to large: flat – 1 inch, rope: ½

Color

I prefer bright colors (red, orange) so you can easily see longline and will not trip over it. Also if you gonna use it as a dragline, don’t choose light colors (white, light pink, light grey etc) it’s gonna look nasty 😉

Longline or retractable leash?

Like most trainers, I am not a big fan of a retractable leash. I prefer a longline or regular flat leash since I often drop the leash to the floor and my dog just drags it around. You can’t do that with a retractable leash.

Example of a situation where I would drop the leash often is when my dog is approached by a large off-leash dog. Many reactive dogs get anxious when meeting other dogs on a leash, and they are much more comfortable meeting off-leash since they have the choice to move away. So I drop the leash and my dog doesn’t feel restricted in movements. I will pick it up again when it’s safe.

A retractable leash doesn’t give you quick control. If your dog would pull it out all the way, and there is an emergency, with longline it’s much easier to pull dog away than with a retractable leash. Also, retractable leash has constant tension on the line, so the dog never feels like it’s free.

Retractable leashes can cause potential injury if your dog’s leg gets wrapped in the thin rope of the retractable leash. With longline you can always drop the line, if they are tangled. The same goes for two dogs playing together while on leash, dragline would be more safe than retractable leash.

How to use longline safely

If using longline improperly you can cause harm to yourself or your dog

• Use a harness – Longlines should always be used with a harness, not a collar. This is because if your dog suddenly pulls on the line, they can injure their neck if they are attached to a collar.
• Be aware of your surroundings – When holding a longline, be aware of your surroundings. The line can be a tripping hazard, so make sure you are in a safe area where you and your dog won’t be in danger.
• For dogs who tend to pull hard longline is not the best option, the farther they are away from you, the harder it will be to stop them; they might even drag you; teach them leash manners first
• If your dog is not used to stay around you and will constantly run to the end of longline, train loose leash manners first.
• Handle longline safely: don’t wrap it around your finger or around your wrist, you gonna get injured!
• Proper way to hold a longline: create loops with the line and hold them in your hand (all the rope should be in you hand, don’t put you hand inside the loop). Hold the loops in your hand comfortably, allowing them to slide through your fingers if your dog pulls on the line.
• If you use rope or nylon and your dog tends to randomly pull on the lead, you can use textile gloves to prevent your hands from rope burn.
• Practice makes perfect – Holding a longline can take some getting used to, so practice holding it in your hand before you take your dog for a walk. This will help you get comfortable with the loops and ensure that you have a good grip on the line.
• If you dogs get tangle in the rope the safest way is to drop the line to the ground and call the dog to you, most of the time they will untangle themselves. If the require help, keep the line dropped on the ground and regrab it where it attaches to the harness.
• If using longline as dragline make sure you practice recall and basic obedience before that.

Disclosure: Links to some products are affiliate links and might help the author of this article earn commissions from qualifying purchases; the author of this article is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.