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Longline Training
Longline training is an invaluable addition to regular obedience training. It is never too early or too late in your dog’s life to start this type of training. Longline training gives you control over your dog’s actions even at thirty feet away. Longline training is also a safe responsible way to exercise your dog out in public. Most towns have leash laws, a longline allows you to obey the law and still give your dog some freedom.
Tools of the Trade!
The best equipment for longline training.
Collars
If you have a puppy under 5 months old, he should be wearing a reliable, properly fitted flat collar. A proper fit of a flat collar on any dog, allows you to place a thumb on each side between the collar and the dog’s neck. Many people make the mistake of allowing the dog to wear a collar that is too loose, this can allow your dog to back out of his collar and then he’s loose, and potentially lost! Once you have a correct fit of the collar, attach the longline.
If your dog is older than 5 months, chances are he’s been fitted for a “training chain” (Will be in stock in my store soon!). Remember, it’s only a “choke” chain if it’s been put on wrong. A proper fitting training chain should be no longer than 3” when pulled tight around the dog’s neck. Also the link size should be small enough to allow a nice smooth correction, i.e.: it should tighten and release easily. Many pet shops will sell you a training chain with very large links especially if you tell them your dog is big or pulls a lot. Unfortunately these big chains are really quite useless for obedience training. Once you have the proper chain, attach the longline to the “live” ring of the chain (the ring that moves).
Longline
The Longline itself should be 20 to 30 feet long. It should have a good reliable bolt snap on it and be lightweight and comfortable in your hands. Nylon is very strong, but it can burn if it’s pulled through your hands or gets wrapped around your legs. Biothane is a nice choice because it’s waterproof and has some give; it’s also easier on your flesh.
The biggest complaint we get when people call us about obedience is “my dog won’t come when he’s called!” For us it’s perfectly understandable! Most dogs that have not had any obedience training do not have any respect for their owners on leash, let alone when they’re running around loose.
My puppy won’t come when she’s called!
Training
Choose the correct command.
When we begin Longline training we simply want to teach the dog to return to us. For this we use the “here” command. When we teach formal obedience we use “come”. “Come” means, come directly to me, sit in front of me and don’t move until I give you the next command. Pretty strict huh? This is why we begin with the “here” command. “Here” means come HERE I want to pat you, or HERE you’re too far away.
Set up the exercise and practice!
Allow your dog to get busy snooping around the area you’ve chosen for long line work. Give your “here” command in a clear, inviting tone of voice. If your dog does not respond immediately give a firm tug on the line and repeat your command more firmly. As soon as your dog starts to come towards you, be it voluntarily or by you reeling him in, PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE!! Let him know how pleased you are that he returned to you! Give him a pat, and send him off to roam around again. NEVER scold your dog once he’s come to you! I certainly wouldn’t come to you if I thought you were going to chew me out when I got there, and neither will your dog. Always respond with pleasure that he’s back at your side.
The key to Longline training is to use your command when your dog is not paying attention to you. If every time he tunes you out he gets a correction, he’ll soon learn to tune you in.
We begin longline training our puppies as soon as they’re old enough to wear a collar! A longline on a puppy allows you to relax a little. Small, quick and agile; a young pup can find trouble in a heartbeat! With a longline on your pup, you don’t have to actually see your pup, as long as you can see the line, you know he’s not too far off! Anytime our pup is outdoors he is on a longline. There is absolutely NEVER an opportunity to get to the road, run off to greet the neighbour, or simply ignore our commands. If your pup never learns he can run away from you, then he won’t!
Praise for ultimate success!
Longline training should be done with enthusiasm and tons of praise. We do not advocate the use of food in formal pet obedience training, because food does not teach respect. A dog will only respond to food when he’s hungry, or there’s nothing more interesting going on. When you teach your puppy to respond because he knows he must, and you reward with verbal and physical praise, you will gain not only the obedience from your dog, but the all important respect and a bond that will endure anything! A longline ensures that your puppy will obey, because he has no way of getting away from you. A longline keeps your puppy safe when he’s outdoors, because you always have his little life in your hands. Having said all that, a longline should NEVER be used to tie out your puppy or adult dog! They can chew through the line in a blink!
There are many training exercises that can benefit from longline training. To cover them all here would overshadow the purpose of this post. All I want to do here is emphasise the importance of including it in your puppy raising. Anyone wanting more training information with longlines is welcome to contact us for our articles on this very valuable tool.
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