light line

[GypsysMom]

Do any of you think that when you are out with your dog and using a line long line for recall training that the dog knows he/she is attached to anything? I take Gypsy walking in the field behind me where there are deer beds and she comes when called doesnt try and wander elsewhere, Im not taking the line off I want to be able to stop her if she does wander,

I was just wondering if you think the dog knows something is attached and he cant break free..

[Ayoka]

Oh I think they do! I suppose if you wanted you could fade it by cutting a little off every time you go out...

[Gunsey'sMom]

Yes I think they do. Not much gets by Gunner. I have started using his regular leash to drag in the yard instead of his longline if I know there arent many distractions around. He does just the same. I think the longline is more my security blanket.

If someone was mowing their lawn or having people over in their yard I didnt know, I would clip his longline on for extra reassurance- for myself. I never want to let him have a chance to get into any trouble. We only have a fence running down one side of our yard- so he isnt fenced in at all really.

I would agree with Ayoka- and phase in distractions as well. I used to not be able to have Gunner outside at all when we or our neighbors were mowing. I cant now have him out when the mower is in the back or front -if he is at the opposite part of the yard, and when the neighbors are mowing when I am with him.

I think the longline is good tool but I found myself getting too attached to it at times and not trusting my dog when he had earned my trust. But I also have to be smart and not set him up to fail. Its all about vigilance and being aware of whats going on. I dont want him running out of our yard, but if hes stayed in our yard for a long time now with it, I just figured I slap on a shorter leash.

[GypsysMom]

SUsan your yard sounds like mine a fence on one side, she hasnt earned my trust not yet, we start advanced training Monday thats alot off leash training

[Gunsey'sMom]

Yeah- it kind of sucks. We have been thinking of putting in a welded wire fence to finish off all the unfenced area. That would work perfect for us really since he already has his dog run out there and the fence is really just a "boundery". He would not challenge it at all. He already really doesnt have a problem relaly staying in the yard- I just want him to be able to "run free" and get yard zoomies really. it sounds stupid- but I have wanted that since he was a puppy. LOL.

If you keep at it with the longline I am sure you can have the same results with Gypsy!
IT is also great for keeping you at the top of the pecking order I believe in a way. You are telling them where they can and cant go. They really begin to cherish that.

Yesterday my fiance and I were outside and let Gunner drag his longline around the yard- he did a complete perimiter circle around the boundery of our yard- he knows exactly where it is and where he can and cant go. I do attribute some of this to when we had out Invisible fence (POS) THe main thing I do with him is pick up his line (or step on it) and give him a tug and an "ah ah" right when he gets to the border of the yard. He is also not allowed at all to eliminate for any reason past the border of our yard. (sounds obvious- but around here yards blend together and have right-of ways in between)

Maybe if Gypsy is the same as Gunner with fences- you can put up a cost effective fence- just depends on your neighborhood I guess as well.

[GypsysMom]

well we decided to have a contractor come by tomorrow and give us an estimate, I want a privacy fence on each neighbor side, then in the back we are going to do a strong welded wire w/ wooded top (like the ones for horses) so we can still have view of the deer, that will save alot, if the fence is costly it is going to be the welded wire on one side and on the back since the neighbor has his side he said we can tap on to it if we choose