Long Lining

Well, I have been very bad in not posting for awhile. Sorry about that! I have quite a few posts "in my head" but need to get them down in "e-ink"! So here goes with one:

If you have never long-lined your dog, it's a real blast! I take my BTs to a 4200 acre park just up the road where we can hike the hill trails or walk the flat ribbon down below. Occasionally I will let my boy, Devlin, go off lead and hunt for ground squirrels. Lately we have been walking the lower ribbon as the upper trails have been pretty soggy. That walking is usually done on a fairly confining 6 foot leash. But today I decided to walk Devlin and Ellie separately and long-line them. This allows them to hunt and run free abit while still being completely under my control. It gives you and your dog some great "one-on-one" time together and it is a great way to practice and perfect your "off lead" commands.
I use either a 20 foot or a 30 foot flat cotton line that is about 1 inch in width and about 1/16 inch thickness. You can get these at most pet stores but also on-line for abit less. Use your regular collar and attach the line to it. Coil the line in 2 foot or so loops which you carry in one hand while you play the line out (and back in) with the other, and start walking!
You play out the line at your pace and can let your dog go as far and as fast as he/she wants and you allow. You will have to lift the line to clear brush and thickets, and you will have to reel in and re-coil the line when your dog slows down or comes back to you. So there is some technique here you need to become familiar with. If you have or want to do some tracking with your dog, the technique is the same.
I use commands like "left", "right", "go find 'em", "here", "that's it" (the end of the line) and other normal commands like "wait", "leave it", etc.  With  these commands I can guide my dog across a field or through a thicket while they hunt. You can train these commands on a short lead or off lead in your driveway or practice area. Rally is also a great way to train "right" and "left". I train "left turn" and "right turn" on all my walks, even with multiple dogs on lead.
Today I had the pleasure of seeing the rapt joy in my dogs' faces while they were hunting and to feel the pride as they listened and reacted to my verbal commands at 20 feet distance. Try it! You and your dog will love it!